News is essential in today's fast-paced world, but overexposure to it may cause information overload and anxiety.
Diversifying news sources and actively seeking diverse perspectives is the key to staying well-informed while developing media literacy skills is necessary in avoiding misinformation and becoming an informed consumer of news. This can be accomplished by identifying reliable sources, fact-checking information, and engaging in discussions with knowledgeable individuals.
Reliable Sources: Navigating News Noise
Finding trustworthy news sources in today's media environment can be difficult, given all the conflict and controversy over news squabbles, social media vitriol, and toxic political rhetoric. What one person considers factual news may be decried as biased or even fake by another individual.
A few key indicators can help you distinguish reliable from untrustworthy sources. Look out for:
Reputable sources provide content that is free from personal bias and produced using methods that minimize personal bias. This may include clear editorial policies, commitment to fairness and impartiality, refusal to color information with subjective opinions and engaging work that appeals to a range of readers from popular, engaging articles to academic or research-based material.
Reputable sources don't hesitate to correct errors in their reporting, often even offering an apology for misinforming readers. This approach to journalism helps build trust with audiences while giving readers confidence that they can evaluate the information received.
Distrust of mainstream media has led to the growth of so-called 'alternatives', such as BuzzFeed and Vice. Digital native brands like these attract high valuations from investors as they receive praise from young people; yet these newcomers often receive funding from large corporate donors, potentially diluting quality work by way of political or ideological agendas that dilute quality journalism.
If you want impartial, comprehensive,videos and accurate coverage of an event or issue, two reliable organizations to turn to would be the Associated Press (which isn't owned by any particular company) and BBC (a publicly funded organization with over 90 years of global broadcasting history).
News organizations are tightening their rules regarding social media engagement, encouraging journalists to focus on reporting the news rather than engaging in time-consuming debates with followers on platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Many are also asking staff not to include emoticons when posting as this could be seen as political speech and reduce trust with readers. Amid all this uncertainty, some publishers are finding solutions through short-form video on platforms like Instagram and TikTok that appeal more directly to younger generations.
Time Mastery: Life Amid Daily News
Managing life amid daily news is challenging. Though it is necessary to stay informed of the pandemic, there's a delicate balance between feeling informed and becoming overwhelmed by triggering news stories. "The media often emphasizes negative aspects of an outbreak which may cause stress and anxiety for some individuals," according to psychologist Don Grant, PhD who works with teens and young adults at Newport Academy Treatment Center and his private practice in California. To maintain wellness during an outbreak situation "it is essential that an appropriate balance be struck between seeking necessary information about COVID-19 without overconsumption of news," according to Don Grant.
Price's study demonstrated that daily exposure to pandemic-related news on social media leads to greater depression and PTSD symptoms among participants than occasional or less frequent consumption of this news. The effect is stronger when associated with trauma such as abuse, neglect or sexual assault from their past - compounding these results further when combined with social media notifications of current pandemic outbreaks.
There are various tools available to manage news consumption effectively. Innovative apps condense stories into bite-sized chunks, enabling users to check their favorite sources at times that work for them and customize their news feed as desired. Email newsletters can also deliver the top stories directly into people's inboxes.
Other helpful strategies include writing stressful headlines on paper to slow their processing, setting a timer for how long you spend scrolling social media, and creating a no-screens policy at mealtimes. Furthermore, experts suggest taking a break from the news when it starts making you anxious or depressed - be it reading a book, talking with loved ones, walking outdoors, or even meditation - these breaks may help give your sense of calm back. If that proves impossible for whatever reason, turning it off might also do the trick!
Tech Hacks: Efficient News Consumption
As technology has revolutionized the news industry, new providers have entered with various means of providing news to consumers. One of the key questions arising from news consumption now involves how best to spend your time while staying engaged while also minimizing unintended negative side effects.
Don Grant, Ph.D., works with many patients at Newport Academy treatment centers and his Los Angeles-based private practice who experience anxiety triggered by news coverage or social media posts that seem designed to inflame outrage or panic. According to Don, these stories force people to be emotionally vulnerable while simultaneously sparking clickbait responses that promote sensationalism.
Anxiety can also be compounded by how digital platforms prioritize positive or negative content, with some apps and websites favoring high-impact news items over others. Therefore, news organizations must ensure they develop and publish stories focusing on positive or upbeat topics as part of their regular coverage.
Consideration should also be given to how the rapid adoption of new technologies such as streaming devices and services, podcasts, and smart speaker capabilities has altered Americans' understanding of media and news consumption. As such, researchers need to adapt what survey questions they ask regarding these kinds of technologies so that their answers reflect how these are actually used by the public.
As news publishers continue to develop new business models, it is also necessary for Americans to understand how much they pay for the content they consume. Studies indicate that Americans tend to overestimate how much they pay when asked this question in surveys; perhaps due to a desire to be seen as responsible citizens.
Understanding how people consume news can provide journalists and other stakeholders with valuable insight into how best to produce products that reach as wide an audience. Nic Newman, senior research officer of the Reuters Institute recently presented on key trends in news consumption at London's Press Gazette Future of Media Technology Conference using 12 years' worth of data from their worldwide news consumption survey - using this as an opportunity to highlight some key challenges and opportunities facing today's media landscape.
Smart News Mindset: Critical Thinking Now
Staying current with global and industry developments is essential for business leaders, allowing them to make informed decisions and seize opportunities. However keeping track of all the sources and media platforms available may be daunting in today's age of instant gratification and information overload.
Many people find it helpful to develop strategies for digesting news and keeping informed on events affecting their work or personal life. Subscription to general news publications as well as publications related to their area of expertise; following reliable sources on social media; news aggregator apps providing quick access to breaking stories. Others prefer watching renowned news programs for in-depth coverage and analysis; still, others attend conferences or events to meet experts in their field of practice.
Staying abreast of the news can be challenging, but it is also vitally important to remember that not all information is created equal. Some news is deliberately misleading or biased and can lead to misinformation and inaccurate perceptions; the best way to counter this effect is by reading multiple sources, considering their perspectives and motivations, and thinking critically before sharing or judging anything you read or hear about.
Maintaining awareness can take various forms, but one key element is creating a regular news-consuming routine. From tuning into daily news shows or newspapers to reading reputable publications regularly, establishing a set schedule helps ensure you keep informed of important developments without becoming overwhelmed and burned out.
Reducing stress requires finding balance by paying attention to positive news stories and setting aside time for self-care. Furthermore, periodic detoxing from news consumption altogether and giving yourself a break might also be helpful.
SmartNews, with over one million users both in Japan and the US, provides an innovative news curation experience by prioritizing popular stories while filtering out any false ones. The app keeps a history of articles read by each user and adjusts recommendations accordingly; proprietary signals beyond likes/clicks help identify "fake news," including whether an article was read completely before being shared without reading first; furthermore it analyses publisher popularity to package its content into contextual buckets for interest-based advertising targeting.
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