In today's society, social media and news platforms are the main way in which information and news is spread. This has led to many sources, stations, and platforms being biased in there reporting. This can cause devision between people as one portion of the population is being exposed to much different information than another portion of the population. This is why it is so crucial for individuals to obtain their information from reliable sources and always be objective about what they are consuming. Ultimately, it's impossible to cut out all bias and opinions from our information sources. However, the strength it shows for an individual to understand, interpret, and decide for themselves is so powerful. While the pursuit of this skill takes time, being able to read multiple sources and differing ideas is what propels us forward as a society. In working towards this skill I have made my fair share of mistakes, however, developing this skill takes time. So, to share what I use, I have provided my top five sources of news and why I choose them below:
Bloomberg
Firstly, I use Bloomberg and Bloomberg Television every morning to keep me up to date with the United States markets and global economy. Being a Finance major and having worked in Wealth Management, I have seen how critical it is to constantly be learning and analyzing the markets. This is the only way to be successful in the field, because every economic factor is impacted from what events occur. So, if one is not paying attention or hasn't stayed informed, they could be completely uneducated and misguided on what is best for their clients. However, consuming this much information throughout the day can be difficult when one is involved in so many areas. So, this is why I typically play Bloomberg in the background when I'm getting ready in the morning, or anytime I'm at my desk doing work. This not only allows me to know what important topics are on the agenda for the day, but also allows me to tune in for any breaking or important information. Since I've become so accustomed to Bloomberg, I find it easy to gain information while accomplishing other tasks at the same time. Ultimately, Bloomberg is a solid source that provides unbiased insight from analyst in the financial world. Although there is so much economic data to dissect, Bloomberg does a great job of breaking down and presenting the most important topics. Since I want to continue a career in Wealth Management, Bloomberg is a pivotal source in my everyday life, and will continue to be where I consume a lot of my economic and financial information.
ESPN
Growing up constantly playing and watching sports, makes staying up to date using ESPN come second nature. However, people don't typically think of it as a news source. For that assertion, I would ask them to think about how many alerts and times they check it daily. As it always provides the new updates, live reporting, and breaking stories of almost every sport on the planet. It has truly become THE one-stop-shop for all sports and athletic news in the world. While there are other network's, stations, and streaming services that stream live games, ESPN is constantly being used in combination with those services. Another pivotal part of why I use ESPN would be the ESPN+ subscription which grants you access to exclusive games, entertainment, and even leagues such as the UFC. This type of content isn't offered anywhere else and is typical for non-traditional games around the world. Although ESPN + comes at an additional cost of one hundred and twenty dollars per year, I find it more than worthwhile. Being such an avid user of ESPN and ESPN+ means that there is truly no other sports related source even close to the incredible things that ESPN has done and will continue to do in the future.
The Wall Street Journal being one of the oldest news sources in the United States, is a strong reason why I use it as my daily consumption of the main stream media. I have found that the Wall Street Journal provides me with a diverse perspective on main stories from around the world. However, since I typically read the Wall Street Journal once a day, I find that it typically has much more accurate facts and verified data. This is because since the news isn't live and breaking, it gives reporter's time to gather there thoughts, the facts, and perspectives on whatever story has occurred. I find this beneficial as I can stay informed and up-to-date without having to play into the misinformation and shock of current events. Although, I must say that if a story is big enough, I will find out about it throughout my daily life. While like anything else, the Wall Street Journal has biased articles, unchecked facts, and misinformation from time-to-time. I am often able to understand this, recognize it, and be open-minded. This provides me with another manner in which I can continue my learning and advance my understanding of the world around me. This is also provides me with another source that I typically use for deepening my financial knowledge as it provides much articles related to economics and markets.
Fox News is a major outlet that attracts millions of viewers daily and billions annually. However, If I am being honest, this isn't my most used news source. Often because I can feel and hear the bias nature of it's stories. While having a perspective on others opinions is necessary, I try to limit my exposure. Typically, because I tend to agree with many of the opinions and political affiliations that they align with. Which is dangerous as you can get roped into only listening to what you want to hear about a story and don't explore alternative viewpoints. This allows me to use Fox as a decent baseline of knowledge on issues and then explore other sources and opinions to form my own perspective. Although this often takes more time and brain power, I have found that it is the best way of putting my thoughts, beliefs, and morals on display. I tend to watch Fox when I'm not engaging in any other activity. I usually tune in for specific events or times when listening is necessary. A great example of this would be for this weeks presidential election, as I will be watching Fox to follow all the live updates and changes throughout the night. Ultimately, Fox does better than most mainstream media sources and will continue succeeding. Although they are not my most used source, they can be reliable and offer a unique perspective. Like it or not,
Instagram and social media are here to stay. They have now become a main source of information and news for a majority of Americans. Mostly due to the incredible amount of time and attention we spend on them daily. Unfortunately, I fall victim to this fact as well with the app Instagram. Although I am thoughtful and conservative with my use, I still use it as a main source of staying up-to-date on what's going on around the world. I have found that Instagram reels provide a very similar experience to TikTok and are my way of staying up-to-date without overdoing it. See Instagram and Instagram reels are much less advanced and provide much lower quality content then TikTok. This allows me to still get the surge of information, without spending hours scrolling a day. Having this balance allows me to live a much more balanced and productive life. Although, there are good days and bad days, having only instagram, is my sweat spot. Instagram provides me with a diverse field of topics from news stories, updates on friends & family, social trends and even financial information. Although limiting social media use may seem extreme, I have found it the best way to both consume necessary information, while also not spending too much energy doing so.
Ultimately, information is a commodity, and individuals could use millions of sources to obtain their information. However, these five sources are what I use the most and find the most helpful in my everyday life. As the world changes, I'm sure these sources will change with it. However, as a researcher and someone who watches the news, I am becoming more intelligent and progressing in my journey. The news is pivotal and we all need it to achieve our full potential. So, I recommend that those reading find sources that work for you. Sources that allow you to learn, and do so reliably, because there is truly no better way to stay informed.
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