I love living in rural Ohio with minimal contact with the outside world, but man can it be isolating when it comes to current events. Prior to the election, I got the majority of my news from my Facebook feed. After being all too surprised by Donald Trump’s election, I decided I need to step up my game and start getting my news from reliable, “adult” sources. It may seem like a lot of effort, but below are five easy ways to stay on top of current events as a college student.
1. Subscribe to theSkimm.
I love starting my morning with theSkimm. It may seem a bit daunting to read news highlights first thing in the morning, but theSkimm is witty and keeps it casual, which is perfect for the pre-coffee brain. These life changing emails pop up in your inbox before 7 AM from Monday to Friday, and I truly miss it on the weekend. Signing up is a guaranteed game-changer. The best part? It’s totally free. What college student doesn’t love to hear that?
2. Allow computer notifications from CNN Breaking News and other sites.
The one downside to receiving a daily newsletter like the ones from theSkimm is the fact that they only come in the morning, so if something major happens later in the day there is a chance you won’t know until the next day. To solve this, I get notifications from CNN so that I get breaking news updates and I know what’s up as soon as anything major happens.
3. Take advantage of what your school has to offer.
There are lots of great things about being a student, and student discounts are definitely among them. However, sometimes your school has great things to offer in itself. At Kenyon, we get the New York Times for free, which is pretty fantastic. Some schools also have academic access to sites you would have to pay for otherwise. Look into all your school has to offer in terms of news sources, you’ll be surprised by how much you find.
4. Follow credible news sources on social media.
The keyword here is credible. Part of the reason Facebook is such a problematic “news source” is because many people, including me, don’t always look into the credibility of a source before clicking a link and all to willingly believing whatever it is I read. Following news sources such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal on social media is a great way to get snippets of credible news throughout the day.
5. Treat yourself to one (or more) news subscription you can’t get for free.
Remember what I said about student discounts? This is where they really come in handy. The trouble with some of the best news sources is the price tag, but I think everyone should treat themselves to a news source they really love; I just sprung for a subscription to The New Yorker and I love it, and they have a student discount! The key is to look for the best news you can get, for the lowest possible price.
Staying on top of the news can be tough in college, especially if you’re on a remote campus. I hope these tips can help you stay up to date on current events!
Image Credit: Tumblr, Wired