“I don’t really have time to watch the news.”

“I don’t think this stuff really affects me.”  

“I don’t really understand it so why bother?”

I’m sure we’ve all said some version of these at one point in our lives. I get it, we’re busy, we have a lot on our plates, and there really is A LOT going on in the world. It can be difficult to keep up, especially in an election year. But the truth is, staying informed doesn’t have to be that hard. Here are a few do’s and don’ts to help you out. 

Do make the choice to stay informed

It might be easier to just focus on your schoolwork or your job and not worry about anything else. However, it’s actually pretty important to know what’s going on in the world. Even the things you don’t think directly affect you, probably do, or at least someone you care about so it’s essential to know what is taking place in our country and around the world and to understand your rights.

Don’t rely on hearsay

It’s totally ok to seek other’s opinions, especially people who you trust and respect, but don’t just take someone’s word for granted, educate yourself and form your own opinions. 

Do read newspapers and watch the news 

make sure you are getting your news from a legitimate news source. There is a lot of misinformation out there. If you don’t enjoy watching the news, and you don’t get the newspaper, there are other ways to learn about what’s happening around you. Visit some news sites online every few days or follow accounts like the BBC or your hometown news station on Twitter.

Don’t rely on headlines

Don’t trust yourself to gather information from headlines or simple tweets. As someone who writes a lot of headlines and tweets for work, they’re created with the intention to be catchy or shocking, to grab your attention. So …

Do dig deeper 

As I said above, don’t rely on headlines and simple tweets to give you the facts. Dig deeper and learn a bit more. If you don’t understand a topic, do a little research for an informed opinion 

Author’s favorite tip

Do check in on yourself

Right now more than ever, the news is full of some overwhelmingly scary information. If you find yourself feeling anxious every time you open your Twitter app, take a break. Limit yourself to 15 min. of news each night and follow it up with some great cat videos on Youtube!