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Aware in 2020: Stay Globally Aware with These Platforms

Aware

If you care, stay aware!

If your new year’s resolution is to be more globally aware, it may be difficult to find platforms that provide unbiased, topical, and relevant information. For many, it is important to stay on top of current events. Juggling school, family, and life often allows one a small percentage of daily news. Especially when unsure of which platforms to use.

Below are some platforms that I recommend and use regularly to stay aware and up to date on our world.

Social Media Platforms

Reddit

Reddit is a platform that serves many purposes. From gaming to cat lovers, Reddit covers a lot of ground within many topics. Political, Global, and Current News and Events are all accessible on Reddit. Threads like r/politics, r/news, or r/worldnews provide relevant articles, news segments, and live coverage links that are easy to access on the mobile app or online. On the trending page, the most popular topics are listed, easily showing what is relevant to that day.

Instagram/Facebook

So many news stations have established social media platforms, and some of the most used are Instagram and Facebook. On both platforms, there are endless news providers that have accounts to follow and receive updates on current events 24/7. Stations like ABC, NBC, NowThis, and CNN have these accounts available for the public to follow. Hashtags that are relevant to a certain topic or interest is another way of keeping up to date, but without having to follow any specific account.

Twitter

Twitter can serve as a platform that provides links to current events through a similar way that Instagram and Facebook do. Many news stations and their staff have Twitter account, as well as most politicians – which allows them quick access to the public when needed. While this may introduce bias, there are a plethora of opinions to explore. Like Instagram and Facebook, Twitter has hashtags that you can follow and receive updates that are relevant to that hashtag.

Apps

Apple News

Apple News comes with the purchase of any Apple device, and is a useful and succinct way to receive news on a daily bases. It provides access to a variety of news channels that include articles, videos, and live coverage. You can subscribe to the different providers through the app to receive information from those channels more than others.

Google News

Similar to Apple News, Google News contains a variety of news providers. In contrast to Apple News, it is available for different software such as Android.

News Channel Apps

Specific channels like CNN, BBC, The New York Times, and NBC have apps that showcase coverage through the app. If you favor a specific channel and prefer to look at their coverage, this is a great option. Some include the option to screen mirror. Additionally, these apps typically include more specific categories because they are content focused rather than platform focused.

Radio

NPR

NPR or National Public Radio is an excellent and probably the most viable option for many. I personally have a long commute to school, so I love listening to the Morning Edition segment. Conveniently, current events are covered every hour on the hour, ensuring that you get the rundown.

Podcasts

Podcasts provide perspective on current events, and are an enlightening way to stay aware. Recently, they have been gaining rapid popularity as people are eager to explore topics. “The Daily” hosted by The New York Times is a good example of a podcast that provides regular and relevant coverage for auditory learners.

Good Luck!

I hope you were able to discover a news platform that you will be able to utilize daily. I find myself discouraged by the news a lot of the time, but these platforms help with the digest. Since the 2020 Elections are so soon, it is important to educate yourself on current events – especially when deciding who to support. Although I didn’t list every platform, this list is good enough to kickstart your news routine.

Sela

Sela is a HS junior and a member of GirlSpring's teen leadership group, Springboarders. She runs a chapter of GirlSpring at her school where she seeks to empower other girls' voices.

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