345 What’s ‘news?’

What’s ‘news?’

Avoid TV for news (but it’s great for understanding propaganda)
Don’t rely exclusively on sources from one place on the political spectrum (e.g., Fox and Breitbart, or Reader Supported News and Huff Post)
Include some non-commercial source to check regularly (e.g., NPR, great if you’re in the car, but it does rely on sponsors now, too, as its budget shrinks)–less beholden to advertising filters.
Find an international source for stories that involve issues beyond our borders (e.g., BBC)–they may be less beholden to some filters.
Find some analysis somewhere that gives you more than just facts or pundits who seem to work for Coke or Pepsi (that is, espousing mainstream partisan rhetoric)
Hard as it is, try to see news from multiple perspectives, including those with which you might disagree (and avoid seeing the world through those tempting left vs right lenses)
When a big story breaks, remember that truth is often the first casualty. You’ll know much more if you reserve judgment for a few days, as reporters, feeling less pressure to get the ‘scoop,’ uncover more facts.
Journalists are trying to do their jobs. But like most of us, they have bosses (hopefully not too many shadowy overlords : )