As Matthew Broderick said in the hit 1986 comedy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
When getting caught up in our day-to-day lives, it can be difficult to keep educated on what is happening around the world. However, if people do not stop and look around at what events are occurring, they could miss their chance to make a change. In today’s world of mass media, it is more important than ever to make sure that what is being read is objective and properly fact checked. One’s news sources must be reliable and provide unbiased information about current events that play a crucial part in today’s society.
It can be difficult finding a reliable news source when the internet is a breeding ground for fake news; therefore, it is of high importance to ensure that information comes from a non-biased resource. When freshman Olivia McDevitt was asked if she has struggled in finding dependable sources whether it be in school or on her own, she responded, “Yes, finding sources that are telling the un-touched truth can be extremely difficult when there [are] so many biased news sources that do not provide correct information.” Some trusted news sources include the Associated Press, BBC (the British Broadcasting Company), and CNBC (Customer News and Business Channel). These sources pride themselves on being unbiased and factual news outlets, and they work hard to fact check all of their content.
On the other hand, when people scroll on any social media platform, they are faced with a considerably large amount of “fake news.” Sophomore Pamela Miranda shared, “Whenever I go on the internet, I see tons of fake and sometimes made-up news. Speculation and rumors can spread like wildfire on the internet, and it can be very hard to tell if what you are reading is real or fake.” When reading a news article on a new website, there are steps that can be taken to ensure that the content is based on facts and not opinions. First, check the website’s tab. Is the official logo on the browser tab? Another way to check is to look at the author of the article: who are they, and do they have a history of neutrality and sincerity? Finally, read the title. Does there appear to be no signs of speculation or bias? If you answered yes to these questions, you might have found a reliable source to get your news from. If you answered no to any of these questions, the source is probably biased and should be avoided.
Whether it is one article a day or one every other week, being consistent with current events can help in more ways than one. By reading about current events, one can not only sharpen his/her reading skills, but enhance his/her knowledge of the topics at hand. Navigating current event articles can sometimes be confusing for new readers, but there are a series of steps that can be done to understand the topic. First, read the introduction and try to recognize what parts are actually about the current event and what parts serve as background information. Next, identify who the article is about. If unsure who these people or groups are, do further research on them using a reliable source. If having difficulty understanding the information, try discussing it with a family member or peer. If this can be done without biases or opinions being added, then the facts in the article can be understood concisely.
Having unbiased background information on a current-event topic can allow readers to begin to form their own opinions and make informed decisions. Freshman Angelica Rodriguez explained, “I read current events because I like knowing what is happening in the world. When I heard about [the] new laws going into action that could potentially bring permanent changes to iPhone use in schools, I made sure to look it up and ask my friends what they thought about it as well. By reading about this current event, I was able to inform others about the potential changes and how it could affect us.” Even though current events may not seem as if they are directly affecting you, they impact everyone. For these reasons, remaining informed on current events and receiving them from an unbiased source is important when developing one’s own opinions and viewpoints.
