FoE

Well i have regular news schedule i go through when i wake up.
I read the Globe and Mail , CBC, BBC, The Economist, Google News, Canada.com, The Guardian, and finally Arabnews. At work i watch CBC Newsworld, CNN, and CTV Newnet for several hours. I also subscribe to Macleans, and the Economist.

Monkeybot

Well, sure. I like the BBC mainly as an overview of what's going on. If I want to know more about a given story, I probably wouldn't research it on the BBC (not exclusively, anyway).

JohnR

Buzz Flash
Drudge
NPR
Local Birdcage Liner
CNN
MSNBC
II
Sometimes I get interested in one story and chase it over the web or cable. Too many news outlets to trust only one.

Sakpo

It sounds like your "various sources" all come from the American mainstream corporate press. These sources have strict controls on them due to the fact that they're owned by people out to make money. Thus, they can't offend advertisers, they can't upset large segments of their audiences with unpleasant truths, they can't give a proper analysis of anything because that isn't entertaining enough and could be upsetting... furthermore, like any source, they have their biases. Their biases come from the social elites who own them (and own lots of other things that influence what they are willing to put on tv). The same people who own the local newspaper well own lots of stock in armament companies that do good business with Israel, for example. A major advertiser, say, a cleaning product, may well be owned by the same company that manufactures something for the US military... so many military contractors out there, and so many mega conglomerates that make everything from tank treads to dishwashing liquid...

Then, factor in the fact that media ownership is growing more and more concentrated, it's become absurd how few people own so much media. And these people tend to be similiar people with the same biases.

So really, the "various sources" you appear to be reading are hardly varied at all. There is only an illusion of diversity. Tactical disagreement over how to do various things, vigorous debate over only certain issues (like abortion, where there is disagreement between the elites, etc). I'm not saying you should ignore them, or not even stop using them as your primary source of info on the world. But keep in mind they don't give a varied look at the world, or a serious examination of events, or even neccesarily a very accurate portrayal of events that could easily be reliably reported.

trekbette

I tend to scan headlines on My Yahoo page. If something major happens, (9/11) I go straight to CNN.

MilitantModerate

If your are in the States and really want to start getting some perspective you should at least read/watch/listen to some British or Canadian media:

-BBC
-CBC
-Globe & Mail
-Guardian
-National Post
-Economist
-MacLeans

etc.

Secular Pinoy

Yahoo News and Philippine Daily Inquirer.

mike_decock

You newswatchers have always baffled me. My father is one and I could never understand why "knowing what's going on in the world" is considered so important. My father once said the reason he watched the news so often was "to see if prophecies are being fulfilled".

90% of the news either has no direct impact on your life or it's something terrible you can do absolutely nothing about. Personally, I find it either depressing or boring.

As far as I'm concerned, watching the news and discussing politics has no greater value or importance than watching and analyzing Buffy the Vampire Slayer. News is really just a global, reality-based soap opera.

-Mike...

Straight Hate

Wow, let us all stay steeped in ignorance about what happens in the world - the media can:

1. Offer perspective (ie. Why having to work overtime isn't that shitty after all)

2. Educate - Local media has been excellent for recent dispelling myths about homosexuality and marijuana.

3. Inform - It'd be nice to know what new freedoms are being given and taken away.

Three great reasons in 90 seconds. I guess I'm just a sucker for drama.

mike_decock

I'm not completely ignorant of what happens in the world and I'm not trying to argue that everyone should be. If it interests you, that's great. However, as a non-news-watcher, I have often found that those who stay informed on world events tend to look down at those of us who don't. Just look at the last option in the poll:

I live under a rock and have no idea what is going on in the world.

What about watching the news is so important that those who don't watch news are seen as some kind of ignorant insect, living under a rock.

I have lived in 3 continents. I have had years where I made minimum wage. I have had years were I spent many months unemployed. I have had years when I made lots of money. I see people less fortunate then myself every day. I don't need to watch the news to appreciate being employed and having to work hard sometimes.

If I want to educate myself on a topic I'll read a book, watch some documentaries or browse the web to get a true variety of opinions and in-depth studies.

That kind of news is most of the 10% of general news that I consider valuable. Still, I'd rather go to a Forum or a website that focuses on those kinds of issues than sit through a regular news broadcast.

There's nothing wrong with being a sucker for drama. I just like mine with a good script .

-Mike...