Primary News Source
May 17th, 2009 by craig
When I was about six years old my dad and I would get up early (like 4:30 am early) to go fishing. I distinctly remember two things about those trips: Mom’s brownies and Dad listening to KSL radio. It seems to me that he was an avid KSL listener. So, at that age, I got my news from driving in the dark hours of the morning with my dad listening to KSL radio. There was also a time in my thirties that I listened most regularly to KSL radio for my news.
Newspapers are struggling these days, but there was a time that I got my news from newspapers. As a kid I never missed doing the word puzzles from the paper. And up until about five years ago, I was somewhat religious about reading the comics in the paper every day. I didn’t read a whole lot of the rest of the paper, but I never missed the comics. Now, about the only exposure to newspaper I have is that when I open my web browser it opens to the San Francisco Chronicle home page. I don’t know why I selected that as my home page, but one time I did and have never felt the need to change it. I particularly like the “Day in Pictures” feature – in fact many of the random images to your left came from there.
I remember well the days when we watched the evening news and there were only three news programs to choose from. I think a lot of people still get their news from television, though from a wide variety of television options. I just saw one source that sited 32% of Americans under 40 have The Daily Show and The Colbert report as their primary news source.
This brings me to the observation I made this week that has prompted this post: my primary source of news these days. I have two. The first is ESPN radio. I’m pretty current on what’s going on in the world of sports because I listen to ESPN almost exclusively in my car. Recently we canceled our satellite radio subscription and as part of their attempt to get me to stay with them they asked what I listened to when I had it. I had no answer: I didn’t listen to anything on the satellite; I was always listening to my local ESPN affiliate.
My other primary source for news is the Bob and Tom radio program. As you would imagine, there are some down sides to having Bob and Tom as my source for news, the obvious being that the news stories I get to hear about aren’t always the most relevant stories of the day. They tend to the absurd, easily mocked stuff about idiots. The other problem is that I listen to Bob and Tom after downloading it to my mp3 player and I’m often a couple of days behind. This can be confusing.
So, where do you get your news? What’s your primary source for learning about what’s going on in the world?
My news sources have evolved over the years.
Hands down, my primary news source is NPR (National Public Radio). Everything else pales in comparison.
But, after that, the internet – Huffington Post or the BBC.
I watch very little TV news – occasionally tune into Rachel Maddow on MSNBC.
Though I rarely miss the “Daily Show & Colbert Report” 🙂
For me, it is:
#1) the BBC News website. I like knowing what is going on in the REST of the world and they have a good mix of things on all continents.
#2) If I see something on BBC about the US that I want in more detail, I’ll go to the CNN website. They are not my first choice because, like most the rest of us Americans, they seem only slightly interested in the rest of world. I think some of us forget there IS a rest of the world.
#3) The Daily show, followed sometimes by The Colbert Report. They have interesting guests; I always learn something new. And I love Jon Stewart’s intelligent, but humorous take on what’s happening in the world.
I used to like to watch CNN on TV, but with the addition of programs like Nancy Grace, there isn’t a lot of point. (Ever heard the song “Dirty Laundry” by Don Henley??!) I get annoyed by the stuff she focuses on and rehashes.
Programs like Fox “News” are appalling to me. They are not reporters, they are commentators.
I have seen Rachel Maddow a few times, and have quite enjoyed her, as well.
My news sources: You and mom…
LOL… Nice…
So, J’Neil, what you get is an irreverent take on silly stories, with some sports thrown into the mix, all with a BBC slant…I hope the future therapy doesn’t get too expensive.