There’s no such thing as a free press.
Apparently more than 54% of teens today get their dose of “news” from social media, and we all know how much of fact-finding and “unbiased” discussions happen on Twitter and Instagram. There was a time when “reporting the facts” was the done thing, so long ago though that chaiwallahs still had only dreams back then. But today even traditional media like newspapers are resorting more to op-ed type articles (rather than reporting) to chose what we should be thinking, and don’t even get me started on television channel anchors or google (i-know-what-you-think-before-you-say-it) news filters!
Net-net, when trying to keep yourself informed of current affairs you should know the colour of the news deliverer. Every publication and every article has an inherent bias. Rather than running away from this over-newsification of our lives, I’ve actually figured out a system to streamline it.
Step 1: Listen to global news and realise there’s a lot of sh* happening across countries (not just in India).
(Remember BBC World’s on-the-hour-every-hour newsreel from your childhood? They now have a podcast called the Global News Podcast which perfectly summarises global events in a succinct 25-30minutes a day)
Step 2: Subscribe to not more than three high-quality newsletters, and read the analyses in your inbox before forming an opinion based on trending hashtags.
(My daily morning reads include The Newsburry’s crisp & factual 7 AM summary, The Ken’s “Beyond the First Order” analysis of reliance industries and other things, and Finshots.in easy-splaining of financial happenings)
Step 3: Never ever discuss news topics on a family WhatsApp group. Just don’t.
Step 4: Refer to Instagram for tips on gardening & books to read; Facebook for photos of birthday zoom-call cake cutting sessions of aunts & uncles; and Twitter for… well, nothing (it’s just an endless black hole of scrolling through angsty thoughts of armchair revolutionaries)
And last, but not the least understand that NEWS is Nothing Ever Worth Saying, so we might as well stay informed of just the basics & carry on.
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Well said, one must have multiple sources of news and information always. Especially in today’s world when not one is right.
Hi I always felt I am very practical, but now that myth is busted. I really like your posts. In this specific read i want to specially ask for step 3 really. I find it quite interesting. though i have my reasons for doing this but I really want to know why you think so… Great post btw.
Wow! That was succint and to the point and really really helpful. I get mindf***ed every time I switch on news channels or scroll through my newsreel. Thanks for the tips and links.
Logical and sensible steps all should follow.. True that social media especially Twitter has become a fake news destination.. More hate than anywhere else .. Disinformation center..
Everyone should follow these tips!
I feel now a days social media i.e. twitter specially is better at reporting the news rather than any news channel. Your step 3 cannot be more apt, discussions in family whatsapp groups leads to social distancing in manners more than we can imagine.
Really appreciate the laconic way you’ve used to summarise everything about assimilating news in the most unbiased & unadulterated manner. This is very relevant today when none of us can afford to be inert to political & social issues, even if they’re not directly affecting us.
Wonderfully written, Nupur.
On another note, I would personally want to disagree about not discussing news in family WhatsApp groups, Nupur.
In India, we’ve all been privy to the rampant spreading of fake news & narratives that have really toxic repercussions on the ideology that a person subconsciously shapes over a period of time. That becomes the crux of conditioning, rather brainwashing of citizens through an informal medium. I used to relent earlier trying not to lock horns with anyone about spreading fake headlines that typically led to hate-mongering.
Hence, unless such a careless attitude of overlooking such biases being propagated through WA groups that we’re part of is discouraged, more & more people will become cogs in the wheels of the fake-news machinery. Unless there’s a fear of being questioned about what they think or justify that piece of news, they won’t stop. I’ve seen a massive change in the way fake news were being forwarded in our WA groups when nobody cared to verify or rebut them. So, when I started doing that, even if it was equivalent to blasphemy in a close-knit family WA group with teenage members too, there were a lot of them who pinged me about how happy they felt that there was somebody who dared to oppose this blind charade & that it was deterring the spread hereafter. And now, at least in those groups, in the past few months, there has been no such inflammatory forward yet. Because now they know that if at all they do so, they would have to answer a rebuttal.
That is a very valid point Ashvini, and yes I do agree that debunking fake news reports on whatsapp groups is important. Infact, on most of my groups – we know that “If it’s a whatsapp forward, it must be fake!”
I guess what I was trying to say is that most groups (and I use family groups as a generalisation. it could be friends, batchmates, neighbours, etc) are so diverse in their thought process that it’s rarely a meaningful discussion on a chat window. There will be too much of opinionised rants, and those are much better nuanced with in person discussions.
Good tips to overcome the overload of news and information today… I just see it once in the morning and one at night…
We really need to follow these these steps to put an end to the panic hypes that social media is creating these days. Well penned, Nupur.
Omg it felt as if im stating these facts. And yes net is not the platform for all authentic information . We got to choose wisely & relevantly. Instagram is great for lot of fun stuff but definitely authentic news.
I don’t even bother watching the news. i get to know whats happening from hubby or facebook. Rest of the stuff is just worth my time. Sadly, it depresses me so I have stopped watching the news or reading the newspaper long ago.
With the level of frustration i have for these news channels these days, this one was a must read for me.
Family whatsapp groups and news debates are at a different game altogether! Yes, right now Indian media just proves how to excell in propaganda news and fake news!!! Its very difficult to choose whom to believe.
Family whatsapp groups and news debates are at a different game altogether! Yes, right now Indian media just proves how to excell in propaganda news and fake news!!! Its very difficult to choose whom to believe…
If I may suggest , theres WION which gives good global news. would check Global News Podcast
Very, very true! We haave grown up listening to BBC news and nothing else for news. But, this one point – Step 3: Never ever discuss news topics on a family WhatsApp group. Just don’t – I kind of not agree to it! When we discuss news in my group, we tend to research more to understand every aspect of things! But I guess, it’s very subjective. We utilize our family group to fact check the piece of news – maybe many people don’t!
Very, very true! We haave grown up listening to BBC news and nothing else for news. But, this one point – Step 3: Never ever discuss news topics on a family WhatsApp group. Just don’t – I kind of not agree to it! When we discuss news in my group, we tend to research more to understand every aspect of things! But I guess, it’s very subjective. We utilize our family group to fact check the piece of news – maybe many people don’t! :O
News channels and platforms have become more about TRP and nothing else. I don’t feel like watching news now a days. These are definitely good tips. Accept the fact that we shud discuss with family groups. I think we shud as it helps in making each other aware.
I am personally fade up of the news drama, they are like Ekta Kapoor Tv series.
What I needed right now, Nupur! Thanks for the wonderful source of factual news. #MyFriendAlexa #TheTinaEdit
The state of the news these days is laughable. It’s so very important to choose our news sources wisely, and also to remember inherent biases cannot be completely escaped. But when you know them, you can perhaps factor them in. There are just a handful of channels that are actually reporting thr news – they’re the ones that are vilified the most. Sorry state of affairs we find ourselves in – and it’s happening across the globe. Just that here it’s ripping up the social fabric to tatters.
I agree with you, news has become a blackhole of misinformation one can fall into! It is a good idea indeed to stick to a few high quality sources for news especially general world news and specific to your niches and interest areas.
I do not watch any new channel on TV , some good and genuine ones like of Ravish Kumar on YouTube.
I don’t know of Ravish Kumar – will check out. Thanks for sharing!
This is such an important post. People are aware of fake news but still fall for it. Social media is the worst place for news updates.
Absolutely. We’ve seen the worst of it in recent times.
Very useful tips. Thanks for sharing. Yes, I completely agree. n today’s time news has become more of a fancy stuff. I still remember my childhood days where news means the 8:30 pm news on Doordarshan.
I feel like giving you a standing ovation for writing this post. You are absolutely correct. People have to keep their perspectives centred and know how to filter out all the dirt that are in these days peddled as news.
Wow! Thank you.. I’m glad this resonated with you so much
I feel not only teens a lot of news channels depend on social media for news and forming an opinion on the basis of social media posts is like a death sentence wala crime you commit. I think Indian express is the newspaper which is still going in the right direction.
I haven’t had the chance to go through the Indian Express to be honest. But perhaps I should. Thanks for stopping by!