The other night J and I had a conversation about women staying informed. I totally think that it is important for a stay at home mom to know what is going on in the world outside of her own home, but that said it is hard for me to know more news than the relationships around me, who is hungry, what needs to be cleaned, and who needs to be changed.
Take the swine flu- it was going on for a week or more before I had any idea about it. I need suggestions about the best ways to get information in a limited amount of time. I'll check google news, but find too much information there to process in the few minutes I have to read about it. We don't subscribe to any magazines, but maybe that would be a good option? Suggestions? And we used to get the newspaper, but canceled it as it would usually not even be opened before being deposited into the recycle bin. J is good to tell me about some news happenings, but I need to do more on my own. Podcasts? Radio? TV news shows? I just don't know where to begin or what will be the best option for this time in life, but feel the need to start being more well informed.
15 comments:
Hmmm, Personally, I think the best/easiest way to hear about the news is to watch it on TV. That way you don't have to be completely focused on it like you would if you were reading it. Also, some channels do a summary of the more important things at the end, so if you found out what time they did that, you could turn it on then, or just record it if you have that option.
Good questions, Jord. I personally favor the newspaper, and feel that fifteen to twenty or so per day in reading a hometown daily paper will very much help you stay informed. In addition, a weekly news magazine is good to read, as is listening to a news radio station. A person should definitely be informed. I think it's both a civic and a religious imperative to be informed.
One word: Oprah!
Or, if Oprah doesn't satisfy your needs, you could get a subscription to Time or Newsweek, or The Economist for heavier reading. I think Google News is good because you can just scan the headlines and check out what is interesting to you. WSJ.com is good. Or you could just watch the 5pm news like Kylee said, not a bad idea. I haven't been able to read the news as much as I did at the old job (wonder why?) but I go a little paranoid if I don't know what's going on in the world. Good thing you didn't have swine flu without knowing what it was!
Or, you could sign up to cnn.com email news feeds that they send every day that summarize that day's news. I usually only know what is going on in the world and country but am unaware when it comes to our local news, so I should probably check the newspaper's website here sometimes. Now I will stop with the ideas.
I hate watching the news so depressing! sometimes I clean or do what ever with the news on a listen to what I want to. Or I just see what the news clip says when I open my yahoo email.. thats about all I do.
This sounds like a mirror of my own life. I feel so uneducated when, like you....I said "the what flu?" If the tv is on, it's usualy Baby Signing Times or Backyardigans. Trying to catch a glimpse of the evening news helps but I prefer peace and quiet!
I feel pretty well informed and realized it is from the TVs at the gym! I won't be there for the next little while so I'm going to have to figure out some other way to catch the news... most likely it'll be from Oprah and then the first 10 minutes of the local news right after her :)
Use the internet: cnn.com for national news, a local newspaper online and/or a community newspaper of some sort online. I can usually check out all three in about 15 minutes and I mostly just read the stuff I'm most interesting in reading after a quick glance at all the headlines. (For example, it sounds like someone (a fool) did baptism for the dead for Pres. Obama's dead mother in the Provo temple- which set off a fire storm.) Reading a national magazine each week also helps and that can be done during bathroom time :)
Good luck!
Here in Phoenix: 91.5 fm NPR and 92.3 fm!
I totally believe in the newspaper; an awesome way to skim over everything in one sitting, but alas, I don't read it!
Since I hate to sit down to watch t.v. and my ADD doesn't allow me to read much on the computer or paper. I love the auditory department because I can still move and get things done while I learn. The radio is a good friend.
Every time I get in the car I listen for a few minutes and they give news headlines every several minutes. They summarize it all up for you in about a minute.
The best part about NPR is that I also feel informed in all areas including the world of Science, Space, Medicine, Social, Economic, Business, etc. And since it's a public radio station they try to keep things unbiased and educational. Unlike some news on tv and radio that can tend to dwell on sensational type of stories.
The 92.3 fm has the local news more often, but their talk shows are much more emotional based where they hash out the same topics for argument purposes...me I just like to be informed, so I don't listen for long, just back and forth to 91.5 to get the top stories.
Also, in the evenings, I think at about 5 pm or 6 pm NPR has the BBC news and that's great too to get a world wide perspective of the top stories! I like to listen while I make dinner.
And then after that is Marketplace, where they discuss new on everything surrounding business/economic issues, (sounds boring, but really isn't).
For the most part, even if you only listened to these stations a total of 5 mins. per day, you would get enough of info. to feel informed, because the same stories are hashed out so much that through the week you'd get enough bits and pieces to get the jist of what's going on.
That's my advice. It works for me. Seriously, I wish more people would give NPR a try. It's so awesome!
p.s. Here in Phoenix NPR signs off at 8 pm and goes to Jazz music...just so you know.
I think it is 1430 am in Phoenix that carries Glenn Beck from noon to 3. Listening to radio allows you to multitask and Glenn is a moderate.
My thought is say no to Oprah (sorry Claire)--I have decided to stop watching her because basically her morals completely contradict mine (call me and I'll give you lots of examples).
NPR is great--definitely has a liberal spin--HOWEVER--it is all of the things your other friend mentioned AND if you find you have an interest in learning more about an issue--you can google it. It is nice to just have it on in the mornings (perhaps while feeding the girls breakfast) or in the evenings (while fixing dinner) and you get updated super quick.
I grew up on NPR and really enjoy it. I have always loved that their stories are complete--they don't just do the sensationalized headlines. They had a story the other day that I LOVED--they interviewed an Army Psychologist that basically told the country to back off about the torture issue because they have no idea what they are even talking about (having a husband in the Army--I completely concur with this statement--I have lots of opinions that have changed since having more "insider" information and I'm not even the insider).
The thing I have found is that I can't even listen too much to what is going on in the world politically because I disagree with just about everything that is going on as of late (from both parties). But, I do feel a tremendous civil duty to stay informed.
Oh--one more recommendation would be one my dad always gives me. There is a little news magazine that comes out at the end of every week called "THE WEEK". It has the top stories and editorials compiled into a small, manageable magazine that comes weekly. He said it is pretty balanced with both sides...if you are interested, I can find out from him where to order it. I could probably just tell him that Jordan wants to stay informed and he would probably want to buy one of his old intern friends a subscription. :)
Miss you!
Jord--my dad actually ended up getting me a subscription to "The Week". And...I would recommend it. You can read the whole thing in under about 90 minutes and it will give you all the big news for the week. And--you don't have to even read it all--just skim, you'll get the gist.
Anyway, I'm curious about what you have chosen as your informant of choice.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone! Whit- I have tried the radio more, mostly NPR and think I'll get a subscription to "the week" to have on hand as reading material as well. Thanks for the tip!
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