As we move back into the new normal, 11am Premier updates have come to an end and news is moving back into a routine, albeit racing towards that Christmas holiday season when media take a break.
Staying up to date with current events is part of our job as comms professionals and leaders to develop an open and critical mind. It assists us learn, reflect, echo and put to work useful knowledge by interfacing with the tales of remarkable people, businesses and events here and overseas.
However, the way news is delivered is ever changing.
Stay up to date with current affairs with these 4 tips:
1. Subscribe to traditional news sources using your mobile phone
Most people now read the news on their mobile devices. Some great news sites include: CNN, BBC, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Daily Mail, The Australian, Daily Telegraph, Sky News, ABC News etc. All of the apps are free and downloadable on iPhone and Android.
2. Listen to podcasts
Podcasts are great if you’d prefer to listen to the news than read. There are a lot of podcast applications accessible; simply track down the one that accommodates your interests. Sites such as Spotify and Apple Music gives users the opportunity to explore a range of podcasts and eventually find one that meets your needs.
3. Download a news aggregator
A news aggregator is an application that collates news and other content for quick and easy viewing. With a simple google search, you are able to discover plenty of news aggregators that can cater to your needs.
Some Examples:
- Flipboard – it takes content from news sources and social media, presents it as a personalized digital magazine, and lets users “flip” through it.
- Feedly – lets you subscribe to content feeds from websites covering a wide range of topics from sports to politics to entertainment.
- Pocket – it offers you the chance to build an archive of must-read links. Recommendations are partly based on previous articles you saved, so there’s a good chance you’ll find something matching your interests.
4. Social Media
By using your social media in the right way, you can gain more bang for buck. By following accounts such as CNN and the Daily Telegraph, your feed will update to give you relevant news articles.
These are some elements social media brings to news:
- Sharing – it exposes you to more content, and you can see what others say.
- Friends, following and commenting – social media allows each person to have a voice in the news through post and comments. It can unite individuals who share similar perspectives.
- Immediacy – social media enables us to hear about current events while it’s happening.
So why should you keep up to date with current affairs
Current events affect you
Current events influence you, whether you know it or not – this is especially evident in staying aware of the things occurring in your local government. The choices of your elected officials in your city are likely going to impact how you live your life. For example, Covid-19.
Current events affect your loved ones
Even if government decisions aren’t affecting you personally, they may be hurting someone you care about.
It makes the world smaller
Because the world appears accessible through the media, the news acts as a conversation starter, whereby people can give their inputs and opinions on an event that did not happen to them.
The news can be a teaching tool
While researching the benefits of reading the news, I came across an article by a mother who stated that she used the news to parent her children as they got older. Exposing others to different articles can help educate individuals about the important issues occurring in the world which they may be unaware of.
Reading the news also allows us to gain perspective and be across the issues affecting our clients. Our research team are constantly researching the market to find and research articles on our clients and the competition.
Interested in learning about TaurusSocial©?
Keeping up to date with news also helps our clients through TaurusSocial©, our specialist service that looks after social media strategy. TaurusReact© also provides around the clock monitoring of social media comments to protect and engage appropriately with brands. If you’re interested in keeping you and your business up to date with news, reach out to us today at [email protected].