How to keep up with the news without the Mainstream Media?
Discussion
I've been appalled recently by the quality of reporting of the Covid crisis by the mainstream media. The quality of journalism in most of the MSM seems little short of the gutter these days, mostly sensationalism with little room for critical thought and analysis.
Our local paper has been even worse still, actively bias and seeking to stir up bad feeling in the community. It focuses on the negative and personally I'm not interested in hearing about whether or not some bloke did or did not spit at a policeman, whether or not the people brawling outside the chip shop on Friday end up in jail, how our young people with their BBQ on the beach will kill all our old people with Covid, or how some NIMBY locals object to the latest plans for some affordable and well designed housing on the front page.
Therefore I think it's time for my own mental health to remove myself from the influence of the MSM and instead seek out some different alternatives from both the left and right leaning spectrum (always useful to have balance).
So far I quite like https://unherd.com/ for the quality of the journalism. The Spectator seems pretty good although is quite right leaning. The Economist has had some well researched articles recently. Are there any other suggestions though? Anything that focuses on positive news rather than negative news?
Basically it would be nice to keep up with what's going on in the world, with science and technology, latest trends in politics and business, the environment etc, but at a higher level of journalism, and without all the knee jerk, click-bait sensationalism that has become so prevalent over the last few years.
Our local paper has been even worse still, actively bias and seeking to stir up bad feeling in the community. It focuses on the negative and personally I'm not interested in hearing about whether or not some bloke did or did not spit at a policeman, whether or not the people brawling outside the chip shop on Friday end up in jail, how our young people with their BBQ on the beach will kill all our old people with Covid, or how some NIMBY locals object to the latest plans for some affordable and well designed housing on the front page.
Therefore I think it's time for my own mental health to remove myself from the influence of the MSM and instead seek out some different alternatives from both the left and right leaning spectrum (always useful to have balance).
So far I quite like https://unherd.com/ for the quality of the journalism. The Spectator seems pretty good although is quite right leaning. The Economist has had some well researched articles recently. Are there any other suggestions though? Anything that focuses on positive news rather than negative news?
Basically it would be nice to keep up with what's going on in the world, with science and technology, latest trends in politics and business, the environment etc, but at a higher level of journalism, and without all the knee jerk, click-bait sensationalism that has become so prevalent over the last few years.
I'm in a similar position, constantly know I'm uninformed on local and national news as I find every news outlet exactly as you mentioned, but I suppose drama sells.
The free Metro paper seems about the best option for me, plenty of non-news but a good paper. I only ever read it to the midpoint where it tales off with adverts and tat.
The free Metro paper seems about the best option for me, plenty of non-news but a good paper. I only ever read it to the midpoint where it tales off with adverts and tat.
Andy20vt said:
So far I quite like https://unherd.com/ for the quality of the journalism. The Spectator seems pretty good although is quite right leaning. The Economist has had some well researched articles recently. Are there any other suggestions though? Anything that focuses on positive news rather than negative news?
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I think you are on the right track with the Spectator and unherd. The Spectator in particular has been one of the few outlets providing objective reporting on Covid-19..
Yes the Spectator is clearly right leaning, no news source is free from bias. I am afraid I cannot recommend a similar left leaning publication/website that will reliably provide news rather than opinion, but that is not to say one isn't out there.
I find this outlet very informative, but Middle East centric: https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/home.html
Andy20vt said:
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hstewie said:
hstewie said: Respectfully it reads a bit like you're asking for sources you agree with.
Nope, exactly the opposite. Journalism that will challenge the popular narrative and help me expand my mind.But whatever your views around "MSM" do keep in mind they are subject to regulation unlike some of the more wild wild west corners of the internet.
The issue I find with the MSM is that it is all to often opinion dressed up as reporting, and as such has a tendency toward being factual but not truthful.
Unherd, the Spectator and Spiked are at least opinion presenting as opinion. Whilst the Spectator is undoubtedly a right leaning publication I find them pretty good at allowing alternative viewpoints to be voiced.
OP: I can't really contribute any particular sources as I've mostly stopped bothering seeking news out. I think you can do a pretty good job with a carefully curated twitter account, following only specific people/writers you find offer valuable takes and being unafraid to cull anyone who you think is exhibiting too much bais or not contributing to the quality of your feed.
Unherd, the Spectator and Spiked are at least opinion presenting as opinion. Whilst the Spectator is undoubtedly a right leaning publication I find them pretty good at allowing alternative viewpoints to be voiced.
OP: I can't really contribute any particular sources as I've mostly stopped bothering seeking news out. I think you can do a pretty good job with a carefully curated twitter account, following only specific people/writers you find offer valuable takes and being unafraid to cull anyone who you think is exhibiting too much bais or not contributing to the quality of your feed.
Try this as an experiment.
Identify a topic you know about. Read an article in any paper on that subject. Identify the errors, over-simplifications, and elisions (and there will be many). Now assume that an article on a topic you do not know about contains the same number of errors, etc.
Identify a topic you know about. Read an article in any paper on that subject. Identify the errors, over-simplifications, and elisions (and there will be many). Now assume that an article on a topic you do not know about contains the same number of errors, etc.
1974nc said:
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: Respectfully it reads a bit like you're asking for sources you agree with.
If you want unbiased I'd probably look to the likes of Reuters or the AP.
Reuters is owned by the Rothschild family.If you want unbiased I'd probably look to the likes of Reuters or the AP.
I wouldn’t have it down as a paragon of virtue
bhstewie said:
hstewie said:1974nc said:
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: Respectfully it reads a bit like you're asking for sources you agree with.
If you want unbiased I'd probably look to the likes of Reuters or the AP.
Reuters is owned by the Rothschild family.If you want unbiased I'd probably look to the likes of Reuters or the AP.
I wouldn’t have it down as a paragon of virtue
1974nc said:
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: Respectfully it reads a bit like you're asking for sources you agree with.
If you want unbiased I'd probably look to the likes of Reuters or the AP.
Reuters is owned by the Rothschild family.If you want unbiased I'd probably look to the likes of Reuters or the AP.
I wouldn’t have it down as a paragon of virtue
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