We hear it time and time again as young PR professionals... how it is our job to stay on top of the news and be aware of current events and trends. Yet, you'd be surprised how very few college students actually follow this advice and are unable to name a single headline from the today's news. Understandably, college students are spread thin with classes, internships, part-time jobs and student organizations that sparing 30 minutes of our days to read up on the news seems daunting and unnecessary. However, I can never express to fellow students enough how important it is to follow the news, to be aware of reporters and their beats and to be familiar with what each outlet generally covers.
So, for my fellow busy students, here are a few pieces of advice to work the news into your daily routine. Just like exercising, it takes some dedication and motivation, but once you have incorporated it into your daily routine you won't be able to go a day without it.
1. The world of media is quickly changing. It's no longer required to gather your news from a newspaper, or even by turning on the TV. Social media is revolutionizing the way news is distributed, delivering breaking news faster than ever. So while you are procrastinating on writing that ten page paper by scanning Twitter, take the time to click on a few of the headlines that pop up in your Twitter feed. Make sure you are following @nytimes, @phillyinquirer, @cnnbrk, or @abc. Follow your favorite news sources and make it a goal to click on at least 5 of those headlines and read the stories. It will only take you about 20 to 30 minutes, and its time you were going to spend putting off your homework anyways.
2. When you actually do get around to your homework, have the news on your TV playing in the background. We all need breaks from reading, writing and researching and often spend those breaks watching mind-numbing reality TV or surfing our Facebook newsfeed for the latest gossip. So instead, keep your favorite news channel streaming in the background and when you start gasping for air from the hours of homework that you are drowning in, take a 10-15 minute break and watch the news.
3. A large amount of us have smartphones now and although we have millions of apps to download, I know maybe a handful of students who have downloaded news apps to their phone, even though they are FREE. So, with all "broke college student" excuses aside, download one or two free news apps, such as The New York Times or The Huffington Post, and while you are riding the subway to your job/internship or waiting for class to start in the next ten minutes, pull up the app and read a story or two. Tell your boyfriend/girlfriend that you'll text them later, turn off your angry birds game for a few minutes, and invest 10-15 minutes into bettering yourself personally and professionally.
I encourage all of you to try making the news a part of your daily routine! It worries me when I speak to people that still have no idea what is going on in the world, within our own country, within our city and even within our own university. While you may be impressed with yourself for knowing Kate Middleton's dress designer the royal wedding, I promise you there are much more important things going on around you that you should invest the effort into being informed about.
What other pieces of advice can you offer for helping college students understand the importance of knowing the news and how to stay on top of it? Let us know!
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