[…] is November 6th, which is the day everyone’s been talking about lately. If you read my latest post on how I think we should all stay informed, then you know the importance of the day and how much […]
Encouraging people to vote is one hot topic right now, don’t you agree? If you haven’t been encouraged to vote during the last month via news, social media, or just by friends…you may want to check if you’re living under a rock. Take a look at TheSkimm’s No Excuses campaign and Fohr’s Influence the Election movement. Their goal is to drive thousands millions to the polls on November 6th.
While making an effort to go to the polls and show off that little “I Voted” sticker is great and all, do you really know what you’re voting on or who you’re voting for? This year, let’s change the way we vote and learn about the issues we can vote on before we share a pic of our “I Voted” sticker on your favorite social media platform.
This post will you take you through different mediums to keep yourself informed on today’s topics and giving you some resources to know who will be showing up on your ballot. So read through, bookmark, and share because it’s a long one! On Monday I’ll share a post on tools you can use for actual election day! (cough, cough Part 2)
I believe it’s even more important that we’re reading/listening to unbiased news so I’m sharing what I think (disclaimer: you could think differently) are the most middle of the road sources. Let’s get into it…
Podcasts
Podcasts are such a great way to integrate continuous learning and listening into your everyday schedule. I listen to my line up of podcasts at the gym, on my way to work, at work, and longer walking and train trips. It’s so easy to whip out your earbuds and listen up, even if it’s playing in the background of whatever you’re doing. Here are some of my favorite political based podcasts that share either both sides or a middle stance on today’s political issues.
Phone Apps and Daily Emails
Let’s keep with the phone subject and talk apps you can download directly to your phone. They’re just as easy to access as podcasts, but will require some reading. You know those long subway rides? These will keep you busy. What I love about all of these apps is that they share a diverse set of linked articles from all different sources. Reading from one source will narrow your mindset so making our range as diverse as possible is key to learning about all sides of an argument. Here are some of my favorites…
- iCitizen
- Google News
- Smart News (both Google News & Smart News link multiple different news sources and allow you to enable news notifications to keep you informed in the moment)
- The Skimm
- Morning Brew (both TheSkimm and Morning Brew are actually daily emails sent directly to your inbox with the headlines and different news sources sharing all sides…The Skimm doubles as an iPhone app)
Print News sources
It’s pretty well known that it’s difficult to find a news source that shares different sides of issues equally. Instead of sharing what sources lean more to one side than the other, here are some of my favorite unbiased news sources.
- Wall Street Journal (heavily discounted with a student email!)
- The Economist
- Politico
- BBC
- Forbes
My tip for reading a news article…research the opposing side. Listening to both sides can help you learn more about current issues or enhance other aspects of the story that were missed in articles you’re reading. Always keep the news bias in mind. “Fake News” is still a thing and the best thing we can do is be aware of that. Know that when you’re listening to X news channel, you may be hearing commentary that biased towards the left and vice versa. I think the past few years have really been an example of how twisted some news stories can become.
Listen, listen, listen
Listening to the opinion of others’ can be the best way to form your own views but only if you’re choosing to listen to people of different views. You may hear someone speak about a topic and think “I completely agree!” and others opinions may promote thoughts of outrage and concern.
Don’t be afraid to share your opinion with others. And no, I’m not talking about on Facebook. Find family or friends that you trust will have a respectful discussion with you if your views differ in any way. Talking about your beliefs help you work through different issues on your mind.
Now, it’s time to VOTE! Here are some sources you can use so you’re not stuck saying “who the heck are these people?” on November 6th.
Research your own ballot
Don’t go into this a blind voter or just pick the one that sides with your given political party. Know about each candidate that’s running and their backgrounds. You can use the website BallotReady to research who is running by location and the issues they support. I side With is also a great resource because it shares different issues that are effecting the state you’re voting in.
I’ll be honest, I have some brushing up to do now that I’m a registered voter in New York. I’ll be reading through the candidates and issues at stake this coming weekend. I would also love to know ways you educate yourself on the current election topics. Please share your thoughts below!
Logan says
Oh my goodness, this post is SO necessary! I absolutely love that you included podcasts in your list. I commute an hour to work and the best way to gather information is through a podcast!
Xo Logan
https://peculiarporter.com