No One Source Will Save You: A Guide to Smarter News Consumption

Feeling overwhelmed by the news? You’re not alone. Let’s talk about how to build a smarter, more balanced way to stay informed.

There is so much going on. The news cycle changes so quickly. There’s so much happening between our Threads and Bluesky feeds and our Facebook pages. And, then, what media to choose? It’s so polarized. So, we must exercise the muscle of diversifying our news sources. We must move away from just one newspaper or our Facebook feed and broaden to get a more comprehensive look at what’s happening worldwide.

Here are some things to consider on why it’s important to get a diversified sourcing of news.

(1) No one source is fully neutral. Check out these graphics describing media bias. I scan my Apple News feed, New York Times subscription, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and local NPR station, Oregon Public Broadcasting. Look at the chart — where do they fall?

(2) It’s important to remember that these different outlets prioritize different facts. When I read Politico, for example, I see a clear opinion and focus on the policy of the day. When I read the Wall Street Journal, I see a more conservative flavor (even more than this chart suggests) and an unmistakable look toward finance. A hint I describe in “9 Steps to Stop Fake News” reminds us to always check who the editors are at these publications.

(3) A final consideration on this part of my topic is that critical thinking is an active choice. When we engage in critical thinking, we are not passive consumers — just scrolling, nodding along to memes, and blindly sharing.

Let’s return to our first point: no one source is fully neutral. Objectivity is an illusion. We discussed this much in my American Literature class in high school. We discussed the history of an author, where they grew up, what their influences were, and we discussed how that might play a role in the way they wrote and what point they were trying to make. Likewise, with news sources, it’s similar. Who owns the newspaper? Who’s on the editorial board? Who’s the chief editor? What other kinds of things do they write? There is a reason these media bias charts exist - because there is an inherent bias. I love my NPR - but it is left-leaning in its viewpoints.

Let’s be clear - bias isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it’s important to know it exists. Unexamined bias is a dangerous tool. So, if you tell me to read “Newsmax” (like a recent comment on my TikTok video that started this thread for me) but ignore its blatant far-right bias… well, that’s where the danger lies.

My absolute favorite news publication is the “North Peninsula Review.” It’s a new local (hyper-local to my series of North Portland neighborhoods) news source. It comes out once per month and focuses on issues in our neighborhood. The reporting generally asks good questions, and they tell stories relevant to our area.

Here are some tips when thinking about how to diversify your news:

• Have a mix of mainstream, independent, and international sources

• Set time limits (doom scrolling doesn’t help anyone)

• And ABSOLUTELY cross-reference big stories

I’ve named a few things in this post, so let’s recap my top news outlets:

• The North Peninsula Review - for hyper-local news and decent journalism.

• Oregon Public Broadcasting - for statewide and some national news, decent journalism, and no paywalls.

• Reuters - for a relatively unbiased look at national and some international news, reasonable journalism, and only $40/year gets you an ad-free experience (yes, journalists deserve to be paid!).

• The New York Times - because I like their longer articles that dig into history, ask okay questions, and cover a range of things (and also Wordle).

• Apple News - I have an aggregate of sources, including some of the ones named here, but it also gives me access to the Wall Street Journal and a few others - to scan - it’s not a great app. I only get 3–5 stories, and it skips to fluff and games. But it gives a quick scan of what’s happening (or what they aren’t showing me).

• Al Jazeera for international news. I used to use the Globe and Mail, but they are now caught behind a paywall. I will also scan the Guardian and Independent, but those absolutely have a left-lean.

What news sources do you use? And WHY?

Here are some parting thoughts: Stay curious, not cynical. Yes, there is a lot of terrible news in our world — it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing everything is doom and gloom. But we don’t serve ourselves or others when we sink into despair.

Stay curious. Stay engaged. Information literacy isn’t just a skill; it’s a necessary tool for healing and building the better world we all deserve.

So, what is one news source you trust? And what is one you want to explore more? Tell me in the comments, and let’s process information together.