When breaking news happens, everyone has a go-to source for the latest information. CNN, Fox or MSNBC… we all have our pick. On the less-frenetic days, when the 24/7 media cycle gently hums along, where do you go for news? Huff Po and Buzzfeed? Perhaps a headline caught your eye at News To Live By? (And it’s much appreciated.)
If you’re looking to expand your daily news roster, you’ve come to the right blog post.
The 11 Best Sources of News/Commentary for Millennials
1. PolicyMic
A central hub for young adults to discuss hot-button issues of the day but on our own terms. Topics include politics, business and life as a Millennial. Here’s one you might like: Why I Gave Up On 5-Year Plans. To join the conversation, create an account and let the crowd know what’s on your mind in comment threads. Everyone gives and shares ‘Mics.’ The more ‘Mics’ you receive, the more clout you obtain.
2. 20SB
From the site: “20 Something Bloggers has brought together thousands of bloggers from all over the world, and spawned a vibrant community of fascinating people who thrive on one another’s support and feedback.”
Check out the forums (i.e. Long Distance Relationship.. fight or flee?) and Groups (i.e.Apartment Lifew). 20SB is a collection of people our age sharing the ups and downs of their twenties. You’re bound to find something worth reading.
3. Slate Explainer
I had a friend ask me recently why police were allowed to arrest suspected Boston bomber Dzokhar Tsarnaev and not read him his Miranda Rights.
I found the answer at Slate’s Explainer page. Slate, a witty off-shoot of The Washington Post, uses the Explainer to dissect all the questions that keep us up at night. For instance:
- Why Do So Many European Countries Still Have Monarchs?
- How Long Can You Go Without Food?
4. Kicker
You know when you’re at a party and everyone’s talking about the latest piece of breaking news…and you have no idea what’s going on? Kicker wants to change all of that. Check out the ‘Today in 10‘ feature, which offers a quick yet comprehensive recap of the day that was. ‘Today in 10′ features a person of the day, quote of the day, tweet of the day, video of the day, issue of the day and more!
5. RYOT
RYOT’s mantra is simple and direct: ‘Become the News.’
RYOT gives you a way to take action on every piece of news it covers. When Boston was attacked several weeks ago, there was a great article called ‘Finding Burial Plot for Recent Bombing Suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev a Struggle‘ full of good info on the bombing investigation. On the side of the screen, RYOT then gave you the ‘action element.’ In that case, it was an easy way to donate to the Boston Marathon Victims Fund.
Never get caught out-of-the-loop again. Kicker has you covered.
6. TakePart
From the site: “TakePart is dedicated to connecting inspiring content to relevant and credible actions you can take to make a difference. We’ve partnered with leading organizations including non-profits to deliver trustworthy actions intended for real good.”
On the Take Action page, you’ll see a list of pledges to sign. Many of the topics have graced the headlines in recent weeks/months. Like RYOT, TakePart wants to use the news to make the world a better place.
7. Ask the Captain
For the frequent fliers out there, USA Today has a page that answers all types of questions about airplanes and airports. The man dishing out the info is John Cox, a retired captain with US Airways.
Queries like:
- Is that other plane too close to us?
- Are most airline pilots from the military?
To send John Cox a question, see the form at the bottom of this page.
8. First to Know
Each day, Mashable provides a tech roundup. From the site:
“A series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. It’s published every morning to keep you up to date on the day’s biggest stories.”
Check out today’s stories here.
9. YPBLOGS
From the site: ”YPBLOGS is the place for young professionals to find up to the minute news and information that matter! ypblogs.com aggregates blogs by automatically checking 225+ sites every 10 minutes for updated articles and posting links to them with a very small description.”
The YPBLOGS main page is always turning over with unique commentary from people our age.
This column has my attention:
What I Learned About Running a Startup From Econ 101
10. Social Times
A news site devoted to coverage of anything and everything social media. Social Times also lists social media jobs along the right side.
Two recent stories:
- Young Job Seekers See Effects of Social Network Activity: Infographic
- Twitter CEO’s Commencement Speech
Bonus Point: News To Live By
News To Live By (NTLB) highlights the career advice, leadership lessons and practical tips ‘hidden’ inside the day’s top headlines. We’re all reading the same news; why not use those stories to get better at our own lives? NTLB is written for the Millennial crowd.
Subscribe to the twice-weekly NTLB newsletter, and find out why the email engagement rate is three times higher than the national average.
Top News + Career Advice = Lots of Value
(This content was originally posted at News To Live By.)