Nowadays access to news is everywhere. It’s playing on televisions in almost all public establishments including barbershops, cafes, and restaurants, and broadcasting over the radio in your car. It’s available all over the Internet and just a few taps away on your smartphone apps. LinkedIn has a section specifically dedicated to the news called LinkedIn Newsroom, so obviously following current events is extremely helpful for anyone looking to advance in their career. Here are some professional development benefits of staying informed. Show Passion for Your Field and Become a Thought Leader Regardless of what career cluster you’re looking to enter, there is probably at least one weekly news item on it. You never know what questions you might be asked during an interview, so keeping up with the latest news can show your knowledge of and dedication and passion for your field, as referenced by The Undercover Recruiter. Posting news stories that examine topics in your field on your LinkedIn profile might even lead you to become a thought leader within your industry over a longer period of time. By following the news you also might be able to spot opportunities for jobs and internships faster than your colleagues who are not as informed. For example, when Amazon announced that it was building it's HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia, a plethora of new jobs opened up in that city. Jobseekers who were not aware of Amazon’s move early on were more likely to miss out on potential openings with the company. Keep Your Mind Open to New Possibilities One of the most valuable skills in the workplace is an open mind. Employers value the ability to think in new and creative ways. As we grow more interconnected as human beings, thinking on a global level is becoming essential. By following world news closely, you are showing that you are a globally conscious of updates in labor laws and other policies. The sooner you know about these changes, the more you will be able to see how they will affect your workplace and adapt your work style accordingly. Your Job Might Depend on It No one can say that their lives aren’t influenced by politics at all. State and local government affairs are often more important than national elections for many citizens. For instance, teaching and other education professions are directly affected by local politics. School budgets can drastically change the number or type of positions available within a district because the guidelines are based off property taxes and annual votes by the local electorate. If you’re in a civil service position, it’s important to keep track of the legislative actions that result from public votes. That way you’re aware of your level of job security. Now that we have reviewed some benefits of staying up to date with current events, here are some tips to remember when consuming news: Organizations Are Their Own News Sources Many companies are now breaking and distributing their own news updates on social media and other platforms immediately rather than relying on traditional media outlets or press releases. If you are looking for news on a specific company, you can follow its Twitter account or LinkedIn profile and receive notifications for certain keywords and hashtags as they are published alongside each story. This new customization allows you to closely tailor your news searches to items that are the most relevant to you and your career aspirations. Following company profiles directly should not entirely replace your news consumption, but can act as a great supplement to keep track of current events. Be Wary of Your Information Sources With so many sources out there to get information and other news, it can oftentimes be confusing and overwhelming to decide which sources to read on any given topic. As a general rule of thumb, I would recommend reading full-length articles from publications rather than shorter sections of the same article. The full articles have more angles to the story and tend to separate facts from commentary. I would encourage you to first get the facts from a news story, then form your own interpretations and opinions on the topic. Be Aware of Bias In this hyper-polarized political world, media sources have come under more scrutiny for having a bias towards one side of the spectrum. Most media sources have some type of bias associated with them. Uncovering and understanding these biases, whether they lean toward one side or another, is an important part of news consumption and thinking critically. Always check to see what sources the article draws from, how studies were conducted and funded, and how data was collected. Regardless of your own personal views on a particular story I would encourage you to consume news from all sides of the political spectrum, even if you may disagree with the publication’s slant. Former president Barack Obama expressed this point well, stating in 2010: If you're somebody who only reads the editorial page of The New York Times, try glancing at a page of The Wall Street Journal once in a while. If you're a fan of Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh, try reading a few columns on The Huffington Post website. It may make your blood boil, your mind may not be changed. But the practice of listening to opposing views is essential for effective citizenship. It is essential for our democracy. Student Discounts
Much like college students get discounts for popular online services like Amazon, Hulu, and Spotify, many of the nation’s most popular and prominent news sources have student discounts. The New York Times and Washington Post contain news on a variety of topics while The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and The Economist, tend to focus solely on business and finance. Subscriptions to these publications provide unlimited access to online articles. If you are not a subscriber you can only read four or five articles a month on each publication’s website. For technology buffs Gizmodo and Mashable produce some of the most up to date content. Luckily, you can access all articles for free on these sites without a subscription. Great News Discounts for Students
There are more ways than ever to stay connected to what is happening in the world. The events that are occurring in governments and communities around the world all affect us personally and professionally in some way. College students, young professionals and jobseekers who stay informed have an advantage over fellow colleagues who might not follow the news as closely.
2 Comments
William Duggan
4/24/2019 01:17:51 am
Former Marist alumni class of 2018
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I think it is so interesting how you mentioned that by following world news closely, you show that you are conscious of updates in labor laws and other policies, and that can benefit your job. My husband always has lobed politics and watching the news, but I never really got into it, because I do not tend to understand a lot of what is going on. I liked this article because it helped me open my eyes and see that if I keep up with politics, I could open my eyes more.
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