More on reading the media
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Subscribe to news services you value to support journalism and ensure its continued existence.
To support real journalists and ensure sources continue to exist.
- Some users noted they cannot afford high subscription costs.
4 people, independently
Switch from short-form scrolling to YouTube videos, podcasts, or audiobooks.
The algorithm is not as hard on your mind.
one person who lived it
If you suspect domestic government influence on media, try getting news about your country from sources located outside it.
External sources may be less influenced by local government portrayal of events.
- External sources may have their own biases.
- External sources may be less informed or detailed about local situations.
3 people, independently
Refer to wire services such as AP, Reuters, or AFP for unbiased facts.
These agencies supply content to outlets across the entire political spectrum.
3 people, independently
Avoid 24-hour news networks like CNN and Fox News.
They are toxic and regurgitate the same headlines with opinions rather than providing objective reporting.
one person who lived it
Be skeptical of news sources that claim to be unbiased if they align perfectly with your beliefs.
Alignment with your beliefs does not make a source unbiased.
one person who lived it
Recognize that no news source is completely unbiased, but some are better at minimizing bias than others.
Everyone shows bias based on their agenda.
one person who lived it
Call the New York Times to request a lower subscription rate if the standard price is too expensive.
They will provide a lower rate even if you are not a student, provided you explain the cost is too high.
one person who lived it
Avoid relying on closed captions for live events like sports or auto-generated content due to potential errors and delays.
Live captioning is not perfect and can be inaccurate.
- Some sources note that certain channels, like PBS Kids, are accurate and well-paced.
one person who lived it
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Check a story against opposing domestic sources (e.g., Fox and CNN) to identify bias, then verify with foreign news or Reuters/NPR for a closer account.
Comparing opposing polarities pulls out the biased elements, leaving the unbiased core.
one person who lived it
When filming movement, anticipate where it will end and frame the subject on the side of the video opposite their direction of travel.
This keeps the space they are moving into visible without needing to pan.
one person who lived it
Consider economics news sources for world events if you want to avoid partisan political bias.
These sources are often designed to help financiers make sound investments rather than push a political party agenda.
- They may still have a pro-free market or pro-large corporation bias.
- They may not cover specific regional conflicts like those in Kurdistan or Russia.
one person who lived it
Watch Modern Wisdom podcasts or Jimmy Carr comedy snippets in short pieces rather than scrolling continuously.
It feels good without overstimulating dopamine receptors.
one person who lived it
Before engaging in discussion about an outrageous story, verify it by checking at least one independent source to see if it appears elsewhere.
It is shameful to engage without looking into the story at all.
one person who lived it
Be aware that dubbing and subtitle translations may differ in foreign language shows.
The translator doing the dubbing is likely different from the one doing the subtitles.
one person who lived it
Avoid speeding up content meant for entertainment, such as comedy, movies, or TV shows.
Pacing and timing are crucial to the experience; rushing defeats the purpose.
one person who lived it
Check a creator's upload frequency before watching video essays; those who seldom upload likely invest more time in research and passion.
Creators who churn out long video essays weekly are likely producing lower quality content compared to those who upload seldomly.
one person who lived it
Verify scientific papers cited in news articles directly.
Outlets often misquote them for clicks.
one person who lived it
Use closed captions instead of standard subtitles if you need sound descriptions.
Closed captions include non-dialogue sounds like 'bells ringing' or 'chainsaw sound,' while subtitles typically only include dialogue.
one person who lived it
Be aware that people often only fact-check information they disagree with, while easily believing information that confirms their existing beliefs.
Confirmation bias is a powerful influence.
one person who lived it
Be aware that relying on subtitles may make you dependent on them for following plots in theaters.
- You may become totally lost without them if you go to the movies rarely.
one person who lived it
Stop watching political commentary channels you enjoy if you notice they leave out or misinterpret facts compared to other sources.
One person reported stopping because even when nodding along, different sources revealed omissions or misinterpretations.
one person who lived it
Get away from group labels like 'conservative' or 'liberal' and think as an individual; let ideas swirl around your head before forming your own opinion.
one person who lived it
Recognize that neutrality cannot exist and be aware of societal biases in news.
one person who lived it