Why YOU Should Read The Newspaper

Reading the news is a habit most people associate with their parents and grandparents and, essentially, this argument’s logic partially makes sense: years ago, the internet was not a reality to the majority of people, thus, they relied on sources such as the newspaper to acquire all of their knowledge on global and national affairs. Yes, shockingly, there was no Twitter, no hashtags and definitely no Instagram for people to be kept informed on the latest social trends. But then again, should we give up on newspapers (online or on paper) just because today we have access to much faster communication outlets? This idea that one replaces the other is not realistic due to the fact that reading the newspaper goes beyond only acquiring knowledge. Reading allows people to stimulate their minds further, as it provides constant exposure to new words, different sentence structures and quite possibly even new languages. Additionally, reading a newspaper does not mean that you should read articles from every existing section in it; you can choose the subjects that interest you the most so that it does not become a tiring activity. See it as practice almost; the more you read these articles the easier it becomes to read materials which are much harder and most likely not as particularly interesting to you.

Firstly, if newspapers had lost their purpose of sharing what is happening in your community or around the world a long time ago because of the development of technology, then there would be no reason for them to actually exist. However, they are still being written and published by renowned companies, like the New York Times or The Economist. Why is that? Writing an article may seem like an easy task, but it isn’t. It includes finding reliable sources of information, researching and selecting the relevant aspects of research, as well as writing exceptionally well to suit the desired audience, which is the exact purpose of the St. Francis Post: provide you with up-to-date information about a variety of global happenings that you will find interesting. In social media outlets today like Instagram and Twitter, anyone is able to provide information about what is happening. At the same time that this is good, as it gives everyone an opportunity to express their opinions about certain themes, it also means that even people who do not have any expertise on issues can give a untrue reports, which may be subjected to personal interests and manipulation based on beliefs. In order to dodge this approach, it is very important to be aware of who wrote what you are reading. In fact, a good tip is to personalize your reading as much as possible, choosing the topics and the type of newspaper you enjoy the most, so that this activity becomes something you do for leisure and not necessarily as a chore. You will know which topics you enjoy the most straight away, especially if you are someone who does not read often: if you select an article which you think you might like and you are able to read it from the beginning until its end without procrastinating, then this is the type of subject you should be reading more about.

Reading the news can broaden your perception of the world tremendously. What would happen if people only worried about themselves and the bubble they live in? Everyday it becomes more evident that one of the most important skills to have in the future is the ability to perform collaborative work; yet how will you do so if you haven’t been exposed to different realities and, consequently, are not aware of what is happening in other people’s regions or countries? You may be able to learn about the development of new technologies like the IPhone XS Max or the new Apple Watch, but Instagram and Twitter will not be able to show you an in depth perspective on the social and economic consequences of these products. One of your thoughts may be, quite logically, why is it important to know about their consequences? Well, knowing how the products you buy are made and how they reach your hands is part of the process of making conscious decisions. By knowing these things, you have the power to decide what kind of impact you want your actions to have in the world.

WHERE TO START:

The Guardian

The New York Times

The Washington Post

New York Post

Estadão

Folha de São Paulo

The St. Francis Post! (obviously)