Even though I have Twitter notifications for the main Spanish and international news outlets and religiously listen to the radio during lunch and dinnertime, I always find myself reaching for written news pieces from legacy media when I need to dive deeper into a topic. Continue reading...
What I like to do when reading news online is opening several tabs at the same time so that I can first, do a quick sweep of the whole webpage without clicking on any news piece (I know, I know, never read only the headlines) and compare what each newspaper deems most important from everything that has happened in the past 24 hours.
Their choice in main header, picture and subtitles can tell a lot about the editorial line they follow, and what bias filter we can expect to find in the rest of their articles.
The divisions in tags and topics within the web pages allow me to jump between articles on the same matter much more easily than I would when reading a traditional print newspaper.
- The Washington Post’s forte is infographics. It is a very visual media outlet and utilizes online resources to build dynamic graphs and articles to explain the latest news in a creative way. They are heavy on the politics and opinion sections. My favorite feature on their app is the possibility to see the print edition in digital form, it tells me they have not yet abandoned their print edition and see digital media as a natural extension and complement to the paper.
- The New York Times is the mother of all newspapers in my opinion. In its long life, it has established itself as a flagship outlet to look up to and the dream workplace for many journalists. It has seamlessly transitioned to the digital sphere by creating multimedia content and adding sections that incentivize subscription to their services. Aside from the news sections, on their app we can find their Games library, which includes the classic crossword, sudoku and the recent viral phenomenon Wordle. Their “Morning Briefing” free newsletter arrives everyday at noon Spanish time and is perfect for those who don’t have enough time on their hands but want to stay informed nonetheless.
- El Confidencial is a strictly online media pioneer in the field of Spanish digital newspapers. It’s editorial line does not align with my political ideologies in any way, shape or form, but I’ve learnt it is necessary to put up with the “torture” of reading from people who disagree with me in almost every aspect of life to break the information bubbles that surround journalism in the digital era. Echo chambers are one of the most relevant threats to the proper flow of truthful information, so I like to “take one for the team” and expose myself to uncomfortable articles and realities I may not have other chance to know about. El Confidencial has gained a spotlight in the Spanish media industry (and some of enemies and lawsuits) with their investigative journalism articles and exposés.
- My most recent discovery has been Medium. It is available as an app, webpage and newsletter. It publishes articles and essays by freelance journalists and citizens who simply like to write and share their knowledge. Even Barack Obama shares his statements on the app! Their ad revenue goes into the “partner program” fund, that pays creators based on views and interactions. It combines the best aspects of journalism, citizen participation and social media.
If you want to stay up to date but get bored easily or can’t seem to fit news-reading into your routine, I strongly recommend the Daily Drive function on Spotify. It mixes the best national and international news podcasts of the day with the music in your library. Starting the day informed is the best way to start your day!
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