Giving up on internet news

[Mr._Graybeard]

'The word is not the thing.'

1964 I took Communications 101 at the UW. One text was Language in Thought and Action.

I have recently bought a paperback of 5th edition. Makes me chuckle when I channel surf the news.

heh heh heh -

By S.I. Hayakawa? Great book.

 

[24601NoMore]

For the Ads try ublock Origin - an extension for Chrome that effectively blocks almost all popups and ads.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm?hl=en

Second that recommendation. It's also available for other browsers (eg: FF) and unlike many other blockers doesn't hog your CPU cycles.

Fast, free, and it seems to work well. You can also easily disable pop-ups for any site you need them on (eg: banking) by clicking a single, prominent button..then re-click it to turn back on..easy..

 

[Dawg52]

I've stopped watching the national news.I don't want politics 24/7/365.There are other things going on in the world. When something big happens that the media covers, I'll tune in.

Ditto.

 

[pj.mask]

NPR is the best I have found. Fact checking after political interviews. The questions seem equally tough against both sides, and most general reporting is simply fact based reporting - not mostly opinion.

 

[Markola]

I sometimes look at allsides.com. They show how major stories are covered by the variety of news outlets left, center, and right. At least one can see the differing views on a story from one place and make an assessment. They also rate the "bias" of each news source (their board is made up of folks across the left-center-right spectrum).

Thanks for that recommendation.

 

[target2019]

In the google news site, one can switch to "For You", and fine tune the news sources. I just hid two sources that drive me crazy, and the overall look and feel is more positive. This works if you're logged in. Then your preferences for news follow you on each device.

Sounds intrusive, and it is, so I'll keep looking for better aggregator I can fine tune.

 

[Tiger8693]

I get most of my news on here, pretty (mostly) unbiased. If i want drama and bias, I look for the "closed threads".

 

[target2019]

I sometimes look at allsides.com. They show how major stories are covered by the variety of news outlets left, center, and right. At least one can see the differing views on a story from one place and make an assessment. They also rate the "bias" of each news source (their board is made up of folks across the left-center-right spectrum).

Thanks for the tip. That is an interesting site to keep bookmarked.

 

[marko]

Personally I like to gather my news from a variety of sources, with multiple different "leanings" - because the truth is usually somewhere in the middle.

Agree, but isn't that a sad state of affairs. We shouldn't have to 'work' to get to the truth in journalism.

How many 'Bombshells' have been reported that, 2-3 weeks later are never heard from again?

For me, I've turned most of it off and just watch how the markets react to the latest 'Breaking News!' or 'Bombshell'; if the market reacts, it's likely true and/or important.

 

[easysurfer]

I have issues are click bait and too much taylored news.

I'd read news stories where the headlines seem interesting (who knew? more breaking news!!) then only to think afterwards, was the news really so pressing? Articles that seem newsworthy but really are not. I think even Marketwatch is guilty of ginning stories up. On day an article will say the market is due for a record bull. 24 hrs later, an article will better prepare for a big crash.

As for the taylored news, on my phone I have a habit (that I need to break) of left swiping and that leads to google news. Google with their tracking, I read one story then google things I want to continuously follow such stories. I may have a passing interest in a sports transaction. Next thing, any news about both teams start showing up. Or I may have click baited into an article a celebrity. Next thing, google thinks I wish to real all about the celeb.

As for TV news, I've cut the cord so only have news from the major networks. I'm more interested in national news than local news. The fast forward button on the remote on my DVR is my friend to fast forward past commercials and the political [-]propaganda[/-] news of the day which I have no interest in suffering through. I do like some of the informative features, so watch that.

 

[eytonxav]

At least in terms of reporting political news, if there was a site that presented perspectives from the different point of views in an unbiased way, I can imagine it would attract an army of dissatisfied viewers who just want facts without the political spin. Do not understand why this does not happen.

 

[stevemac]

I've been seeing advertisements on TV for "Newsy", which claims to be focused solely on "facts, not opinions", or something like that. I took a quick look at the website (newsy.com) and it seems to focus on issues that people throughout the spectrum might find of interest.

Note: I have not read any of these so I don't know how neutral it is, but if they're really trying to steer clear of opinion and editorialized reporting, it could be a good site.

 

[Chuckanut]

I've stopped watching the national news.I don't want politics 24/7/365.There are other things going on in the world. When something big happens that the media covers, I'll tune in.

I did the same and forgot that there are all these people out there who hate me and I am supposed to hate back.

Now, excuse me while I listen to a news story about something that probably may occur based upon an unnamed source who is intimately involved with certain anonymous members of a secret group in the capital.

 

[W2R]

As for ads....

One of the most helpful posts I have ever read on the ER forum (which is saying a lot!!!!), was by Just_Steve who mentioned the "reading view" available on Microsoft Edge (and Firefox and Safari, I believe?). Here's his post where I first heard about it, although he does not call it by name:
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/read-or-watch-the-video-94729.html#post2140966

Anyway, I use this function nearly every day, when I go to news sites for example. It removes all popups and videos and sudden distracting sounds, and scrolling up and down whether you want to or not, and blocking one's view with ads, and everything, leaving you with a text only presentation with perhaps one key still photo. I use Edge, and to me the reading view is simply wonderful and I like it much better than Adblock.

However, even the resulting text only presentation doesn't improve the content.

 

[JoeWras]

I've been seeing advertisements on TV for "Newsy", which claims to be focused solely on "facts, not opinions", or something like that. I took a quick look at the website (newsy.com) and it seems to focus on issues that people throughout the spectrum might find of interest.

Note: I have not read any of these so I don't know how neutral it is, but if they're really trying to steer clear of opinion and editorialized reporting, it could be a good site.

They are on my cable. They lean to a very young audience, and that's their bias. Probably more on the issue selection and ignoring of other issues than anything else. Their hosts try to be edgy. You won't find any suits being worn. I'll say this, at least they are not constantly talking 100% about one person as the majors seem to be doing these days.

 

[Bestwifeever]

I think the OP is talking about the ads that bring the reading experience to a slow to dead stop and makes reading whatever content impossible. I notice this annoying feature on several sites on my computer but not on my iPad, so maybe an inexpensive tablet would help the OP. Also if the OP cared to pay for content, an online subscription to the Chicago Tribune, for example, is $10 a month at the most and opens up the archives from international to hyperlocal with well-managed ads.

I can't imagine ignoring the news itself. I look at news.google.com which gives multitude sources for the same news story. I read many of them. Some may clarify when the writer is an editorial contributor and that the views are not necessarily those of the publication.

 

[HFWR]

ANY web site that blasts me with adverts, pop-ups, etc. gets immediately closed.

 

[jimbee]

Just too many "impossible to avoid" ads. Obnoxious.

I must be alone, because it's getting worse.

Can't believe this is paying off for advertisers...

I guess they won't miss me.

Like some of the other responses, I recommend uBlock Origin. It seems to do a good job blocking ads. Third party ads are a common malware vector, so it's prudent to block them.

 

[jimbee]

I'm looking for a good source of non-biased ... news source.. .

I don't think that ever really existed.

 

[Cobra9777]

My daily news routine starts with a check of the local small-town paper (free online). This keeps me informed about things like road construction, county tax rates, and the latest shenanigans at City Hall.

I also check Google News for a quick scan of top stories from a variety of sources and also for science and technology news, which is my main interest. I have Google Now on my Android phone, so much of this gets pushed to me as Google has learned what topics I like. It's fairly easy to "train" Google Now when it suddenly thinks you're interested in Playstation games just because you read a story about Playstation Vue.

I watch PBS NewsHour most nights, or at least listen to it while preparing dinner. When I'm working around the house or driving, I usually listen to podcasts. But I also listen to NPR fairly regularly, usually when I'm all caught up on my podcasts. I find PBS and NPR to be quite comprehensive, balanced, civil, and certainly more in-depth than any other news broadcast I've seen or heard. The analysis is left-leaning for sure, but they seem to give equal time and thoughtful consideration to all viewpoints.

I use Adblock Plus on Chrome, so I never see online ads.

 

[timo2]

I'm looking for a good source of non-biased not to ad loaded news source.. I'm giving Reuters a shot at the moment. Not noticing a lot of pop-ups.

I've recently been watching Reuters on ROKU while I excercise. So far I like it. It also has international news that we don't see much of in the USA.

 

[mamadogmamacat]

I have an AP news feed on my home page, divided up by categories: US, international, business, health, political. Bias is not too bad, except left of center on the headlines. It is a good way to keep up with issues that get no press elsewhere, such as the effort to deal with ebola in the DRC in Africa. (I have friends who work in the CDC) Also, if one wants easily located poll data and articles on both sides of most any political issue, realclearpolitics is good.
I use adblocker and Chrome in incognito mode (ctl shift N in the browser window opens a new incognito window), and have no problem with ads

 

[Texas Proud]

NPR is the best I have found. Fact checking after political interviews. The questions seem equally tough against both sides, and most general reporting is simply fact based reporting - not mostly opinion.

NPR is very left leaning IMO... not equally tough... but I will agree it is much better than a lot of the 'news' channels out there...



In fact, of the 4 major ones it is the most even... but still....

 

[Texas Proud]

I sometimes look at allsides.com. They show how major stories are covered by the variety of news outlets left, center, and right. At least one can see the differing views on a story from one place and make an assessment. They also rate the "bias" of each news source (their board is made up of folks across the left-center-right spectrum).

Saw this quoted above... took a quick look and it might be something to check out... thanks.

 

[Car-Guy]

They are all bad (TV or on-line) and getting worse... Some just worse than others. I don't mind the ads but I can't tolerate the extreme bias opinions.


Just report the facts without all the BS drama.