Learning Your Way Through Politics

Now, more than ever, it’s increasingly important to be aware of the political environment affecting our nation. And as a world leader, the United States has a dominant influence in global affairs. With the political atmosphere changing every day, from the health care debate to various topics in international affairs, it may seem overwhelming to keep up with it all. Fortunately, it’s easier than you think to increase your political aptitude. And remember that developing habits take time. It won’t be easy at first if you don’t already have a general interest in politics and global issues, but taking 5-10 minutes out of your day to make an effort will go a long way in the end.

The first step is to find a credible source of news information with a balanced perspective. Regardless of where you live, the Internet makes global news accessible 24/7. And even looking on the homepage and choosing a few top stories to keep up with will make an impact. Most newspapers have an online counterpart like NYTimes.com and LAtimes.com, but there are also purely online venues that are dedicated to news.

• Huffington Post


• Politico


• NPR

Especially with the print industry of news declining and the increasing preference toward online versions, it’s even easier to follow the news. One way that I keep up with what’s going on in the world is to follow news organizations on Twitter. Various news organizations use Twitter to post a short blurb on breaking stories as they’re happening. They all have Facebook pages as well. Through Facebook, it’s easy to stay updated because news is integrated into your Live Feed. Some of the organizations that I personally follow are:

• Huffington Post – @huffingtonpos


• ABC News – @ABC


• New York Times – @nytimes


• Good Morning America – @GMA


• CBS News – @CBSNews


• CNN (Breaking News) – @cnnbrk


• Christian Amanpour (CNN Correspondent) – @AmanpourCNN

If you’re already on Twitter as much as I am (Follow me: @blessed_ballen), then following these groups is the easiest way to get a comprehensive picture of what’s going on in the world. It’s effortless because they tell you what’s going on without you having to seek it out yourself. And they always post a link to their main websites and the story they’re reporting on, so you can get the full story if you want to know more.

Again, don’t worry if it seems like a lot to handle – you’ll never be able to know everything and no one expects to you. As you get older however, it will become more important for you to have a general understanding of global affairs. Don’t be afraid to talk to your parents too; chances are they read the paper and probably would enjoy talking to you about what’s going on. All in all, take it slow and remember: a little bit of effort is better than none.

--Brittany Allen
Brownstone Intern