In today’s turbulent times, finding an effective way to engage with current events is more important than ever. The Tattler Editorial Board believes that it is crucial for high school students to be active consumers of news, get involved locally, and have a welcoming space to discuss current events at school. Larry Hochberger, Associate Publisher of the Ithaca Times explained that for young people, news is their “gateway to both their local community and the world.” With support from ICSD, students can learn to engage effectively with news, and subsequently, with the global community.
Intentionally or not, many young people get much of their knowledge of current events from social media. While social media can make information more approachable, relying on it as your only news source can be harmful. For one, a one-minute video or two-hundred-character post can only scratch the surface of a complex issue. Secondly, social media algorithms amplify the content that receives the most engagement: often content containing misinformation, extreme views, or stories that reinforce users’ beliefs. This can give social media users false impressions of the world around them.
The Tattler presents three suggestions to improve your approach to the news. First, if you’re consuming news from a source you’re not confident you can trust, you should use one of many third party sites that evaluate that source’s bias and credibility. These include media bias charts, which are useful for recognizing the overall credibility of a source and resources like AllSides (allsides.com), which identify the bias of both news sources and specific articles.
Secondly, whether you prefer to watch, read, or listen to the news, make sure to consume it in full. When we “doom scroll,” we skim for the most dramatic and horrific headlines. We hardly register the neutral or positive stories we see, or engage critically with those that distress us. Consuming full-length news instead will help you understand the nuances of a situation and what could be done about it.
Lastly, but most importantly, get involved in your community. Through hearing about current events, you can identify the issues you’re passionate about and find a way to use your time and talent to contribute to their solution. Students have accomplished this in many ways including helping out with IHS Community Market or the Special Olympics, giving three-minute public comments at Board of Education meetings, participating in Social Justice Week, and writing opinion pieces for The Tattler or Ithaca Times. There are many opportunities for IHS students to use their voice to help make change. Contact clubs and organizations working on causes you care about for simple actions you can take.
While there are many things individuals can do to improve their relationship with current events, The Tattler argues that schools should play an important role too. Becoming a conscientious, well-informed consumer of news is no easy feat for high school students with busy lives. Schools should be places for students to learn media literacy, discuss current events, and work to understand other people’s perspectives.
Some IHS teachers have exemplified strategies to encourage students’ interests in current events. For example, Phillip Jordan often hands out printed news articles for his students to read if they’re interested. However, incorporating current events into the curriculum is not feasible for all teachers. School administration could further support students’ healthy news engagement by hosting media literacy workshops and discussion forums. At the Ithaca Public Education Symposium last May, student panelists emphasized the importance of designated spaces in school to ask questions about, discuss, and digest current events. IHS could look to LACS’s Emergency All-School Meetings which take place after major events for inspiration.
There are many resources you can use to stay informed and hear diverse perspectives about current events. If you’re looking for free and reliable news outlets, consider sources like the New York Times (ICSD students and staff can use the free subscription at nytimes.com/passes with their school email), the BBC, Reuters, Financial Times, or others. The IHS library has subscriptions to Smithsonian, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, and more. Local news is available in The Tattler, the Ithaca Times, the Ithacan, Ithaca Voice, Ithaca Journal, Cornell Daily Sun, and Tompkins Weekly.
Grappling with current events can be challenging, but it is key to becoming an active community member and global citizen. By prioritizing engagement with current events as individuals and a school district, we can work to create a more informed and involved community.