Post by janetcatbird on Feb 25, 2006 23:31:35 GMT -5
Since we've really gotten into all the current events and such lately, I thought it'd be interesting to swap information sources. Me first:
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart(Comedy Central) Because I'm a college student. Hey, it's allowed, right? Really, this is the one thing I specifically plan to see each night it's on. Truth be told, it's The Daily Show that got me looking for real news, I figured if I was gonna laugh at the funny stuff I might as well see what's actually going on. Besides, in this day and age I need the laughs--to quote Jimmy Buffet, if we couldn't laugh we just would go insane. (I view "Colbert Report" as hit-and-miss fun, but not quite on the informative level of "The Daily Show".)
The Newshour with Jim Lehrer (PBS) Grew up with PBS, I still have to check myself from saying "MacNeil Lehrer Newshour". They do good run-downs and focuses. (The only real irritation I had with it was Ray Suarez getting condescending with the reporter from Corpus Christi, TX.) But a steady, reliable source of info, key questions and nice presentation of basic facts. Soon as poor college student gets some disposable income, I will support my public television station.
Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria(PBS) As one can imagine, weekly half-hour dedicated to international news and events, with non-Americans doing most of the analysis. Fareed Zakaria is fantastic, (read his Newsweek stuff) he's extrememly smart, moderate views--he's pointed out in several interviews he doesn't root for a team, but tries to examine each specific thing on its own--comes across as relatively good-humored, and really asks important questions. For me at least, a viewing spin-off of "The Daily Show": I saw several of his appearances with Jon Stewart and tracked it down. Not all PBS stations carry "Foreign Exchange", but they put all their episodes online--thank heavens, cause my station doesn't have it--website address on the show thread. Soon as poor college student can support my local public television station, I will start requesting.
This Week with George Stephanopoulos(ABC) Sunday morning public affairs, generally Washington politics but big international stuff gets through. I like the roundtable and Stephanopoulos does decent interviews. He catches a lot of flack for working with Clinton, but I think he tries to ask relevant questions and he's courteous even to those he disagrees with. Besides, the Sunday Funnies (a round-up of late-night political humor) are a little light touch, and they always do In Memoriam, for important figures who have died--including the weekly armed forces tallies.
As to non-TV sources: When home, I read "Newsweek". I love NPR, but radio reception is lousy here. The internet is a wonderful thing, when I think to go to the websites I can but usually I don't have time to chase it down. My homepage is MSNBC, so every now and then I'll click on those articles.
So where do y'all get your fix?
--Catbird
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart(Comedy Central) Because I'm a college student. Hey, it's allowed, right? Really, this is the one thing I specifically plan to see each night it's on. Truth be told, it's The Daily Show that got me looking for real news, I figured if I was gonna laugh at the funny stuff I might as well see what's actually going on. Besides, in this day and age I need the laughs--to quote Jimmy Buffet, if we couldn't laugh we just would go insane. (I view "Colbert Report" as hit-and-miss fun, but not quite on the informative level of "The Daily Show".)
The Newshour with Jim Lehrer (PBS) Grew up with PBS, I still have to check myself from saying "MacNeil Lehrer Newshour". They do good run-downs and focuses. (The only real irritation I had with it was Ray Suarez getting condescending with the reporter from Corpus Christi, TX.) But a steady, reliable source of info, key questions and nice presentation of basic facts. Soon as poor college student gets some disposable income, I will support my public television station.
Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria(PBS) As one can imagine, weekly half-hour dedicated to international news and events, with non-Americans doing most of the analysis. Fareed Zakaria is fantastic, (read his Newsweek stuff) he's extrememly smart, moderate views--he's pointed out in several interviews he doesn't root for a team, but tries to examine each specific thing on its own--comes across as relatively good-humored, and really asks important questions. For me at least, a viewing spin-off of "The Daily Show": I saw several of his appearances with Jon Stewart and tracked it down. Not all PBS stations carry "Foreign Exchange", but they put all their episodes online--thank heavens, cause my station doesn't have it--website address on the show thread. Soon as poor college student can support my local public television station, I will start requesting.
This Week with George Stephanopoulos(ABC) Sunday morning public affairs, generally Washington politics but big international stuff gets through. I like the roundtable and Stephanopoulos does decent interviews. He catches a lot of flack for working with Clinton, but I think he tries to ask relevant questions and he's courteous even to those he disagrees with. Besides, the Sunday Funnies (a round-up of late-night political humor) are a little light touch, and they always do In Memoriam, for important figures who have died--including the weekly armed forces tallies.
As to non-TV sources: When home, I read "Newsweek". I love NPR, but radio reception is lousy here. The internet is a wonderful thing, when I think to go to the websites I can but usually I don't have time to chase it down. My homepage is MSNBC, so every now and then I'll click on those articles.
So where do y'all get your fix?
--Catbird
Patrick Roy, 2006 inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame
