It is interesting to hear what other people have to say about their daily news sources and the ways in which they obtain information.  My own information diet starts with newspapers and builds to other sources.   Print serves as a springboard for personal interests and further research.  Whether it is an article on the latest in the Middle East or the impact of the most recent job report on the macro economy, I can rely on print to guide me in the direction of additional insight and understanding.  

Even though I feel rush of excitement in my stomach every time someone leaves behind an edition of the TheWall Street Journal or the New York Times—my two most preferred publications for their content, reporting and diverse topics covered—at Starbucks and the anxiety over sacrificing my spare change disappears, I rarely get the sense that my generation is keeping up with the news.

I am a soon to be college junior, and one of the most visible trends on my campus is the desire—for those who earnestly care about staying informed—for quick and cheap information.  I admit I fall victim to this urge as well, but try to avoid the tradeoff of quality for quantity.  

From my observations, the majority of college students cover their faces and immerse themselves in a copy of The RedEye, which is the Chicago Tribune’s free daily newspaper.  I am from Cincinnati and it was not until my freshman year that I encountered this new publication, with its tabloid outline that combines with an abundance of graphics and pictures.  

Towards the end of high school, I became accustomed to reading The New York Times.  From trying to analyze world affairs, domestic policy and editorials, my passion for journalism amplified.  It would only be natural for someone with my newspaper orientation to be disappointed in the RedEye.

Yes, the cover-to-cover adventure was fun for a moment, but in reality, it shed light an alarming trait seen across college campuses.  My peers rarely take the time to pick up a copy of a well-respected print publication such as the Wall Street Journal.  I have always found the transmission of news from historically respected and well-known print media to be fascinating and the best way to keep in touch with the outside world.  Unfortunately, in a culture obsessed with i-Pods and the Internet, most of my peers would prefer to take the fast an easy route by flipping through a few pages of “news” while commuting between classes or waiting in line for lunch.

As technology continues to alter the landscape of news coverage and the need for a multi-media platform to effectively serve the information appetites of news consumers increases, I can only hope that my generation avoids the disconnection from the outside world that exists across universities today.
Do you feel that news is being molded in a similar form on your campus?  If so, why?

If I don't start my day with a perusal of the competition, then DrudgeReport.com, then HuffPost.com, then Poynter's Romensko then it's just not going to be a good day.
If I have time I check out Slate Magazine (slate.com) after work since it has some of the best writing and ideas for online reporting.

Sadly its a treat if I get a chance to read the Wall Street Journal. It used to be easier when the bookstores sold a slew of newspapers but now its turned into a hunt to find the Journal.