Top 5 News Sources

    Traditionally, I don't pay much attention to mainstream news. This is for several reasons such as simply being too busy with coursework to allow distractions, prevalence of misinformation, and to avoid the drama. When it comes to my sources for "news" it's not so much mainstream news as it is just new information, and many are related to academics or the sciences.  So, in no particular order, these are my top five news sources:

1.  One of my top 5 news sources is the NASA website. NASA is well known for their space programs and involvement in scientific innovations, but they also have programs and research in other fields such as ecology and global climate studies. They are major sources for global environmental and ecological data, and they are traditionally reliable in their research. This makes NASA a trusted organization my most people, especially since it is mainstream enough that the public is aware of their organization and what they do. Personally, I use NASA as a source for current research on global climate change and progress in climate change mitigation, but people can refer to their News page for information about space programs, natural events, etc. For example, on April 8 this year there will be a total solar eclipse!

2. NOAA is another source that I visit frequently for my research and coursework. Similar to NASA, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration is dedicated to exploring and understanding the natural world in which we live. NOAA is very involved in understanding and protecting our oceans and coasts, for example they explore the ocean floors and restore coastlines. They also monitor the global climate and weather systems, informing the public of severe weather storms, making them a great resource for weather and climate change information to the general public. 

3. The CDC is another informative source that I have referenced for coursework and for general health information. The CDC recently has been a crucial resource for the public to understand the latest guidelines or happenings with COVID-19, especially at the beginning of the pandemic. The CDC also provides data and statistics on health topics. They are a very important resource for health information that is typically reliable and research-based, rather than your random healthy lifestyle website. The CDC also offers information about the public health situation in other countries, such as that country's guidelines, current outbreaks, and suggests actions to take before traveling there. This is very beneficial for anyone planning to travel abroad, especially if it is a country that is in a zone known to have diseases like malaria or cholera.

4. Youtube is another of my top 5 news sources. Even though I don't typically watch anything remotely related to mainstream news, I do enjoy watching videos of of environmental projects at work. For example, videos documenting small-scale restoration efforts that implement simple, yet effective techniques to help heal and change an environment or ecosystem that has been destroyed. Youtube is a great resource for mainstream news as well, provided that you are careful about where this information is coming from.

5. This last source is kind of a boring addition, but weather apps or channels, such as The Weather Channel, are sources I use daily for just checking the weather for the week. These weather channels and apps are also great for easy access to news about natural disasters, space information, or even wildlife. These are also important resources for severe weather warnings and storm tracking that help keep the public informed on steps to take to remain safe.