News and Data Resources

News Radio - these shows air locally on 89.3 FM (KPCC) and 89.9 FM (KCRW), are free of commercials, and can be downloaded as podcasts.

• • All Things Considered on NPR and Morning Edition on NPR  - these two National Public Radio (NPR) news and features programs are on every weekday morning and afternoon on 89.3 and 89.9 FM. This one radio show is the single most important source of information for many of America's educated elite. The shows are one hour long and repeat. So, if you listen for any hour you hear the whole show.

  • Left, Right, and Center - pundits from across the political spectrum discuss current events and politics. Much more dignified than similar shows on television. Airs on 89.3 FM on Friday evenings, but it can be downloaded as a podcast at any time.

  • Marketplace - remarkably entertaining and informative show that focuses on economics and the markets. Really great economic reporting here. 

  • The World - another great National Public Radio (NPR). This one focuses more on international news. In one hour you'll learn more about the world than you ever thought possible. It airs on both 89.3 FM and 89.9 FM.

Newspapers and Magazines

• • The Los Angeles Times - still one of the best newspapers in the country - and it's our local paper! Limited articles for free, but a free PDF of the front page can be set as your home page on your browser. Free daily email newsletter of top stories too: http://membership.latimes.com/newsletters/

  • The Economist - let's face it. Everything is business. This renowned British magazine also has a web presence. All the really smart business people, diplomats, and economists read this one. You can get free access to it online via the library's database search engines. The editorial page leans to the right of the political spectrum, but the reporting is top-notch.

  • America's Quarterly - excellent, award-winning coverage of culture, economics, and politics throughout Latin America. It is non-profit and supports openness, the rule of law, and economic stability.

  • The Wall Street Journal (What's News Podcast) - I rarely agree with its editorial page but I trust the reporting. After all, business leaders (the main clients of this paper) need to know what's really going on in the world to make good business decisions and stay profitable.

Television

• • The PBS NEWSHOUR - the only remaining truly reputable evening news broadcast in the United States? If you get your news from a single television source it should be this. There is no advertising (though "sponsors" do get brief mentions) and it has historically had equal numbers of conservative and liberal listeners. Conservatives claim it is too liberal. Liberals claim it is too mainstream (National Petroleum Radio). Sounds about right to me.

Websites and Blogs

• • OurWorldinData.org - high-quality data, graphs, maps, charts, and analysis about the world's most important problems. Citations and source data are always included.

  • Earthweek - A Diary of the Planet - once-a-week summary of global climate, hazard, and environmental news.

  • Vlogbrothers on YouTube.com - raising nerdy to the power of awesome! John and Hank Green rant and inform brilliantly, although they talk very rapidly.

Judging the Reliability and Veracity of News Sources

• • MediaBiasFactcheck.com - rates the bias, factual accuracy, and credibility of media sources, large and small. See if your newspaper, website, or TV news is credible and how it is biased.

  • Snopes.com - is probably the best place on the Internet to quickly check if a rumor is true or false (or is propaganda).

  • Factcheck.org - is another good fact-checking resource. This one focuses on political speech. 

Science and Skepticism

• • The CRAAP Test for Evaluating Websites  - thinking about how to decide what to trust on the Internet.

  • Crash Course's Navigating Digital Information - this excellent 11-part video series is an excellent tutorial on how to evaluate and validate online information. In particular, I suggest episodes #4 and #7.

  • The Skeptics Society and Skeptics Magazine - a great resource for learning how to distinguish fake news and conspiracy theories from real science and objective reporting.

  • Baloney (Bullsh*t) Detection Kit by Michael Shermer of Skeptic Magazine - his lecture at the TED Conference about junk science is also excellent. Too many students think all media is "bullshit." Many are too skeptical for their own good. There is more and more useful information available to each of us today if we know where to find it. On the other hand, a different group of my students seems to believe almost anything they read on the Internet, especially if it is tantalizing. Science and rigorous, rational investigation is the method for how we navigate this mess and Shermer is good at explaining the basics. Good solid journalism from the best sources can also help you make sense of the complexity of information in the world. Find sources that have a decades-long track record for responsible reporting, such as those on this list.

  • Snake Oil Salesmen and the History of Peruna (and Coca-Cola, 7-Up, and CBD) - a brief history of the patent medicine industry and snake oil salesmen. Sadly, we are still living through this era with dubious claims for supplements and millions of dollars are being made by quacks and liars. To me, this is yet another example of the trend towards disinformation.