Where do we read up on current affairs? What are the reliable current affairs sources? Why wait until after your CAT attempt to catch up on your current affairs? Start now, educate yourself and consider it VARC Prep if you must.
This article lists down some of the reliable sources of information known to us in detail.
National Sources:
The Hindu is usually good for facts. They do have their opinion based pieces and lean to the centre-left politically (you must know this) but they generally get their facts right. Frontline is quite difficult to read because they sacrifice most of their flavour in favour of facts. Having said that, they are reliable sources to go to for facts about an issue.
The Wire is an online magazine which is another useful source for current affairs. Open is another magazine which is good. Open is slightly right-wing, whilst The Wire, Frontline and The Hindu are left-leaning.
International Sources:
New York Times, Economist and The Guardian are excellent current affairs sources. Economist is a reasonably international magazine. New York Times has a US-centric tone of coverage while The Guardian has a reasonably UK-centric tone. These are good sources to get both opinions and facts from.
The Guardian stands as a fine example of data-driven journalism while The Economist will allow you to be up-to-date with the dynamics of economies.
COVID-19.
Given the resounding impact that COVID-19 has left on the collective 21-st century psyche, it becomes imperative to educate yourself on all the possible implications that the pandemic brings with it.
Therefore, COVID-19 will undeniably be focussed on in some way or the other in your CAT GD-PIs and WATs.
Do check out this curious article about CAT 2020 and COVID-19.
You can never hear this enough, so we will say it anyway: it is vital to wear a mask, practice social distancing and prioritize your safety as much as you can. Be grateful for having a roof over your head with basic amenities.
If you’re reading this article, chances are you fall into that lucky minority that does not have to depend on day-to-day earnings. Give back to the community in whatever way you can and stay safe.
A Final Word:
It helps to know the biases and leanings of media outlets. It enables you to understand which way the facts are being coloured in this post-modern world and keeps you well away from the echo chamber effect. Go online and read about agenda-setting, priming and framing.
Forget about your CAT Prep for a minute and analyse your media literacy level. The age of new media has changed our world forever, with the development of the internet being on par with the discovery of fire.
It is absolutely vital that you develop ways of critically analyzing and consuming various sources of content in today’s time and age.
Whatever your leanings and ideologies might be, it is always advisable to keep an open mind and consume a variety of news and information from myriad current affairs sources. Go through multiple sources to verify facts and minimize misinformation.
Corporations and political parties are increasingly interconnected in the era of new media. Understanding the dynamics of media ownership will also help you get a sense of the coverage of news.
Read read read! Go through whichever genre of news that appeals to you first and then cover a bit of the others. Bharath’s Curated Reading List is a fabulous source for wonderfully diverse articles. Do check it out!
All the very best for your CAT Preparation.
Written by Saahil R Bhatt.
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