Here is some tips I want to share for effective reading of newspaper.
When you're busy (and who's not) read the lead paragraph or paragraphs only, especially when you're not vitally interested in the news story.
These beginning paragraphs contain the main facts of the story, answering such questions as What, Who, Where, When, How, and Why. The succeeding parts merely elaborate in details which you may already have read if this particular item has been in the news for sometime already, since reporters try to give their readers a rehash of past developments.
You hardly have time to read even just the titles of the best of books. Why spend so much precious on the passing scenes if they aren't that important to you?
Read Respectable Dailies.
Some tabloids tend to sensationalize the news by specializing on the gory details of heinous crimes, particularly on lurid sex scandals. And these are usually heavily illustrated with vulgar pictures which border on the pornographic.
In seeking a market for their product we're sorry to say that some tabloids tend to cater to the low standards of some of their readers. Since you've already such a massive problem fighting food, water, noise, and air pollutions, why compound it by adding mind pollution to your list as well?
Look Other Newspaper Aside from the One You're Getting Everyday.
This will give variety to your reading, widen your mental horizon, and will prevent you from falling into a rut through your adherence to the editorial policies of only one kind of reading matter. However good your favorite paper might be you'll have to admit that one paper may not have a monopology of all the good journalistic practices of a perfect publication.
Don't Skip the Editorial
If you're not particularly interested in certain sections-say, sports, comics, classified ads, other features, etc.- you may skip any of these if you so wish, but read the editorial at least.
The Editorial is an evaluation or analysis of an important aspect of the news of the day. Many of these are well written and are highly instructive, to say the least.
Don't Miss the Headline News
This is usually on the most important event of the day, at least according to the editor's evaluation. Generally speaking, the front page where this appears carries other important news also.
After glancing at the news, don't jump to a conclusion right away.
Keep an open mind for the time being as the paper may modify or even completely reverse the news in succeeding days. Form a tentative personal position if you may, but make it subject to revision when more facts will be on hand as the issue unfolds more in the future.
If you have a time and means, read also the weekly journals.
The writers of magazine articles have had a little more time to cogitate and analyze the news than the daily news reporter. Remember that the daily reports are written under the terrible pressure of the deadlines for that particular day.
When you need to file a news story for future use (perhaps for a speech or an article), clip it immediately.
It's extremely tedious to go through a pile of back issues, either your own or somebody else's. If borrowed, photocopy the item if the owner won't allow to cut it out. Then in one corner of your clipping jot down the facts of publication (name of paper, date, page, column, perhaps even the volume and number of the issue) as you may need to document this in the future.
Take the Hook
As an intelligent reader, you certainly don't want to swallow hook, line, and sinker everything that's printed just because it's printed.
How about advertisements? Well, some are fairly truthful and conservative, but others unfortunately are extremely exaggerated. You may not want to hurry to “the greatest and most stupendous madness sale ever” in order to empty all this kind of sale comes your way only once in your lifetime. By tomorrow perhaps about other half a dozen ads will often even more stupendous madness sales!
Finally, read with the Newspaper on one hand and your Bible on the other hand.
Many of the news today are a fulfillment of Biblical predictions. The Bible says, “This shall be” while the paper replies, “This certainly is happening today”.
On matters involving your faith, go to the inspired fountainhead of information, God's written Word. Why rely on a fallible psychic when God's infallible Word is at your fingertips? Gods news-The Gospel-is the best news to read.
I was really with you until #10, which was, let's admit, kind of a non sequitur. Nonetheless, 1-9 were very nice, clean and neutral. Except that, in regards to #1, I'd read the closing paragraph(s), too.
#3 by desmonrock21, Jul 17, 2008
To JP, thanks for your opinion and i respect it, I'm sorry if you did not like the last 1? but for me it was important to consider. I write not just for everyone, but i write considering God.
Respectfully yours,
Raymond
#4 by Julie C Murray, Jul 25, 2008
Thanks for this piece I often wondered if the way i read the news paper was wrong
#5 by tonisan60, Aug 10, 2008
This article is very good, not only because is complete but also becuse you have a very nice way to tell things, I liked, for example the "mind pollution" thing in number two, great immagination, all of the tips are very usefull and I am aware that this is the rigth way to read a newspaper, thank you for sharing it.
God bless you
