Yes, you read the headline correctly. No, it isn’t a typo. As you form your New Year’s resolutions, think about how you get your news — a News Year’s resolution if you will (audience laughs) — and how you might improve it.

Puns aside, being an avid news consumer not only helps you stay informed so you can make educated decisions, but also helps you better understand the world around you. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, each of our lives matter and we get to choose the impact we have on the world. By engaging with news, we can be inspired to spark change or follow in the footsteps of someone we idolize.

Here are eight ways you can improve your news engagement in 2019.

1. Get news from a variety of sources.

By getting news from a variety of sources, you’ll have a broader picture of what’s happening right in your community and all the way across the world. If you enjoy commentary and opinion, make sure to get them from a number of different mediums so your views don’t become isolated. Get news from credible organizations that clearly separate news and opinion. News should be unbiased by being fair, complete and accurate. Opinion is meant to spark public discourse by using facts to support a stance.

2. Talk to a journalist.

Transparency is the name of the game. In nearly all the conversations I have with someone not in journalism asking questions about news, they learn something new or get a better understanding of what we do. If you want to know why something is done a certain way in the news, ask a journalist.

3. Learn about subjects or perspectives you wouldn’t normally.

All of us, myself included, can be shielded by our owns beliefs and interests. There’s a world outside of ourselves and we should learn about it. In doing so, we better understand ourselves and others.

4. Set aside time for news.

I often hear people say they are too busy for news. The same excuse could be made for any number of things that are good for you. Make news a part of your routine. Maybe that’s signing up for an e-newsletter. Maybe it’s setting aside an evening that’s more free to get through the papers that week. Whatever it may be, make it a habit.

5. Share stories with others.

Share news with others to be a steward for spreading information. The more sharing, the more informed our community is.

6. Write a letter to the editor.

If you haven’t ever written a letter to the editor, write one. Letters to the editor are one of my favorite parts of my job because I love giving people a platform to share their perspective. It could be in response to something to continue a conversation or it could be opening discussion about something you’re passionate about.

7. Consume to understand before sharing.

Online and even through word-of-mouth, people share stories they didn’t read/watch because they think they get all the information in the headline. Headlines are meant to get someone interested in a story and give them an idea of what a story is about. They are not meant to be the only piece of information you gather from a story. Consume news to understand it before you share it.

8. Think local.

Don’t sleep on local news. Local news helps you stay informed about topics likely to impact your daily life and it’s put together by people who are your neighbors. Don’t underestimate the importance of your local news sources and how the work they do for your community. Supporting local businesses means subscribing to your local newspaper.

My phone number is 641-753-6611 ext. 255 and my email is ebarske@timesrepublican.com. I’d welcome any questions or entertain any conversations you’d like to have about the news. May 2019 be your best News Year yet.