--- title: How to Become a News Junkie in 5 Easy Steps description: Idea Grove, a B2B technology PR firm, shares tips on how to to stay on top of the news, build the habit and use the right tools to be always in the know. image: http://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/steps.jpeg --- [![logo](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/General/logo.svg "logo")](https://www.ideagrove.com) - [About Us](https://www.ideagrove.com/about) - [Services](https://www.ideagrove.com/services) - [Public Relations](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/public-relations) - [Brand Strategy](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/brand-strategy) - [Web Design](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/website-design) - [Content Marketing](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/content-marketing) - [Performance Marketing](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/performance-marketing) - [Client Stories](https://www.ideagrove.com/case-studies) - [Video Testimonials](https://www.ideagrove.com/testimonials) - [Industries](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries) - [IT & AI](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries/it-ai) - [Manufacturing and Industrial](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries/manufacturing-industrial) - [Supply Chain and Logistics](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries/supply-chain-logistics) - [Blog](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog) - [About Us](https://www.ideagrove.com/about) - [Services](https://www.ideagrove.com/services) - [Public Relations](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/public-relations) - [Brand Strategy](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/brand-strategy) - [Web Design](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/website-design) - [Content Marketing](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/content-marketing) - [Performance Marketing](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/performance-marketing) - [Client Stories](https://www.ideagrove.com/case-studies) - [Video Testimonials](https://www.ideagrove.com/testimonials) - [Industries](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries) - [IT & AI](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries/it-ai) - [Manufacturing and Industrial](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries/manufacturing-industrial) - [Supply Chain and Logistics](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries/supply-chain-logistics) - [Blog](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog) [ Get Started ](https://www.ideagrove.com/contact) [ Get Started ](https://www.ideagrove.com/contact) [Blog](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog) / [Public Relations](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/topic/public-relations) / # How to Become a News Junkie in 5 Easy Steps ![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Employee%20Photos/Headshots/Liz-Cies.jpg) [Liz Cies](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/author/liz-cies) **Published:** November 23, 2016       **Updated:** July 17, 2022 ![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/Blog/hour.svg) 4 min read - [![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/Blog/linkedin.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/how-to-become-a-news-junkie-in-5-easy-steps) - [![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/Blog/X.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/how-to-become-a-news-junkie-in-5-easy-steps) - [![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/Blog/facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/how-to-become-a-news-junkie-in-5-easy-steps) ![](http://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/steps.jpeg) I remember the day I became addicted to the news. It was the day after the 2000 presidential election, when the entire nation turned its attention to Florida and became embroiled in a discussion of hanging chads, recounts and electoral college votes. As a young high schooler with slightly nerdy tendencies, I followed this national drama closely by reading the *Houston Chronicle* every day, a habit which later followed me throughout my professional career. Whether you work in public relations or as a busy marketing executive, it’s absolutely vital to stay on top of the news. However, this can easily fall low on the priority list, which is why it’s important to build habits and use the right tools (e.g., [Feedly](https://info.ideagrove.com/knowledgebase/resources/how-do-i-set-up-a-feedly) and others) so you’re always in the know. Here are some tips and tricks that have worked for me. ## **1. Build habits into your daily routine** **![shutterstock_1204164_HcqN7](https://www.ideagrove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_1204164_HcqN7.jpg?width=1000&name=shutterstock_1204164_HcqN7.jpg)** Determine a time and place when you’ll scan through the news each morning and afternoon, and set up a reminder on your phone or in your calendar. Treat this as a hard commitment, and stick with it. Subscribe to some daily news feeds, or bookmark your top national, local and trade news sources. It’s not necessary to read every article; quickly scanning the headlines, reading a few articles, and bookmarking the longer reads for a later time will provide you with a basic grasp of what’s going on in the world. ## **2. Create ambient awareness of what’s happening in the news** **![shutterstock_5889702_51kaH](https://www.ideagrove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_5889702_51kaH.jpg?width=1400&name=shutterstock_5889702_51kaH.jpg)** It’s important to have mechanisms established for catching breaking news stories to avoid finding yourself 24 hours behind a major development. I find that the best way to foster this ambient awareness is to connect with key news sources in as many ways as possible, which increases the chance that I’ll see breaking news during a busy day. This includes subscribing to email alerts (use a filter to keep your inbox from blowing up!), following the outlet on Facebook and Twitter, setting up news alerts on my phone, and keeping my radio dial on NPR. ## **3. Critically evaluate what you *should* be monitoring** **![shutterstock_1710722_jandX](https://www.ideagrove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_1710722_jandX.jpg?width=1400&name=shutterstock_1710722_jandX.jpg)** Even news junkies can suffer from information overload. That makes prioritization important. Are you following the right mix of trades, business and daily newspapers? What publications do your clients’ customers read? What publications does your client’s CEO read? (If you don’t know, make sure to casually ask the question in your next conversation.) By mirroring their reading lists, you’ll be able to connect on a more personal level and also develop the knowledge to deliver focused strategies and media pitches that resonate.  ## **4. Regularly expose yourself to fresh sources** ![reading the news](https://www.ideagrove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/reading%20the%20news.jpg?width=1000&name=reading%20the%20news.jpg) Although following a few priority outlets helps keep this task manageable, make sure you still check out what other sources and outlets are saying. I find it helpful to occasionally do a keyword search in Google News, or visit some news aggregator sites to see which topics and emerging outlets are bubbling up to the surface. This is a great way to continually keep your client’s media list fresh, and finding a new beat reporter before the competition could lead to that next killer media hit.   ## **5. Identify the right tools and resources** **![shutterstock_8971209_mjatt](https://www.ideagrove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_8971209_mjatt.jpg?width=1000&name=shutterstock_8971209_mjatt.jpg)** It’s important to figure out which tools and resources are best for your specific situation, but if you’re needing a place to start, here are some of my favorites. - The New York Times’ [morning email briefings and breaking news alerts](http://www.nytimes.com/newsletters) - The Wall Street Journal’s [section-specific newsletters](http://www.wsj.com/newsletters) - [The Daily Skimm](http://www.theskimm.com/), for the daily news with a side of snark - The Dallas Business Journal’s [TechFlash newsletter](http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/newsletter) - [NPR’s iPhone app](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/npr-news/id324906251?mt=8): the perfect treadmill buddy - [TechMeme](http://www.techmeme.com/) provides a quick snapshot of what’s dominating tech news - [Google News](https://news.google.com/), [Google Alerts](https://www.google.com/alerts) and [Google Trends](https://www.google.com/trends). The first two are more widely known, but I find Google Trends very helpful in identifying breaking news and rising topics. - [Feedly aggregates all the latest news](https://info.ideagrove.com/knowledgebase/resources/how-do-i-set-up-a-feedly) from any site you’d like to track into one single platform. - [BlogTrottr](https://blogtrottr.com/): If there’s a specific reporter I’m tracking more closely, I’ll use BlogTrottr to trigger an email alert when a new article goes live. - [Instapaper](https://www.instapaper.com/): I use a browser extension to save longer articles for reading later through my phone app. - [Talking Biz News](http://talkingbiznews.com/) and [Mediagazer](http://mediagazer.com/) for keeping up with media industry developments Feeling overwhelmed? Take a deep breath! This doesn’t have to be a huge task. With a little effort each day, you’ll be well on your way to becoming bona fide news junky. ###### Insights ## Stay Informed with Our Blog Discover the latest industry trends and expert advice. [View All](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog) [![Idea Grove Slack Chats-1](https://www.ideagrove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Idea%20Grove%20Slack%20Chats-1.png?width=352&name=Idea%20Grove%20Slack%20Chats-1.png) ](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/treehouse-talks-the-decline-of-social-media-for-news-consumption) [Slack Chats](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/topic/slack-chats) ![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/General/hourglass.svg) 12 min read ##### [Slack Chat: The Decline of Social Media for News Consumption](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/treehouse-talks-the-decline-of-social-media-for-news-consumption) I’m a big fan of [NeimanLab](http://www.niemanlab.org/about/), which explores the evolving news landscape and changing face... [Read more **](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/treehouse-talks-the-decline-of-social-media-for-news-consumption) [![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2B%20Tech%20Public%20Relations%20An%20Integral%20Element%20of%20Brand%20Growth%20.jpg?width=352&name=B2B%20Tech%20Public%20Relations%20An%20Integral%20Element%20of%20Brand%20Growth%20.jpg) ](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/b2b-tech-public-relations-an-integral-element-of-brand-growth) [Public Relations](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/topic/public-relations) ![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/General/hourglass.svg) 3 min read ##### [B2B Tech Public Relations: An Integral Element of Brand Growth](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/b2b-tech-public-relations-an-integral-element-of-brand-growth) As we kick off a new decade, it’s a great time for companies to evaluate how each of... [Read more **](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/b2b-tech-public-relations-an-integral-element-of-brand-growth) [![elena-de-soto-373017.jpg](https://www.ideagrove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/elena-de-soto-373017.jpg?width=352&name=elena-de-soto-373017.jpg) ](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/idea-grove-news-idea-grove-wins-ama-marketer-of-the-year-award) [Idea Grove News & Awards](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/topic/idea-grove-news-awards) ![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/General/hourglass.svg) 2 min read ##### [Idea Grove Wins AMA Marketer of the Year Award](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/idea-grove-news-idea-grove-wins-ama-marketer-of-the-year-award) Idea Grove has been recognized by the American Marketing Association for a public... [Read more **](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/idea-grove-news-idea-grove-wins-ama-marketer-of-the-year-award) ###### Stay Informed with Our Newsletter ## Get the latest industry trends and insights delivered straight to your inbox. ### Unlock Exclusive Content and Offers Get early access to exclusive content and special offers by signing up. ### Expert PR and Marketing Services Contact us today to discuss how we can help your business grow. Contact Learn More ** [![logo](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/General/logo.svg "logo")](https://www.ideagrove.com) - [About Us](https://www.ideagrove.com/about) - [Services](https://www.ideagrove.com/services) - [Client Stories](https://www.ideagrove.com/case-studies) - [Industries](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries) - [Blog](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog) - [Contact Us](https://www.ideagrove.com/contact) ##### Subscribe to Newsletter - [Privacy Policy](https://www.ideagrove.com/privacy-policy/) - [Terms of Service](https://www.ideagrove.com/terms-of-use/) - [Cookies Policy](https://www.ideagrove.com/privacy-policy/) - [Knowledgebase](https://info.ideagrove.com/knowledgebase) - [Brand Guidelines](https://www.ideagrove.com/brand-guidelines) © 2025 Idea Grove. All rights reserved ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Liz Cies", "url" : "https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/author/liz-cies" }, "dateModified" : "2022-07-17T03:41:09.774Z", "datePublished" : "2016-11-23T20:30:00.000Z", "headline" : "How to Become a News Junkie in 5 Easy Steps", "image" : [ "//www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/steps.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/how-to-become-a-news-junkie-in-5-easy-steps", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Miscellaneous%20Imagery/IG%20Logo%202020/ideagrove-logo-horizontal-200-50-dark.svg" }, "name" : "Idea Grove" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.ideagrove.com/#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Lewisville", "addressRegion" : "TX", "postalCode" : "75056", "streetAddress" : "2540 King Arthur Blvd, Suite 209N" }, "areaServed" : { "@type" : "Country", "name" : "United States" }, "contactPoint" : { "@type" : "ContactPoint", "areaServed" : "US", "availableLanguage" : "English", "contactType" : "sales", "email" : "newbiz@ideagrove.com", "telephone" : "+1-972-235-3439" }, "description" : "Idea Grove is a B2B PR and visibility agency helping technology, manufacturing, and industrial companies build authority and improve discoverability through earned media, SEO, and AI visibility strategy.", "foundingDate" : "2004", "hasOfferCatalog" : { "@type" : "OfferCatalog", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "Public Relations", "url" : "https://www.ideagrove.com/services/public-relations" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "AI Search Visibility", "url" : "https://www.ideagrove.com/services/ai-search-visibility" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "SEO & AI Optimization", "url" : "https://www.ideagrove.com/services/seo-ai" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "Content Marketing", "url" : "https://www.ideagrove.com/services/content-marketing" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "Brand Strategy", "url" : "https://www.ideagrove.com/services/brand-strategy" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "Website Design", "url" : "https://www.ideagrove.com/services/website-design" } }, { "@type" : "Offer", "itemOffered" : { "@type" : "Service", "name" : "Performance Marketing", "url" : "https://www.ideagrove.com/services/performance-marketing" } } ], "name" : "B2B PR and Visibility Services" }, "knowsAbout" : [ "B2B Public Relations", "AI Search Visibility", "SEO", "Content Marketing", "Brand Strategy", "Performance Marketing", "Earned Media" ], "legalName" : "Idea Grove LLC", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60, "url" : "https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/General/logo.svg", "width" : 200 }, "name" : "Idea Grove", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/idea-grove", "https://twitter.com/ideagrove", "https://www.facebook.com/ideagrove" ], "url" : "https://www.ideagrove.com" } ```