We live inside the bubble of our own lives, and those of us in this business are prone to forget that not everyone devours media with the appetite that we do. As an exercise, I looked at my own current media diet and confirmed what I suspected: I am consuming so much more information now than thirty-five years ago. I’m still reading most of the same things, but add on a flood of new sources courtesy of the flow of information via the internet.
I reached out via Facebook and asked others to complete the same survey. The results follow. Though my Facebook network, comprised of friends, family, high school classmates and virtually anyone I’ve ever connected with in my role at Newcity seemed to offer the quickest way to reach a broad demographic, the sample is clearly biased in favor of left-of-center, college-educated folks, and skews older and whiter than even my fellow Chicagoans. So I used personal connections to fill in some gaps, with varying results. Nevertheless, I found the results fascinating. (Brian Hieggelke)
Lucky C., 43, Latino, female Student from Chicago
Daily Newspapers Read: Online—Sun-Times, Tribune, Block Club, The Guardian, BBC, El Universal, The Financial Times, New York Times, Breitbart
Print Magazine Subscriptions: Online—Jacobin, Dissent, The Intercept
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: CBS, WGN, Chicago Tonight
National Newscasts Watched: Democracy Now!
Cable Newscasts Watched: CNN
Weekly News Programs Watched: Face the Nation, Sunday Morning
Radio News Listened To: Maze Jackson Said, WIIFTBP Media, WBGX 1570 AM
Podcasts Listened To: Pitchfork Economics, Big Brains, Capitalisn’t
Email Newsletters Read: Awokenet.com, The Daily Line
Blogs/Websites Read: Second City Cop ( inactive)
Social Media Sites Visited: Reddit
Name Withheld, 31, caucasian male Lab technician from Austin, Texas
Daily Newspapers Read: The Guardian, Vox, NPR (online)
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: Thrasher, National Geographic, Scientific American
Print Magazine Subscriptions: None
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: None
National Newscasts Watched: Not often, usually clips off independent media (YouTube)
Cable Newscasts Watched: None
Weekly News Programs Watched: None
Radio News Listened To: NPR
Podcasts Listened To: NPR News, Worst Year Ever, Science Vs, Short Wave, Even More News, The Punk Rock MBA, Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria, Paleo Nerds
Email Newsletters Read: None
Blogs/Websites Read: None
Social Media Sites Visited: All listed above.
Other Media Sources: YouTube (Secular Talk, The Majority Report with Sam Seder, The David Pakman Show, Philosophy Tube, NowThis News, The Hill, TED, Tom Nicholas, The Humanist Report)
Michelle S., white female Pharmacist from Elmhurst
Daily Newspapers Read: Tribune, Daily—print
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: Rarely, print from library
Print Magazine Subscriptions: Never
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: Rarely anymore
National Newscasts Watched: Rarely anymore
Cable Newscasts Watched: Rarely— too biased
Weekly News Programs Watched: Rarely—bias
Radio News Listened To: Daily in car
Podcasts Listened To: Zen Parenting Radio, ZDoggMD, better, happier, Bible recap, in car and when working out
Email Newsletters Read: Work newsletters weekly
Blogs/Websites Read: Rarely
Social Media Sites Visited: Facebook—less now than before due to negativity
Arron P., 42, African-American Graphic Designer from Chicago
Daily Newspapers Read: Huffington Post, CNN, MSNBC
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: None
Print Magazine Subscriptions: None
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: NBC 5
National Newscasts Watched: CNN, MSNBC, BBC
Cable Newscasts Watched: CNN, MSNBC, BBC
Weekly News Programs Watched: CNN
Radio News Listened To: NPR
Podcasts Listened To: NPR, Don Lemon, The Brilliant Idiots
Email Newsletters Read: None
Blogs/Websites Read: The Afro
Social Media Sites Visited: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
Jill P., 58 Retired (2015) IDOC Statesville Correctional Counselor 2 from Romeoville, Illinois (currently) moving to Florida in August Yayyyy!
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: AARP
Print Magazine Subscriptions: DIY Home because someone purchased it for me
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: Not since I’ve retired, my TV is off the majority of the time. As a matter of fact as I write this the TV has been off all day so far.
National Newscasts Watched: CBN very seldom
Cable Newscasts Watched: Currently do not subscribe to cable, I’d rather paint, read, create something etc. almost anything else than sit and watch TV
Weekly News Programs Watched: No, I stopped watching news when I started working in a Maximum Security Prison 30 years ago. Since I was already saturated 40 hrs a week in such a “negative” environment with horrendous acts and “bad news” consistently it was a choice I needed to make to be able to remain “sane” so to speak. I needed to be able to counsel inmates without bias to do my job sufficiently. I received weather updates and other pertinent information by searching specific topics on a need-to-know basis. Just a choice now not to watch and choose to do my own research based on topics that affect or interest me from unbiased sources. Any sources of negativity or “opinionated” derogatory news is just not an option I choose to entertain. I look for and focus on the positive, beautiful, beneficial sources of news, art, people, acts of kindness etc that make the world a better place for myself, my kids and grandchildren. And I seek God above all and PRAY a TON lol! lbvs
Radio News Listened To: Shine or Air One—not really news-related but they do have some news
Podcasts Listened To: None currently
Email Newsletters Read: Sometimes AARP
Blogs/Websites Read: Keto Dad
Social Media Sites Visited: Fakebook lol (no typo) but limited, rarely Instagram
Other Media Sources: YouTube primarily, Internet
Name Withheld, 51, Latino HR/Administration for Architect firm from Chicago
Daily Newspapers Read: Chicago Tribune online, Chicago Sun-Times online
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: Chicago Tonight
National Newscasts Watched: NBC Nightly News
Cable Newscasts Watched: CNN audio through online TuneIn radio app
Weekly News Programs Watched: Chicago Week in Review WTTW
Radio News Listened To: WBBM Newsradio—whenever driving in the car.
Podcasts Listened To: (None listed)
Email Newsletters Read: (None listed)
Blogs/Websites Read: Streetsblog Chicago
Social Media Sites Visited: (None listed)
Other Media Sources: Google News
Illustration: Dan Streeting
Jarrett N., Male. Black. 46. Gay. Midwesterner. Bookworm. Wine enthusiast. Proud liberal. Future grumpy old man. Writing Center Coordinator (day job) and Writer (passion job) from Oak Park
Daily Newspapers Read: I read headlines from the Chicago Tribune every day but I’m too cheap to buy a subscription. I realize I am the cause of the decline in newspaper circulation. I feel tremendous guilt. I’m eating a four-inch brownie as I write this. Just sayin’.
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: Nada.
Print Magazine Subscriptions: I just got a subscription to National Affairs, an erudite quarterly that includes nonpartisan (is that still a thing?) essays on politics and current events. Not a single photo or ad appears in it. I feel like such an elite.
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: My husband and I have a standing date on Friday night: thin-crust pizza, vodka martinis, and Chicago Tonight on WTTW. (We’re middle-aged. Stop laughing.) Paris Schutz is my rogue dog and his hair looks like chocolate frosting. Did I mention that I’m eating a four-inch brownie right now? Oh, and additional shout-outs to Kimberley Agowan, Laura Washington, Heather Cherone, and Craig Dellimore. The four of them plus Paris make for one insightful half-hour of TV.
National Newscasts Watched: Nope.
Cable Newscasts Watched: The Rachel Maddow Show. You can’t be a good liberal and not watch her. Homegirl is fighting the good fight.
Weekly News Programs Watched: Real Time with Bill Maher. Just like Rachel Maddow’s show, you can’t be a good liberal and not tune in to Bill, although I don’t always agree with him, especially his views on COVID. Many is the Friday night I’ve woken up my husband while applauding Bill or shouting, “You out yo damn mind!”
Radio News Listened To: Never have I ever.
Podcasts Listened To: Okay, so I’ve started listening to Pod Save America, but I watch it on YouTube. I love those guys. I typically watch them after I watch the daily White House press briefings with Jen Psaki, who can do no wrong.
Email Newsletters Read: None that I’m aware of.
Blogs/Websites Read: A long list. I go to Huffington Post, Politico, The Guardian, Joe. My. God., Slate, and Queerty each and every single day. Among them I feel Politico gives the best, most accurate reporting. The Guardian does fine reporting as well, but it’s become a bit of an angry uncle. Joe. My. God. is a little tabloidy but damned if it doesn’t post breaking news quicker than any other outlet. I’ve all but given up on Slate because you have to pay for the best articles, so if you want to read about the married college professor who had a drunken three-way with his wife and her half-brother you’ll have to pay up.
Social Media Sites Visited: These days I only go on Facebook to remind family and friends to vote. Other than that, social media means as much to me as a bucket of hair. Sorry folks. Read a book instead.
Other Media Sources: I’m a bookworm so I’m on Goodreads every day charting my reading progress and writing reviews. The site itself could stand a bit of an upgrade but it does the trick. I’m also a cinephile and an Oscars geek, so I visit IMDB and Awards Daily every day.
Monique M., 23, heterosexual, white female Graduate Student from Lemont, Illinois
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: ABC7, WBBM2, WGN
National Newscasts Watched: ABC, NBC and CNN to get updates on current events, very active during the Presidential Election. I watch after the live aired TV shows that I typically watch.
Cable Newscasts Watched: (None listed)
Weekly News Programs Watched: ABC7, it always comes on after my TV shows and I leave it on. I typically watch during the 10pm news before bed.
Radio News Listened To: (None listed)
Podcasts Listened To: Chicks in the Office, With Whit, LadyGang and The Morning Toast are podcasts I listen to! Mainly these podcasts are about celebrity updates/interviews but they also focus on women empowerment and so much more. I always listen to these before bed, during workouts, and even while working on homework for background noise!
Email Newsletters Read: (None listed)
Blogs/Websites Read: (None listed)
Social Media Sites Visited: Some of the sites I use are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. I scroll through a lot of social media all the time. I basically do it when I’m bored, but I will say it is a great way to connect with family/friends! You can see what they have been up to or see their accomplishments. That is my favorite part about those sites, the connection aspect.
Other Media Sources: TED Talks! I learn so much from using this platform. It has really helped during my educational years and I plan to use them for the rest of my life while becoming a school counselor. These talks can update you on how our society is changing or where we need to improve as well as educate you on topics that you may have not known previously! If you can’t find a Ted Talk on their site, YouTube is a wonderful resource to find them.
Name withheld, 56, white male Writer/Editor from Chicago
Daily Newspapers Read: Wall Street Journal, though I will look into the Chicago Tribune, Sun Times, NYT, or WaPo if prompted by an email. Also read email updates daily from Bloomberg, Handelsblatt (Germany) and Spiegel (Germany). The US ones in the morning and later afternoon; the German ones come midday. But because I write business articles and books, I may hit a dozen websites on any given day in search of material. That’s why I also have online subscriptions to The Atlantic, for example.
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: Economist and Billboard (both received in print, but often daily briefings online have me caught up already)
Print Magazine Subscriptions: Economist, Billboard, ROUTE (a magazine about Americana), Harvard Business Review, and Billboard (all still received in print copy). And Newcity 🙂
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: Fox 32 but very rarely (usually if there is a must-follow local story such as weather, school strike, etc.). I used to watch WGN when I had cable.
National Newscasts Watched: On traditional networks: usually only on Sunday mornings (CBS Sunday Morning, Meet the Press, Face the Nation in some form)
Cable Newscasts Watched: Switch between CNN and Fox News depending on issue and time of day. Preferences include Bret Baier and Neal Cavuto on FOX and Anderson Cooper on CNN, but again, depends on the issue. But we only have Roku, so no cable. When I had cable I would occasionally put on OAN purely out of curiosity, but couldn’t stand it for long.
Weekly News Programs Watched: see above
Radio News Listened To: Rarely listen to the radio anymore, but when I do, it is WBBM news radio.
Podcasts Listened To: Don’t like them, but I will occasionally listen to Gordon Deal (WSJ, I believe)
Email Newsletters Read: See “daily” above
Blogs/Websites Read: Too many to mention, because of work. But I will read sports blogs, especially about baseball. The Athletic is a great source for that.
Social Media Sites Visited: Spend a decent amount of time on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, but Twitter is very niche-y (mostly blues music-related)
Janet M., 59, white, female Personal Content Appraiser from Joliet, Illinois
Daily Newspapers Read: Print—Chicago Tribune (with dinner), Joliet Herald News (with my AM coffee), WSJ
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: Print—People, US
Print Magazine Subscriptions: People, US, Vanity Fair, Town & Country, Country Living, Real Simple, Antiques, Kovels, Reader’s Digest, Taste of Home, National Geographic, Foreign Policy
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: WGN, NBC
National Newscasts Watched: CNN, FOX, BBC
Cable Newscasts Watched: (None listed)
Weekly News Programs Watched: (None listed)
Radio News Listened To: WJOL
Podcasts Listened To: Crime Daily
Email Newsletters Read: American Society of Appraisers, International Society of Appraisers, Appraisers Association of America, Martha Stewart, Dr. Lori | Ph.D. Antiques Appraiser, Penguin Random House, Southern Living, The Art Institute, ME-TV Network, National Appraiser Consultant, NY Times Bestsellers, Sotheby’s, Christie’s, John Lenard Auction, M.S. Rau, The Magazine Antiques, American Decorative Arts, Scientific American, Leslie Hindman, Heritage Auction Houses, Joliet Public Library, Rialto.
Blogs/Websites Read: International Society of Appraisers, American Society of Appraisers, Appraisers Association of America, Dr. Lori, National Appraiser Association, Christie’s , Sotheby’s, Art Institute
Social Media Sites Visited: Instagram, FB
Name withheld, 59, white, male Attorney from Chicago
Daily Newspapers Read: NY Times religiously daily in print and online. NY Post online usually for sports but also to check on pro-Trump media pov; Chicago Tribune online once or twice a week.
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: (None listed)
National Newscasts Watched: (None listed)
Cable Newscasts Watched: (None listed)
Weekly News Programs Watched: (None listed)
Radio News Listened To: WBEZ and WBBM only in car
Podcasts Listened To: (None listed)
Email Newsletters Read: Eater Chicago, NY Times coronavirus report, Oh My Rockness, Krebs on Security, ProPublica, Brut.
Blogs/Websites Read: (None listed)
Social Media Sites Visited: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
Other Media Sources: YouTube—mostly for music videos; Weather Channel; articles from friends and family
David H., 69, Italo-Anglo American Writer from Oak Park
Daily Newspapers Read: Chicago Tribune (online and print), New York Times (online)
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: New Yorker, Newcity, Smithsonian, Wednesday Journal
Print Magazine Subscriptions: New Yorker, Newcity, Smithsonian
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: PBS Chicago Tonight, NBC
National Newscasts Watched: PBS NewsHour, NBC
Cable Newscasts Watched: Newsy, Al Jazeera, Fox, One America Network
Weekly News Programs Watched: PBS Washington Week in Review
Radio News Listened To: WBEZ, NPR, WGN
Podcasts Listened To: NPR Up First and All Things Considered, Cine-Files, The Big Picture, Chewing, Projection Booth, Mexico Unexplained, The Archaeology Show, Director’s Club, Pure Cinema Podcast, Agave Road Trip, Freakonomics Radio, Revisionist History, Criterion Channel Surfing
Email Newsletters Read: Newcity, Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago Public Square
Social Media Sites Visited: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LTHForum.com
Illustration: Dan Streeting
Elsa C., 36, Hispanic, woman University Professor and Researcher of Higher Education from Fayetteville, Arkansas
Daily Newspapers Read: Online—Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside HigherEd, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, New York Times, Chicago Tribune
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: LaPrensa Libre del Noreste de Arkansas
Print Magazine Subscriptions: None
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: Univision—Arkansas
National Newscasts Watched: Univision
Cable Newscasts Watched: CNN, CNN en Español, Foro TV
Weekly News Programs Watched: CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, CNN Newsroom with Ana Cabrera
Radio News Listened To: NPR—Local and national
Podcasts Listened To: Radio Ambulante, Latinx Intelligentsia, Chicana M(other) work
Email Newsletters Read: The New York Times Morning-Weekend Briefing, Southern Methodist University Tower Center (monthly), Latin American Studies Association Newsletter (monthly)
Blogs/Websites Read: I rely a lot on Google searches to keep abreast of what the media is saying regarding social and political issues. I compare the news across news outlets online.
Social Media Sites Visited: Facebook, Twitter
Other Media Sources: Facebook closed groups—all professional groups that also circulate information about resources (books, news articles, research articles, professional development opportunities, research grant info, etc) for women of color in academia or people of color in academia.
Gerald, 59, gay white married man Professor of History from Oak Park
Daily Newspapers Read: Chicago Tribune, New York Times (mainly to see the latest COVID statistics)
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: New Yorker (it’s tough to keep up), Vanity Fair, Time
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: Chicago Tonight, particularly on Friday nights, we love you Paris Schutz
National Newscasts Watched: CBS Sunday Morning, I just find Jane Pauley reassuring
Cable Newscasts Watched: MSNBC when I need some indoctrination from my people
Radio News Listened To: NPR on the hour, Jenn White on NPR’s 1A—there is simply no better host
Podcasts Listened To: “You Must Remember This” (I am a film historian)
Blogs/Websites Read: Way too much Huffington Post
Social Media Sites Visited: TikTok—stop judging me—yes I am a 59-year-old man, but the references I make in the classroom that I get from the Tok make me current or pathetic. Instagram and Facebook when I am grading and can’t look at one more bad paper.
Name withheld, 40 School Principal from SF Bay area
Daily Newspapers Read: Apple News—via iOS—SF Chronicle, LA Times, Washington Post, NYT
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: New Yorker, New York
Print Magazine Subscriptions: Vanity Fair and New York
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: (None listed)
National Newscasts Watched: (None listed)
Cable Newscasts Watched: Maddow
Weekly News Programs Watched: Oliver
Radio News Listened To: (None listed)
Podcasts Listened To: (None listed)
Email Newsletters Read: (None listed)
Blogs/Websites Read: (None listed)
Social Media Sites Visited: IG and FB
Other Media Sources: Substack—Roxane Gay
Robert D., 64, white Dentist and Professor from Naperville, Illinois
Daily Newspapers Read: The Chicago Tribune, paper copy right before I go to bed
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: I work six days a week about 10 hours, 12 hours each day, so I only read Dental or scientific journals while I’m waiting for something
Print Magazine Subscriptions: (None listed)
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: None
National Newscasts Watched: My wife and I watch a pre-recorded version of David Muir
Cable Newscasts Watched: CNN on occasion but I feel that BBC Worldwide is the most unbiased
Weekly News Programs Watched: My wife and I like to watch Fareed Zakaria
Radio News Listened To: WBBM NewsRadio 78 mainly for traffic and weather while in the car
Podcasts Listened To: Dental or Technical ones only
Email Newsletters Read: None
Blogs/Websites Read: Technical only
Social Media Sites Visited: I do not like Facebook or Instagram, but I have had to use it extensively to get my presence known as my old office told most people I was retired, teaching full-time or in some cases very sick or dead
Other Media Sources: All university-related only for dental equilibration.
Alma K., 44, white, Jewish VP Creative Director from Oak Park
Daily Newspapers Read: Washington Post (online)
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: Wednesday Journal (online and print), The Atlantic (online), The New Yorker (print)
Print Magazine Subscriptions: The New Yorker, Real Simple, National Geographic Magazine
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: (None listed)
National Newscasts Watched: (None listed)
Cable Newscasts Watched: (None listed)
Weekly News Programs Watched: (None listed)
Radio News Listened To: WBEZ, NPR
Podcasts Listened To: The Daily, New Yorker Radio Hour, Marketplace, Post Reports, The Moth, Planet Money, You’re Wrong About, Home Cooking, etc.
Email Newsletters Read: WBEZ’s The Rundown (sometimes)
Social Media Sites Visited: Facebook, Twitter, IG, LinkedIn
Brian Hieggelke, white male Newcity Editor & Publisher from Chicago
Daily Newspapers Read: Chicago Tribune (tablet daily, print Sunday), Chicago Sun-Times (tablet), New York Times (tablet daily, print Sunday)
Weekly/Biweekly Newspapers/Magazines Read: Barron’s, Chicago Reader, The Hollywood Reporter
Print Magazine Subscriptions: The New Yorker, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Rolling Stone, Vogue, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Surface, Artforum, Frieze, Bookforum, Esquire, Vanity Fair
Local Newscasts/News Programs Watched: None with regularity but tune into any of Channel 2, 5 and 7 at least twice a week
National Newscasts Watched: NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (via NBC News app)
Cable Newscasts Watched: While working out: Squawk on the Street (CNBC), MSNBC Live with Stephanie Ruhle
Weekly News Programs Watched: CBS Sunday Morning
Radio News Listened To: None with regularity but if I’m driving, WBEZ
Podcasts Listened To: I listen mostly when running outside, so not right now. The Daily, TheWrap-Up, Capitalisn’t, How I Built This, IndieWire Screen Talk, the Tim Ferriss Show, This American Life
Email Newsletters Read (vs. Sent): Crain’s Afternoon Update, IAB SmartBrief, PW Daily, The Daily Brief by L.A. Mag, Chicago Public Square, Block Club Chicago, Chicago Business Journal, Screen UK & Europe Daily, TheWrap First Take, The Goods by Vox, Adweek Morning Media Newsfeed, The Media Today (CJR), The Poynter Report, Robert Feder, Adweek First Things First, Digiday Daily, Surface Magazine Design Dispatch, Screen US Daily, Reel Chicago/Reel 360, Shadow & Act, The Atlantic Daily, Juxtapoz Art & Culture, Food & Fitness from WebMD, Intelligencer (NY Mag), The WBEZ Rundown, Vulture (NY Mag), The Cut (NY Mag), Fooditor, Cassandra Daily, The Fader, Grub Street (NY Mag), SellerCrowd Daily, Colossal, Design Hunting (NY Mag), Artforum Dispatch, Dilbert Daily Strip Email, The Daily Reader, Food & Drink (Chicago Reader), Frieze Newsletter
Blogs/Websites Read: CNBC
Social Media Sites Visited: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
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