Importance of being informed

To what extent does information affect the demand for environmental quality? A randomly selected group of households in an Indian city were informed whether or not their drinking water had tested positive for fecal contamination using a simple, inexpensive test kit. Households initially not purifying their water and told that their drinking water was possibly contaminated, were 11 percentage points more likely to begin some form of home purification in the next eight weeks than households that received no information. They spent $7.24 (at PPP) more on purification than control households. By way of comparison, an additional year of schooling of the most educated male in the household is associated with a 3 percentage-point rise in the probability of initial purification, while a standard-deviation increase in the wealth index is associated with a 12 percentage-point rise in this probability and an $11.75 rise in expenditure. Initially purifying households that received a “no contamination” result did not react by reducing purification. These results suggest that estimates of the demand for environment quality that assume full information may significantly under-estimate it.

 

Breakfast with a good helping of the Skimm served on the side is a perfect way to start the day. (Photo by Haley Potter) News is something that has been on street corners, televisions and computer screens for ages. Finding yourself not as informed as you would like to be, lost in the hustle and bustle of the day and oblivious to the world around you is not acceptable. You must find time, a way and the will to be informed. In celebration of National News Engagement Day, these tips on how to stay informed are just for you. There are many ways you can actively read and listen to sources in order to obtain breaking news daily. Luckily many informational tools are right at your fingertips. For example, your smartphone gives you countless apps you can choose from to have breaking news sent directly to your phone. One app called Headlines is quite effective in sending notifications to your phone and allowing you to view stories instantly. Not only is it effective in putting news stories right into your hands, but is helpful in organizing news stories of your choice by allowing you to select local, national, or international as your main outlook. Overall, this app is quick, user friendly and a great way to stay informed. Social media also play a key role in the news you obtain for the day. Twitter and Facebook are both great sources for news as users tweet, share, and comment about events occurring and form opinions that help to stimulate further thought on the matter.

 

A recent study conducted by the Boston-based PR firm Howell Communications and published in the Boston Business Journal found that as many as 61 percent of college students use social media to keep up with the news. It is thus likely that events happening in the here and now will be plastered across your news feed constantly. As you know, social media allow you to get involved yourself so you can comment on those stories or share them too, so your friends can be informed as well. Staying connected through social media is one of the most popular ways to be up-to-date, but not the only way. Subscriptions to magazines, newspapers and other news sites are yet another great way to stay informed. For example, theSkimm is an excellent and free subscription that sends you the top stories directly to your email every morning. What is so exquisite about theSkimm is that it tells the news in an informal and fun way that keeps your attention. For instance, referring to the recent resignation of Julia Pierson, the head of the Secret Service, after an armed man ran through the unlocked door of the White House, theSkimm wrote: “In less than a month, the Secret Service has gone from an iconic agency with a Jack Bauer rep, to looking like a bunch of Phil Dunphys.” If you’re more old school or if you like hard copies, newspapers are located at the campus libraries on campus and librarians can give you options for other subscriptions. With a cup of coffee in the morning these subscriptions are a great way to get news effectively and quickly.

 

Staying knowledgeable is important and so is listening. Commuting to campus you have a radio just at your fingertips with countless talk shows and commercials in between your favorite songs that will fill your news craving for the day. Television is still an option to obtain information as well. Leaving a news channel on in your room, whether it’s on CNN or Fox, just catching glimpses of the news while you are getting ready in the morning is helpful. News is important and can affect you whether you realize it or not. In the spirit of National News Engagement Day, I encourage you to download a news-filled app, get on social media, subscribe to a magazine or turn on your TV and radio. No matter what you do, always remember some news is better than no news at all.