This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Washington chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
Whether students realize it or not, the news infiltrates nearly every inch of their lives, even when they don’t actively seek it out. TikTok trends, Instagram explore pages, campus-wide emails — all of these count as news, even if they don’t look like traditional 2,000-word articles with formal headlines.
It feels common to hear students say they “don’t follow politics,” but they still consume news every single day. That’s why it’s important to make a distinction between politics and news. In my view, the two aren’t always one and the same.
These days, it’s hard to think of much that isn’t directly or implicitly intertwined with at least some kind of politician or celebrity with political opinions. Politics can often feel polarizing, exhausting, and, at least for me, pretty depressing. But news is broader than that. It’s culture, climate, pop culture, education, campus events, science, and the systems shaping our everyday experiences. You can be informed without being a legislator, policy expert, or political strategist.
News reveals itself in the most multifaceted parts of college life. Changes in dining hall menus, rising tuition, housing shortages, or extreme weather events (like the catastrophic flooding that occurred in Washington state in December) all stem from broader forces worth understanding.
Social movements that shape conversations in classrooms and on social media deserve more than a quick scroll and a forgotten like. Student activism and university policy decisions often affect students more than they realize, and students actually have more of a voice than they may think.
College is also the time when many students start making independent decisions for the first time — financially, academically, socially, and professionally. Understanding what’s happening in the world helps students learn how to advocate for themselves, whether that’s pushing for campus change, choosing a career path, or even just feeling confident enough to ask questions.
This is why reading the news matters now, not “later.” News literacy builds critical thinking skills, not just opinions. Being informed gives context to classroom discussions, social media conversations, and even casual chats with friends. It helps students understand why things can feel uncertain, expensive, or overwhelming instead of internalizing that confusion.
That said, the news can absolutely feel overwhelming, and sometimes it seems like it’s designed to be that way. But avoiding the news does not equal protection from it. Curating your news intake is different from completely ignoring it. You don’t need to read everything. You don’t need to know everything. Reading something is a meaningful place to start.
When approached intentionally, news can be empowering rather than stressful. Knowledge gives language to feelings students already carry — anxiety about the climate, frustration with affordability, confusion about the job market. Reading the news can help students feel less alone in these emotions.
Making news more accessible can start small. Follow reporters, not just headlines. Read local and campus news, because it’s often less abstract than national coverage. Find formats that actually work for you, whether that’s explainers, podcasts during a walk to class, long-form features, or newsletters that arrive in your email inbox a few days a week.
At its core, staying informed is a form of self-care and self-respect. The news isn’t separate from college life; it’s woven into it. You don’t have to be a “news person” to pay attention. You just have to stay curious.