Where do you get your News?

Many busy young people don’t read the newspaper or watch the evening news. Instead they get their information about current events from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, David Letterman or Jay Leno.

Usually Jon Stewart, David Letterman and Jay Leno are making fun of what is happening, but they are up to date on current events and are discussing the latest happenings in the US, the world, politics, sports, and entertainment. You can find out a surprising amount of information about current events by watching late night talk shows.

They offer the information in a humorous manner, which helps, especially when the news can be horrific. It is hard to watch the news when all there that they talk about is bad news, horrid crimes, and war. Who wants to unwind at the end of a long, tough day at work by filling their mind and vision with death, destruction, and horror if there is an alternative?

Obviously the version you get from the late night talk shows is not accurate as they portray it, but you get the general information about the event and can then choose to follow up and get the full story from a traditional news source if you want all the specific details. Often, The Daily Show gives me all the information I need, but for major events I will research the event or political policy on my own when I need or want to know more than a joke or skit provided.

Is there a happy medium between the seriousness of traditional news programming and the humorous version Leno and Letterman offer their viewers? Is there another way to make current events more accessible to modern viewers? Young people want to know what is happening in the world, but news programming has to find a way to change with the needs of the viewers.

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Higher Education Costs

Education costs are an important issue for young voters. The majority of students in college and universities are in the 18-29 year-old age bracket, and therefore, issues relating to education and costs are part of their daily lives. Going to college, often involves getting loans, which you expect to be able to repay after you graduate and get a good job.  The economic downturn, and high unemployment rates mean more and more students are graduating with advanced degrees, but are still unable to find those elusive good jobs. As the costs of higher education increase, which as federal funding decreases, increase in costs is an inevitable result, or else programs are cut, the amount of debt students incur to achieve a degree becomes higher than the job market can sustain.

Paying a loan payment of over $500.00 a month on wages from a job at McDonald’s or Wal-Mart is almost impossible, yet defaulting is not an option either, defaulting on a federal loan has dire consequences for the rest of your life, including being unable to obtain a mortgage or car loan in the future. Post-Grads are forced to move back home with their parents just to be able to afford their loan payments on low wages. This makes you wonder what the point of higher education is and is it worth it? Of course, the truth is that education is never wasted, but the debt associated when jobs are scarce can be daunting.

Luckily there are more repayment options that can accommodate lower wages as you work entry-level positions, or work a low paying job while you search for a job in your field, but make sure before you sign on the dotted line that you know all the information about the repayment choice you are making, as it is usually a long term commitment of 10 to 25 years.

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