In order to really know what is happening in the world it is very important to get your news from many different sources and to read independent news in addition to mainstream news.
One of the best independent news sources I have found has been Democracy Now!
It is a radio show that comes out every day. It covers perspectives not often covered in the mainstream news and is free of many corporate media news's biases.
Another great source I have found has been Alternet
It is a progressive news source that I really like. It covers progressive issues and doesn't just talk about whatever the regular news is covering but it tells you about very relevant topics that you might not get to hear about on TV or in newspapers.
My favorite mainstream news sources are BBC News, Al-Jazeera News in English, and my favorite of all is the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.
If you want to really know what it is like in Iraq I encourage you to read the blog Baghdad Burning get a first hand account from a brilliant young woman. I am so glad I found the blog and it has changed my perspective.
It is very important to vary your news sources so that you aren't only exposed to one news source's biases.
Otherwise it is very easy to be tricked by Fox News Channel type tactics. (And as for CNN, if you ever see their Arab-Israeli conflict coverage you will see that it is heavily pro-Israeli and nowhere near as objective or balanced as it should be. So don't trust them too much.)
For Americans its important to read international news sources because you would be suprised how different a topic is covered by international news and American news.
Reading blogs is also a great way to learn about things as long as you take their biases into account because good blogs will generally link to many sources of where they got their information so they help you investigate things for yourself.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Thanks for the news sources. It's ridiculous but I really only have time to learn any news (other than reading on the internet) in between work and school in the break room. All what they ever have on is fox news Ahhh!
I really like this one. My sister and I listen to the BBC radio broadcasts on our way to school in the mornings and always find it easy to follow and very informative.
Soli Deo Gloria! ~Gracenotes
http://www.progressiveu.org/135838-voting
Thanks for mentioning that show. I always mean to check it out, but forget. I'm going to bookmark the page and start listening to it online.