It’s probably a little thing, but how do you navigate your way around online news sites? Do you look for headlines on sites you normally go to, or do you use an online search site (technically called “search engines,” I think) like Google or Yahoo or Bing to look for specific news subject, then click links to get there.
There’s something to be said for both methods, for certain. I have two or three old-fashioned “newspaper” websites I go to every day — including the site for our every-shrinking local newspaper — and just look around. Some of those newspapers are major national rags, like The New York Times and The Washington Post. Others are in locations where I used to live, such as The Seattle Times and The Denver Post.
When I get to those sites, or any news site for that matter, I sort of scan the pages for interesting stuff. Then I might use the local site “search” function, then go to search Google or Google News for follow-ups on anything that interests me.
What I almost never do, whether at a news site or any other website, is follow links labeled “click here,” because click here really tells me nothing about what I might get or where I might go. I prefer following links like you can “read that editorial here,” or something like that which takes me to an expected location.
On the other hand, “click here” can be fun, too, and lead me to all sorts of information and trivia fodder I might otherwise miss! Even on Google.com there’s an “I’m Feeling Lucky” button. (Next time you do a search at Google, try that button and see what you get.)
Whatever methods you use to “read the papers” or find information of any sort online, enjoy the adventure as well as the knowledge. You do remember, the Internet has long been called the “Information Superhighway,” don’t you?