With local and global breaking news coverage appearing online in a matter of minutes we're close to information overload. However, by using just a few online tools it's easy to organise news into areas of interest, so you're kept up-to-date with your own personal news service and avoid having to wade through the rest. Phone and broadband company TalkTalk, along with well-known gadget TV host Jason Bradbury, has today released an essential guide to making the most of the web when it comes to all things news.
Waiting for a copy of tomorrow's newspaper or the teatime TV news to catch up on events now seems almost prehistoric. These days, news isn't just delivered quickly by broadcasters and reporters, but also by new breed of citizen journalists, who update us on events before anyone else arrives on the scene. The race to get us the best pictures and most in-depth coverage of news has created an almost mind-boggling number of different channels from which we can get our news fix.
There aren't enough hours in the day to digest the amount of information that's provided - even trawling through the news to get to exactly what it is you want to read and see can be a tedious affair. Whether it’s politics in Papua New Guinea, the latest showbiz updates, stock prices or the surf conditions in Cornwall that you’re looking for, it's just a matter of setting up a few websites to get instant updates.
Gadget guru, Jason Bradbury, says: “I really haven't the time to pick up papers or watch live TV. Instead, when I open the Internet browser on my laptop, I’m offered a streamlined news selection - news that I’ve specifically chosen to receive – my news!’
Personal page
One of the simplest homepages to set up is www.google.co.uk/ig. It'll give you all the latest headlines, plus a few other on screen tools to get you started when you switch on your PC.
For the more news-hungry among you, the service provided by www.netvibes.com allows you to add multiple news providers to your page. These don’t have to be UK based either - there are plenty of foreign newspaper sites for your overseas updates too.
For a mixture of serious headlines combined with sports, horoscopes and weather updates from around the globe www.talktalk.co.uk/news has it all covered. A video report section lets you digest the latest headlines during breakfast.
News feeds
All decent news providers have what is called an RSS feed. “RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, is a way of delivering new content instantly without having to visit lots of individual websites,” says Mark Schmid, Communications Director at TalkTalk. To get involved you will need to download an RSS reader (www.newsgator.com provide a free one for both PC and Mac users) then seek out the RSS links at your favourite websites and add them into your reader.
In depth on your doorstep
For the latest breaking news in your area, news.bbc.co.uk/local covers every UK region and gives the local news, weather updates, sports and travel updates.
Breaking down the UK by TV region rather than county is www.itv.com/local, another superb source of what’s happening near you.
Further afield
Looking for foreign news? A visit to www.world-newspapers.com offers an exhaustive list of publications from around the globe.
Breaking news
For a fabulous round up of business, politics and other major headlines from around the globe www.newsdaily.com is well worth bookmarking. The section on science is about the best on the web.
The simple design of news.google.com makes it easy to find what you want in moments. There are plenty of categories to choose from and all the top stories have a video link for quick access to footage.
Showbiz and celebrity
Much more than a list of who is wearing what and the latest couple spotted hand in hand, the content at www.digitalspy.co.uk has plenty of gossip plus the more serious side of show business too.
For more of a tabloid-style take on the glitz, www.uk.eonline.com covers all the antics of the A to Z listers.
Financial matters
From currency rates and market news to individual share prices from all of the major markets www.advfn.com keeps a close eye on your finances.
Games and gadgets
Satisfy your inner geek with updates from www.pocket-lint.com who cover breaking technology news as well as happenings in the gaming industry with a weekly video show. Most up-to-the-minute global tech and gadget trends are usually reported by either www.engadget.com or www.gizmodo.com. Closer to home, www.guardian.co.uk/technology offer daily games and gadget updates.
Video news
If you prefer to watch rather than read your news then www.livestation.com is the best online site to find the channel of your choice. All the major news broadcasters are featured here, just download a little software and you have your own rolling news channel.
Audio to go
Short on time but in need of the latest news? Download a podcast from news.sky.com/skynews/podcasts onto your MP3 player and catch up while on the move.
Power to the people
For those who haven't used the 140 character phenomenon that is Twitter, give search.twitter.com a quick try.Type in any subject and you'll be amazed how many people are reporting and commenting on it at any one time.
Select your subjects of interest at www.stumbleupon.com and when one of the nine million members finds and tags a story in your category, you'll get an update.
Off the wall
For an alternative approach to news reporting try www.theonion.com. It gives a satirical take on all the latest headlines and is guaranteed to induce a grin.
Over at www.ananova.com, the ‘quirkie's’ section has been unearthing some of the most bizarre news stories for years.
Apps
The success of third part Applications has been widely reported – and some of the best examples of instant and personal news can now be found on your mobile phone screen. U.S tech blog Engadget.com has a simple, free app that offers compatible mobile users a fully configurable news service. You can also design the Guardian’s Application to deliver all kinds of news, in the order you want. And ITV and Sky both offer video and text based news offerings via free to download apps. Both of these apps also allow users to upload their own stories, directly from their phone.
