It depends on what I am reading for. On global issues I am always impressed by how fact-driven, thorough and up to date foreignpolicy.com is. National Geographic I really like, and value the diversity of content it offers from world history to anthropology, archeology, environmental issues, science and medicine as well as some geopolitical events. Smithsonian Mag I find interesting for the same reasons. TED has really interesting educational content, maybe this media is not so much news, but more like lectures with scopes that range from religion to philosophy, health and diet, politics, humanitarian issues, but what ever you would call it, I like it. They have some really great speakers.
I also follow some smaller, alternative media sources and investigative journalists that would be typically labelled as progressive, because that is where I fall more along the political spectrum, but I am open to reading a source of different political persuasion than my own if the reporting is factual and they demonstrate integrity.
As someone who is deeply anti-war I find The Real News very thoughtful media, particularly when Paul Jay is involved because he is so knowledgeable and calm. Sometimes the website of local news stations also have very good stories worth reading that don't make it the bigger outlets, and often it is actually better sourced.
In the past I have found the Intercept an informative read on both foreign and domestic policy, but not so much now that Glenn Greenwald has stepped away. It's his journalism in particular that I respected.
PBS has a show on YouTube I like called It's Okay to be Smart that I appreciate for science content.
NPR can be okay from time to time. When looking for information specifically about American government I will watch videos uploaded from C-Span, and I like that I can just watch extended recordings of hearings uninterrupted without some of the sensationalism of other mainstream media outlets. I also find it useful to go to congress.gov and read the actual roll call of vote and the language of the legislation itself. The voting record is more useful to me then what a politician says they believe in and what is said about them by somebody else.
I try to limit my intake of mainstream media to moderate doses, but I will watch The Hill's Rising sometimes. I like their format of hearing a lively but well-informed voice from each side of the political aisle collaborate with each other like friends and discuss populist issues in a sane way, usually both sides will make fair points. The show was at it's best I think when Krystal Ball and Sagaar Enjeti were a team, and I didn't enjoy the newer presenters very much until Kim Iverson came on. I think she's dynamite. I was familiar with her show as an independent media YouTube channel, and have always enjoyed how she approaches issues in such a rational, calm and level-headed way, and she really puts in copius research, and glad to see that she is continuing to do this on a major network.
Also will stop and watch any program if I see that Chris Hedges is a guest. I love his work.
