I disagree one can stay informed while following the 24hr "news" cycle. In fact, I would recommend staying away from so called "news" to stay informed.

This 'old' book from last century (that is year 1999) sums it up well.

Edit: link to the book > https://www.amazon.com/How-News-Makes-Dumb-Information/dp/08...

Excerpt from desc of the book:

Sommerville argues that news began to make us dumber when we insisted on having it daily. Now millions of column inches and airtime hours must be filled with information--every day, every hour, every minute. The news, Sommerville says, becomes the driving force for much of our public culture. News schedules turn politics into a perpetual campaign. News packaging influences the timing, content and perception of government initiatives. News frenzies make a superstition out of scientific and medical research. News polls and statistics create opinion as much as they gauge it. Lost in the tidal wave of information is our ability to discern truly significant news--and our ability to recognize and participate in true community.

All this anger against 'fake' news reminded of a book I started reading years ago but never finished because I wanted to spend more time reading news.

https://www.amazon.com/How-News-Makes-Dumb-Information/dp/08...

Basically, news (as defined in our modern era) makes us stupid. And I happen to agree...