Web news readers are fantastic tools that help you consolidate your view of the latest headlines from around the web. This enables you to have the latest environmental, science, conservation, and wildlife news right at your fingertips. Using a web news reader, you can subscribe to RSS (Really Simple Syndication) channels (or 'news feeds') for various websites. Then every time those news feeds are updated, you'll receive an glimpse of the new headline in your news reader software.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 30 minutes
Here's How:
- Select, download, and install a web news reader application such as NetNewsWire Lite, NewzCrawler, Amphetadesk, and FeedReader.
- Obtain the subscription url to the web news sources from which you want to receive news feeds. News sources often display a link to their subscription news feed at the bottom of their home page. Such links may be referred to as syndication feeds, XML, RSS, RDF, or ATOM links. Here are a few science and wildlife news feeds that can get you started with your subscriptions: About's Animals and Wildlife news feed, Greenpeace, Nature Science Update, and National Geographic News.
- Subscribe to the web news sources from which you want to receive news feeds. For example, using NetNewsWire Lite to receive Animals and Wildlife updates, you would click the SUBSCRIBE button and fill in the RSS URL field with the subscription url (for Animals and Wildlife the URL is http://z.about.com/6/g/animals/b/rss2.xml). The subscription process will vary based on which news reader application you have chosen to use. Refer to the application's website or online help for further assistance.
- Use your news reader as a starting point when viewing news and information. It will provide you with an overview of the sites you visit often and help you located recent updates and stories of interest. Have fun!
What You Need:
- Computer (PC or Mac)
- Internet connection (dial-up, DSL, high-speed cable)
- A web news reader application
- Subscription links (RSS, RDF, or ATOM)
