CEOs spill the beans on how they get their news

Unfortunately, way too many have little interest in listening to perspectives outside of their own silo. For our work, it has become critical to monitor a spectrum of traditional and new media outlets to better understand the positions our constituents are hearing.

Michael Balaban, president, CEO, Jewish Federation of Broward County

First and foremost, the Miami Herald is a fantastic starting point for the main news of the day, but believe it or not, my primary source of news is the BBC. Why? Because I get the perspective of how the rest of the world sees what is happening here in the U.S. I am also a huge fan of podcasts. My go-to is the New York Times’ Michael Barbaro’s “The Daily”. I believe the only way to be an informed and critical thinker is by consuming dissenting views as well.

Uhriel Bedoya, Florida general manager, Lime

Our primary resources of news include mainstream media outlets such as the New York Times, Miami Herald and NPR as well as some select trade news, because it is impossible to read everything in our industry. But we also regularly consult international news media in Latin America and Europe such as El País in Spain, La Nación in Argentina, BBC in England and Der Spiegel in Germany, as they tend to discuss current events and news from a different perspective. When read together with the American media, we get a more comprehensive understanding of current events and trends.

Claudia Busch, founding principal, Berenblum Busch Architects

I use a variety of news sources, including the Miami Herald, for local news. For world news, I tend to rely on the Wall Street Journal, which has a relatively reliable rating for accuracy. I do tend to cross-check certain news, particularly political news, with a variety of sources. I am less concerned with subscription fatigue than inaccuracies and bias in news.

Anita Byer, CEO, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk

I read The Miami Herald for the local news, some real estate-focused publications, and The Economist for what’s happening outside of South Florida. I found that this gives me enough information on the day-to-day happenings, and by limiting additional outlets I can avoid any subscription fatigue.

Ricardo Dunin, founding partner, Lionheart Capital

There is no primary source anymore. Instead, you need to be plugged in and scanning as many trusted sources as you can. Accurate, well-corroborated, and objective sources are hard to find. I scan/subscribe to no less than 10-20 sources of news that have been painstakingly selected to provide news with the desired level of accuracy, integrity and objectivity I seek. By the way, not all are digital and many are not national. Indeed, I suffered from subscription fatigue for a while until becoming highly discerning when it comes to news sources.

Carlos R. Fernandez-Guzman, president, CEO, Pacific National Bank (PNB)

I find myself unsubscribing to something every day, several times a day. I usually find my needs from local journals, Google searches and e-news briefs like, “The Skimm” or the “5-Minute Herald” that give you everything you need to know in one efficient email.

Arnaud Karsenti, managing principal, 13th Floor Investments

With social media and instant gratification, we have access to news in real time. Sometimes even before it happens. There are so many sources that want your attention that it is difficult to focus on one. My primary source for news is Bloomberg. I follow Bloomberg channels on Instagram and receive the top world news through WhatsApp. I like that it is a brief narration of the facts and they limit the length of the headline.

Yaeli Merenfeld, president, Anny’s Bread Factory

No effective leader can have a primary source of news. I try to consume as much news as possible from as many reputable sources as possible and with both conservative and liberal slants. The days of reading one newspaper or watching one newscast a day are done for business leaders wanting to stay in the know. Moreover, in addition to news, social media should also be monitored and tracked, especially Twitter, where news always breaks first. I am a news junky, so I have not experienced fatigue. News has changed so much in recent years. We also have to change and be thorough in our consumption of news and the formulation of our opinions.

Bernie Navarro, founder and president, Benworth Capital Partners

There is a ton of content masquerading as news nowadays, and it’s more ‘content & click-bait fatigue’ than subscription fatigue. There is a healthy mix of newspapers, news alerts, industry publications and blogs that now form our mix of daily information gathering.

Sanket Parekh, founder and managing partner, Secocha Ventures

While I am generally a conservative in thought and opinion, I do watch a variety of different news outlets to get a broad view and understanding of the issues of the day. I never miss “Meet the Press” on Sunday mornings, and I regularly watch “Fareed Zakaria, GPS” on CNN and enjoy Britt Hume on Fox News. I also follow Peggy Noonan’s comments in the Wall Street Journal. I read the Economist. I try to stay on top of not only domestic issues but international ones, as we are increasingly a global village that is inter-connected. And I am one of those people who still reads my morning Miami Herald newspaper every day!

Julio Ramirez, president, CEO, JEM Global Consulting

People need to be more aware of how they get their news and the inherent bias that might exist depending on the source. I try to focus on separating news from analysis from propaganda. News sources like AP, Reuters, and NPR tend to have less bias. Cable news programs are more about analysis and often come with a healthy dose of bias. Local news is more important than ever. When we understand what is happening locally and stay engaged on local issues, good things happen in our community.

Kelley Shanley, president, CEO, Broward Center for the Performing Arts

I like newspapers so my primary source for news is the New York Times, and locally, the Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel, and Daily Business Review. We also subscribe to the Wall Street Journal. I stay away from so-called news sites on the internet that make no pretense to objective reporting; — my only fatigue is with those.

Stuart Singer, administrative partner, Fort Lauderdale office, Boies Schiller & Flexner

The Miami Herald, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and online news sources and social media. Twitter in particular can lead to subscription fatigue, so it has become really important to manage who you follow.

Evelio C. Torres, president, CEO, Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade and Monroe

THE MIAMI HERALD CEO ROUNDTABLE IS A WEEKLY FEATURE THAT APPEARS IN BUSINESS MONDAY OF THE MIAMI HERALD. Meet the current members of the roundtable.

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