Ronda Suder 
The best news apps and networks to stay on top of current events.
If you dread making small talk during networking events, whether it's a holiday party or a function for your industry, here's a tip to help you avoid an awkward situation: Before you head to another event where you know there are employers you want to network with, be sure to check out the top news stories for the day so you feel prepared to start a conversation with someone new.
Short on time? Not a problem! There are plenty of digital resources you can access at your fingertips!
The best news apps and email newsletters to consider
Below are five digital tools, from the best news apps to email newsletters, that you can use to get your headlines when you're in a hurry.
theSkimm
theSkimm is a daily email newsletter that gives you everything you need to start your day. Their regular morning email breaks down the latest headlines into pithy, nonpartisan summaries that offer insights with a bit of humor and sass. Click on the following link to https://theskimm.com/newsletters and click the “Subscribe” button or download their free app from iTunes.
LinkedIn News
LinkedIn News delivers timely news with a daily rundown of what's happening, including the latest industry news, what your colleagues are reading, and trending news at companies similar to yours. You can follow and sign up for notifications at https://linkedin.com/news/daily-rundown/.
SmartNews
SmartNews brings you trending stories from top news publishers – NBC News, MSNBC, USA Today, TIME, The Huffington Post, Bleacher Report, Quartz, The Verge, VICE, VOX, AP, Reuters, Buzzfeed, Fast Company, to name a few — and categorizes them based on subject. It's clutter-free, easy to browse through, and good at digging up fresh content that you'll actually want to read. You can also download this resource for free via iTunes or Google Play to file under your list of best news apps.
Need 2 Know
Need 2 Know is a daily email with the news stories you “need 2 know,” from politics and business to sports and entertainment. Similar to theSkimm, its emails are short and sweet, with a little humor to make you smile. Click on the following link to join the Need 2 Know mailing list for free.
Inkl
Inkl boasts to be “the last news app you'll ever download.” As one of the best news apps on the market, it offers an ad-free, highly-curated stream of trustworthy news without the scammy clickbait content found elsewhere. You can filter newsrooms that are most important to you so that your feed always brings you the articles that you want to read. Download the app on iTunes and Google Play for Inkl's free Basic version, or upgrade to Premium for a monthly fee.
Focus on the best news apps for your interests
If you download every one of the options from the best news apps list, you might be overwhelmed with all of the information and content you receive. Instead, focus your efforts by signing up for two to three of the apps or newsletters that are most relevant to you and provide a diverse range of insights. As you try a few out and determine the best news apps for your needs and interests, you can always adjust and sign up for different ones in the future.
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This article was originally written by Amanda Augustine. It has been updated by Ronda Suder.