Why Do We Really Follow the News?

Season 5, Episode 34

On Freakonomics Radio this week, we dare to ask whether civics class answers for why we pay attention to the news are really true. Could it be that we read about war, politics, etc. simply because it’s (gasp) entertaining?

Then, Stephen Dubner and his Freakonomics friend and co-author Steve Levitt answer your questions, starting with a question about whether live-streaming junior high school classes over the Internet would improve education.

To learn more, check out the podcasts from which this hour was drawn: “‘Why Do We Really Follow the News?’” and “Are We Ready to Legalize Drugs? And Other FREAK-quently Asked Questions.”

You can subscribe to the Freakonomics Radio podcast at iTunes or elsewhere, or get the RSS feed.