People always want to talk about the most recent developments in politics, sports, scandals, etc. You can come across as a more informed individual simply by perusing a few news sources once a day.
A more complicated answer is that it shapes the way you see things that are constantly changing around you. It is important to stay up-to-date on this world, after all, you are living in it, so that you might understand its current state of affairs, the direction its heading, and your role in the unfolding story. Just as it is important to have at least basic knowledge of history to understand how things came to be. Learning about the past and present can give you an indication of the future. It can guide you on your career path, political beliefs, and discovery of new subjects.
Perhaps, you’ll see a recent development of social injustice, inciting strong emotions, convincing you to take action. Perhaps, you’ll see a new development in technology and think, “Hey, that could be useful for not only what this article suggests, but also for X” and lead you to pursue it. Perhaps, you’ll learn of a nascent technology that has the potential to positively or aversely affect an industry you are keen to work in, granting foresight on how to position yourself accordingly.
Obvious side note: different sources of news have different biases and political leanings. Understand this and source from several outlets.
Try to find ones that provide material in a manner Joseph Pulitzer aimed to:
“Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.” –Anonymous
