As Prince Charles of England once said of the late, great comedian Joan Rivers, who passed away Thursday, “Without comedians and newspapers, who would keep us honest?”

We can all agree that humor and journalism tell it like it is – truth with a twinge of reality shock. That is why both are crucial in this “information overload” world to seek out the truth and use it for the betterment of the world around us.

While social media is consuming our time with funny kitten videos and photos of what people ate for breakfast, it is just that: “social” interaction, like a family reunion. It is more important now than ever to be aware of the real news so we can act, engage and be involved in our community. It is especially important when 80 percent of people believe rumors to be true. As Joan Rivers would say, “What, are you an idiot?”

It is our civic duty to be aware of what is happening in our communities. It is also our civic duty to read a newspaper that is a reliable source, verifying the facts before it reports them. Learn locally who is running in the primary race and what they’d do if elected, if our water is safe to drink, if the resort development will happen, how the road construction will effect us, who died, who was arrested, what is happening in our schools, churches, municipalities and businesses – real, important information.

Why is it important to know local, state, national and worldwide news? It affects our lives, from wars and violence around the planet to dangerous weather in our nation. It helps us protect, prevent and be aware of the good, bad and ugly that we come across in our lives. It helps us find solutions to challenges, be advocates for change, shed light on injustices, engage in discussions and lead our community and country in a better direction.

So make it your duty to read the newspaper – this or any other, on any platform – to better yourself and the world.