As an instructor, I'm aware of individual learning styles. I used to think I was a strong visual learner. I always thought I best learned through reading and graphics. Perhaps listening skills are a forte too as I may do well with auditory stimulus. I certainly feel as though I learn a lot during my morning commutes.Learning about the world through radio was never much of an option. During my youth radio was simply for music. And to be honest, North American broadcast news in general spends a lot of time navel gazing. Both American and Canadian radio and television spend inordinate resources rehashing purely domestic issues. Some of the most advanced communication potential on the planet is often wasted pursuing the likes of Paris Hilton.
At least the BBC has reporters out there on foreign soil. In my daily podcasts from the BBC World Service I get a chance to hear voices of real people talking about the conditions affecting them. I hate to sound discouraged, but I suppose much of the general public here would probably have a hard time even locating these countries on a globe.