With new media options cropping up every week and existing media changing so rapidly, we at the Washington News Council have been watching our own news reading habits evolve. It made us wonder, are others in Seattle experiencing the same?

We decided to launch a regular blog series called “What I Read.” We’re picking journalists, politicians, foodies, celebrities, business leaders, and others in the Puget Sound region and asking them about their current news consumption habits.

We’ll feature new individuals on a fairly regular basis. To kick this series off, Washington News Council president John Hamer suggested I reach out to my own father, Bill Dietrich. He’s currently writing historical fiction (see www.williamdietrich.com) and teaching environmental journalism at Western Washington University. Before his life as a novelist, my dad worked as a Seattle Times reporter for over two decades, and was part of the Pulitzer Prize winning team that covered the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Here are my dad’s answers to our questions on his changing news habits. Look for more personalities to be featured in weeks to come.

1. What are your favorite local news outlets? Why?

I live in Anacortes, so “local” for me is the Anacortes American (a weekly), the Skagit Valley Herald, and The Seattle Times.

2. What do you consider “must reads” every day? Must watch? Must hear?

Must read the above, although I’m frustrated that The Seattle Times has become intensely “Seattle-centric” and less regional. I often read NY Times and USA Today on my ipad, and Wall Street Journal is used as my home page on my computer. TV is usually KING, cable news stations (for a big story) or PBS (for background.) Radio is usually NPR (both KUOW and KPLU) and satellite radio stations including NPR, CNN, CNBC, and Bloomberg.

3. Do you consume news through: print, television, radio, laptop, smart phone, ipad, podcasts, other?

All of those listed except podcasts. Occasionally YouTube.

4. Do you use Facebook, LinkedIn, and/or Twitter for news and information?

No.

5. What online news sites or aggregators do you visit regularly?

NY Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today. Sometimes Huffington Post, Sightline, Crosscut.

6. Do you regularly visit any individual blogs for news, analysis and opinion?

No.

7. Have your news consumption habits changed in the last few years? If so, how?

I consume more news from a wider array of outlets for less money (except for the gadgets) because of improved wireless and broadband and because they’re free. The ipad has changed my news browsing habits. I can read more while waiting.

8. Do you read for fun? If so, what? Last novel you read? Non-fiction book?

I’d better, since I want people to buy my novels for fun. Just finished Ken Follett’s “World Without End” and am reading Steig Larsen’s “The Girl Who Played With Fire.” Just finished Nicholas Wade’s “Before the Dawn” (on human evolution) and am reading “Empire of the Summer Moon.” (Comanche Indians)