If there’s one thing that can be universally difficult to understand, it’s economics. In a world where finances can be made so complicated, The Wall Street Journal has soooo many different articles that can help us understand how the world works. From entertainment to investments, there are tons of posts that break down cultural influences on the world’s economy.
Here are a few highlights from The Wall Street Journal that elaborate on just that!
(P.S. all FSU students, faculty, and staff have complimentary WSJ access! You can sign up here with your FSU email: WSJ FSU)
⋆˚☆📰 News Highlight #1📰⋆.˚
The Most Influential American Films of the Past 110 Years
One of my personal favorite past times is watching movies, and I’m willing to bet it’s one of yours too! This article specifically breaks down some of the American “must-watches,” throughout different decades. These classics have represented the development of entertainment and the film industry, showing the progression from “Casablanca” (1942) to “Oppenheimer” (2023).
The movies listed in this article help to define our view of American culture, as it shares some of the most important films in American cinema. Most importantly, it shows our progression (as a society of filmgoers and creators) of the film industry and how much we’ve been able to grow in terms of diversity, technology, and industry.
(P.S. part two, if you’re a movie fanatic like me, Strozier Library has a lot of movies available for check out, for FREE, using your FSU ID! We even have DVD/Blu-Ray players, projectors, and more technology if needed!)
If you’re looking for some new movie recommendations, or are just curious about influential films, definitely check out this article!
⋆˚☆☕️ News Highlight #2 ☕️⋆.˚
How to Budget as a College Student
Without a doubt, one of the most stressful parts of being a college student is navigating finances. For many students, it can be overwhelming to try to navigate the world of financial aid, scholarship, rent, and tuition. This article suggests some easy and beginner steps to managing budgeting as a college student, from finance calculations to starting a savings account.
I cannot stress the importance of having a budgeting or financial plan in college! Taking a couple hours of your college prep to do so, or meeting with whoever you need, will save hours of headaches, financial aid meetings, and stress if you come into a college semester prepared.
Though it can seem intimidating to deal with budgeting and finances for the first time, it can be easy with different resources that this article helps students to become more aware about!
⋆˚☆📰 News Highlight #3 📰⋆.˚
Key Moments in the History of Videogames (and No, ‘Pong’ Wasn’t First)
One of my favorite things I used to do as a little kid, with friends and siblings, was playing video games. Honestly, it still is a personal favorite (shoutout to you if you still play Roblox!). Videogames have evolved so much over the past decade, now becoming the biggest entrainment source for people!
If you’re a video game enthusiast, or just love learning about them, this article is the perfect read as it goes over the history and development of games. From ‘Spacewar’ and ‘Pong’ to ‘Minecraft’ and ‘Roblox’, this article covers the biggest hits in the entertainment industry. Billions of dollars, news jobs, and creative developments have been a result of video games. This huge market has taken over global industries all while serving as a memory creator for new generations.
Fun Fact: “Worldwide, video games made more than $180 billion in 2024. That’s more than Hollywood, the National Football League and Netflix combined.”
⋆˚☆☕️ News Highlight #4 ☕️⋆.˚
How Pro Football Became America’s National Obsession
As a loyal Nole and disappointed Miami Dolphins fan, I have firsthand experience witnessing he obsession with American Football. Whole parties, events, and days are planned around “College Gamedays,” “NFL Sunday’s,” and “Superbowl Sunday.” With packed restaurants, slammed stadiums, and large tailgates, American football is one the most fascinating cultural obsessions.
If you’re interested in sports, or curious about “what the big deal is,” this article addresses the history behind how American football came to be a cultural impact. With various development points within the NFL and television, the sport has evolved globally, allowing for extensive fan bases and coverage. Financially, too, American football is a huge market with million-dollar sport agency contracts, massive broadcasting networks, and influential marketing.
Next time you’re at an FSU Football Game, note how absolutely massive and packed the stadium is with War Chanting and Garnet & Gold!
⋆˚☆📰 News Highlight #5 📰⋆.˚
The Weird and Wonderful Consumer Trends Steering Brands Into 2026
If you happen to be a marketing or communications student, this article is a must read! This new year has brought back a revival of unexpected trends that this article covers. From rave culture, “slop bowls,” and quick clips, so far 2026 is embracing nostalgia and health!
This article is a great way to learn more about the trends that have emerged and how brands have responded to them as a result. Next time you go to a fast-food chain or grocery store, note how many menu items and packaging have the grams of protein plastered on them (spoiler alert: it’s a lot!)
⋆˚☆☕️ News Highlight #6 ☕️⋆.˚
How Theme Parks Turned Nostalgia Into Historical Landmarks
Did you know that theme parks practically blew up after World War II? This article covers just that on top of the history of technologies and theme park development. What started off as a place to eat food, and dance has now been transformed by characters and attractions.
Disney World, Dollywood, and Six Flags all hold historical references and value within their theme parks with their attractions and visuals. This article goes over the different relevant histories and cultural values of these theme parks, showcasing how theme parks have been able to evolve since the 19th century.
If you’re a theme park fanatic like me, this article is without a doubt an interesting read to see how these parks have come to be a billion-dollar industry and popular family vacation spot. From Knott’s Berry Farm created in 1920 to Universal’s brand-new Epic Universe, creativity and technology have taken over and shaped these parks!
⋆˚☆🗞️ Bonus: News Quizzes 🗞️⋆.˚
Wall Street Journal News Quizzes
If you’re up for a weekly challenge, check out the WSJ’s news quizzes. These quizzes are released and updated weekly to test if readers are up to date with their news. Even if you’re like me and no idea what half of the questions ask at times, they’re amazing to learn about relevant information and news that happened on a specific week!
The Wall Street Journal offers a whole bunch of articles regarding finance, economics, and culture that are so interesting to learn about. These are just a few that, I believe, could provide some new fun facts, important information, and be a productive time killer for us Noles!
Disclaimer: This blog post was prepared by an undergraduate student. The opinions expressed in this article are to provide helpful advice and encourage students to utilize a shared resource, The Wall Street Journal subscription.
Written by Cassandra Torres, Student Engagement Assistant
This list is great! It touches a little of everything!