The best networkers stay on top of current events.

If you dread making small talk during networking events, whether it's a holiday party or a function for your industry, here's a tip to help you avoid an awkward situation:

Before you head to another event, be sure to check out the top news stories for the day so you feel prepared to start a conversation with someone new.

Short on time? Not a problem! Below are five digital tools, from email newsletters to mobile apps, you can use to get your headlines when you're in a hurry.

theSkimm

theSkimm is a daily email newsletter that gives you everything you need to start your day. Their regular morning email breaks down the latest headlines into pithy, nonpartisan summaries that offer insights with a bit of humor and sass. Click on the following links to sign up for this free daily e-newsletter or download their free app from iTunes.

LinkedIn Pulse

Pulse delivers timely news tailored for you, including latest industry news, what your colleagues are reading, and trending news at companies similar to yours. You can receive notifications on breaking news, must-know articles, and when your connections are mentioned in the news. This free app is available on iTunes and Google Play.

SmartNews

SmartNews brings you trending stories from top news publishers — NBC News, MSNBC, USA Today, TIME, The Huffington Post, Bleacher Report, Quartz, The Verge, VICE, VOX, AP, Reuters, Buzzfeed, Fast Company, to name a few —  and categorizes them based on subject. It's clutter-free, easy to browse through, and good at digging up fresh content that you'll actually want to read. You can also download this app for free via iTunes or Google Play.

Need 2 Know

Need 2 Know is a daily email with the news stories you “need 2 know,” from politics and business to sports and entertainment. Similar to theSkimm, its emails are short and sweet with a little humor to make you smile. Click on the following link to join the Need 2 Know mailing list for free.

Inkl

Inkl boasts to be “the last news app you'll ever download.” It offers an ad-free, highly-curated stream of trustworthy news without the scammy clickbait content found elsewhere. You can filter newsrooms that are most important to you so that your feed is always bringing you the articles that you want to read. Download the app on iTunes and Google Play for Inkl's free, Basic version or upgrade to Premium for a monthly fee.

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