1) Explanation

Let's break down the sentence to understand the context and the meaning required for the blank:
- "Considering the surfeit of information churned out by news websites,..."
- "Surfeit" means an excessive amount of something. So, there's too much information.
- "...we have to turn to $\qquad$ accounts in order to stay abreast of current events."
- "Stay abreast of current events" means to keep up-to-date.
- If there's too much information, to keep up, we would need accounts that are concise, summarized, or brief, rather than detailed or extensive.

Therefore, the blank needs words that mean summarized, brief, or condensed.

Let's evaluate the given options:
- A. downplayed: Made to seem less important. This doesn't relate to the quantity or summary of information.
- B. arresting: Striking; eye-catching. This describes attention-grabbing, not conciseness.
- C. lyrical: (Of literature, art, or music) expressing the writer's or speaker's emotions in an imaginative and beautiful way. This describes style, not conciseness.
- D. synoptic: Taking or involving a comprehensive mental view; presenting or offering a general survey or summary. This perfectly fits the idea of a summarized or condensed account.
- E. abundant: Existing or available in large quantities; plentiful. This is the opposite of what's needed, as there's already a "surfeit" (excess).
- F. abbreviated: Shortened, especially a word or phrase. This means reduced in length or scope, which fits the idea of a concise account necessary due to a "surfeit" of information.

Conclusion:
Given the "surfeit of information," the need to "stay abreast" implies turning to accounts that are condensed or summarized. Both "synoptic" and "abbreviated" convey this meaning.

The final answer is $\(\mathrm{D}, \mathrm{F}\)$.