I am fond of the song by Paul Simon, but I fear those days have come and gone.
The question of how to be an informed citizen without succumbing to the anxiety of the endless scroll has lately become pressing. Current events have never demanded such thoughtful consideration, but algorithmic manipulation has also never been more potent.
What are we to do?
I found it necessary to write down exactly why I consume the news and to then seek out those outlets that best fit my principles. Should it help another reader, here are my…
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE NEWS
I am a citizen of a democracy and it is my responsibility to learn about current events and policy issues. The more I know the better choices I can make for my family and my community. That this is often said does not make it less true, and our age of democratic backslide makes it even more important.
I want to turn toward rather than away from those who are suffering. To empathize, to feel sadness with, to pray for and to advocate for–this is a part of human life. I find it deeply painful to be aware of the news, but to ignore current events would be equally repulsive. My mother quotes singer Mercedes Sosa, who perhaps said it best: “A Dios le pido que lo injusto no me sea indiferente” (I pray to God never to be indifferent to injustice).
I am prone to binge reading and endless scrolling. These are activities that I associate with extremely severe bouts of depression, and are to be avoided. I am committed to learning about current events in a format that is substantively different from the Facebook News Feed—which sadly, eliminates the New York Times app in its current iteration. I am actively seeking out news outlets with a defined end point.
I enjoy good writing, clever conversations, and thorough research. Journalists deliver these delights on a near-daily basis, a feat I consider wondrous. I want to seek out the best writing I can, and I want the news to serve as a springboard for connection with the people I care about and the minds I admire.
I want to be grounded in my community. One of the risks of the online realm is very obviously that it can pull us away from where we actually exist in real life. I want to read news that tells me what’s happening in my hometown (admittedly that is New York City, so hardly limiting), and about the specific issues about which I am most passionate.
A rich reading life requires the timeless and the timely. Whereas books supply the former, periodicals are my source for the latter. Newspapers and magazines come on a regular schedule and so create a regular rhythm for reading— I hope my kids will remember me reading, and periodicals can help foster that.
With these principles in mind, here are a few news sources in my current rotation:
DAILY:
Podcasts “The Headlines” and “The Daily” from The New York Times.
Newsletter “The Morning Spew” from Hell Gate. This is a worker-owned, subscriber-funded New York City news outlet. I like that their daily newsletter is short, and as their advertising promises “never a chore to read.” This newsletter fits my requirement of having a defined end point–I can read the entire thing in about ten minutes, although they include links to several additional stories.
WEEKLY:
The New Yorker, always a highlight of my week and perfect for reading one-handed on the subway. Following the advice my father gave me when I graduated from college, I rarely miss “The Comment” (the first entry in “The Talk of the Town”), even if I don’t finish the rest of the issue.
Streetsblog NYC: Traffic safety is one of the issues I care most about. This blog is often how I am alerted to safety failures and opportunities for safety improvements in my own neighborhood. Where I live is where my kids walk to school every day–I can’t think of a better reason to stay up-to-date on a topic.
MONTHLY:
The Atlantic Monthly, which we get in print, although I confess I rarely finish.
Newsletter “Pro Insider” from The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
QUARTERLY:
My family recently influenced me to subscribe to The Boston Review. I am eagerly awaiting my first issue.
Do I occasionally miss the quantity of news I used to get scrolling through social media? Absolutely. But I believe that by being smarter about what I read, I can be a better citizen and neighbor, have more fun talking to my loved ones about our favorite articles, and be less anxious.
There are still many holes in my reading, and I hope to thoughtfully add additional print subscriptions over the course of this year. We currently don’t have a television, but if we ever got one, I can imagine Tim and I might become evening news people (evenings watching Tom Brokaw are a warm childhood memory we both share).
Any suggestions for another subscription to add next?
See you at ALA?
I will be attending the American Library Association meeting in Philadelphia next month. My formal schedule is pasted above, but please email me (you can just reply to this email) if you have some spare time for coffee or a meal. Even if we have only previously met at a signing or through this newsletter, I would love to get to know you in person.
OpEds, Reviews and Releases:
“Teaching Students Why Cinco de Mayo Matters for Our Democracy” on The 74Million
A starred review for Cousins in the Time of Magic from School Library Journal
Spanish edition Primos en tiempos de magia now on shelves
Can you forward this newsletter to a friend?
Most of my readers find me through friends and family who have recommended me. If you can forward this email to someone who loves kidlit, I would be honored. ¡Mil gracias!