10 news outlets you should read daily.
Depending on who you ask, the internet is either the best or worst thing that’s ever happened to the news. Back in the day, when space limitations of print publications and the discriminating eyes of editors remained barriers to entry, there were a lot of ideas and writing that readers simply didn’t get to see. Now, anyone can get in the game. While that does mean more content, it also spawns an endless cycle of regurgitation, blogs, and news that’s not really news.
It is the reader’s task of course, to separate the noise from the signal. And while platforms like citizen journalism and crowd-sourced content do have a place on the web, the content they produce is simply not held to the same rigor as stories that have been reported, edited, and fact-checked, making them a different product entirely. Fortunately there are a variety of publications out there, both print and online-only, that bridge the gap between old media and new.
Here are 10 sources we’re reading:
- Longform.org– If you’re short on time, don’t go to longform.org. However, if you are looking to browse one of the best collections of long-form feature writing, investigative journalism, and profiles of public figures, this website is a gold mine. The site allows you to search by author, publications, topic, and allows you to save articles to read later on a mobile device or e-reader.
- Mother Jones– MoJo’s tagline—”smart, fearless journalism”—isn’t just talk. Focusing on human rights, the environment, politics and culture, the magazine does lean to the left, but their priority remains getting the facts right.
- Al Jazeera English– For reporting and coverage that’s less focused on the U.S. and western world in general, try Al Jazeera English. The Arabic news outlet offers in-depth coverage of Middle East and African affairs from a different perspective, and was the only news outlet to cover the war in Afghanistan from its own offices in the country.
- ProPublica– A non-proft organization committed to producing investigative journalism in the public interest, ProPublica was the first web publication to win a Pulitzer Prize in 2010. Their staff reporters frequently partner with journalists from other major media organizations such as NPR, New York Times, and This American Life.
- The Nation– Founded in 1865, The Nation is the oldest continuously published news magazine in the U.S. Like most print publications, The Nation has seen its circulation drop, but its commitment to reverse the “violence, exaggeration, and misrepresentation” of mainstream political reporting remains intact.
- Democracy Now– Investigative journalists Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzales run this nationally syndicated radio program and accompanying website, which is centered on progressive topics. The independent media company is run entirely from listener contributions and grants, and doesn’t accept any corporate underwriting or advertisements.
- The Economist– This British magazine doesn’t list authors’ names for any of its articles, owing to its belief that “what is written is more important than who writes it.” While the distinct tone of the magazine can verge on almost academic, if you want fact-heavy, tireless reporting on the state of the world, as well as helpful graphics and lengthy special reports, the Economist is a sure bet.
- The Browser– This website bills itself as a 21st century library, collecting “writing worth reading” from all around the web. Their frequent “Best of the Moment” post is a good go-to when you want a taste of quality from a diverse array of sources.
- Byliner- Often, finding a journalist whose work you trust and respect can be better than following a specific publication. Byliner allows you to follow specific writers across all the publications that their work appears in. The site also offers original content that you can pay for on an individual basis.
- Ode– Ode magazine and its accompanying website, OdeWire, bills itself as “news for intelligent optimists.” The website has a mix of curated content from elsewhere on the web and original content from the magazine.
Image: NS newsflash