For the past three years, one of my New Year's resolutions has included keeping up with the news. And like most new year’s resolutions, I’ve never truly fulfilled this promise. While I can easily say that I’m a more engaged citizen now than I was when I entered college, I still feel there’s more I can do to actively stay in the loop on current events. Thus, in order to prove myself wrong this year, I’ve compiled a list of news outlets of which I’m going to keep tabs on for the next year. I’ve chosen to go with Grist, the Seattle Times, and the New York Times.
Now more than ever, it’s essential to stay informed and support reputable journalism. I’ve chosen to specifically hone down on environmental news as we’ve seen a concerning, monumental shift in our current government’s attitude and treatment towards our public lands, waters, and all those affected. The longer we wait, the worse the scars and irreparable damage will be, especially since environmental problems are interconnectedly linked to complex issues like racial inequality, social justice, public health, and poverty.
So, join me and choose a couple of news outlets to follow! I’ve always kept an eye on the New York Times because of their impressive photojournalism, and I’ve added the Seattle Times for local news and Grist for alternative, quirky, articles. Keep in mind that the greatest ways for you to directly engender change is through local policy, elections, and community initiatives--so, support your local news!
Check out the list below, and let us know what outlets you’ll be supporting this year.
Local Focus:
Seattle Times Environment News
Staying true to our roots, the Seattle Times is the place to get the broad picture in local news. With stories from urban Seattle to central Yakima, keep updated with changing environmental policies and local initiatives that directly impact you.
Check out: The Outdoors section is filled with suggestions on where to go and what to do to make the most of the Pacific Northwest.
Sightline
Committed to tackling issues of racial and economic inequality, Sightline "believes that true sustainability exists at the intersection of environmental health and social justice." They’re also from the Northwest!
Check out: The Sightline Daily is a daily curated list of top sustainability headlines in the Northwest that you can have delivered straight to your inbox.
Crosscut
A reader-supported news site focusing on the Pacific Northwest, Crosscut's mission is to "provide our readers with the facts and analysis they need to intelligently participate in civic discourse on politics, culture and technology."
Check out: Features and series highlighting many aspects of key regional issues such as homelessness.
National & International:
Grist
Self-coined as a an "independent, irreverent news outlet and network of innovators working toward a planet that doesn’t burn and a future that doesn't suck", Grist caught my attention right away. Quirky and humorous, they do a great job of reporting with a healthy dose of skepticism, all while staying grounded in their analytical journalism. They also focus on undercovered topics like clean energy, sustainable food, livable cities, environmental justice, and a better economy with compelling videos and articles.
Check out: Digestible daily briefings on stuff that matters.
New York Times Energy & Environment Section
Internationally recognized as one of the top newspapers in the world, the NYT has invested great online graphics and videos to enhance our understanding of complex stories.
Check out: The ‘Multimedia’ section with great interactive articles, such as this map on new shipping routes opened from vanishing Arctic ice.
The Anthropocene
After fifteen successful years of print, UW’s award-winning “Conservation” magazine began a new chapter and transition in 2015 to become “The Anthropocene” - “a digital, print, and live magazine in which the world’s most creative writers, designers, scientists, and entrepreneurs explore how we can create a sustainable human age we actually want to live in.” Captivating human-centered stories that tackle sustainability issues from a range of perspectives are paired with stunning design to produce thought provoking issues.
Check out: Read free articles online or become a member to receive their bi-annual printed magazine.
The Guardian
Reading about controversial issues from an international perspective is always a good way to step back and reevaluate what you truly know. Founded in the UK in 1821, the Guardian dedicates a wealthy amount of resources to cover international climate events, and will send out reporters out to cover events even when other newspapers hold back.
Check out: Articles are divided up into four categories - Pollution, Climate Change, Energy, and Wildlife - to quickly find what you’re looking for.