News publications fill up each December with retreads of the year’s biggest and most-read stories. It’s tradition. And – dirty little secret – with light holiday staffing, they need the easy pickin’s.
Staff at the 30-Second Read wanted to play, with a twist. Here are news stories we wish we’d read in 2023.
“U.S. enacts bipartisan law addressing border crisis.” Alas, politicians enjoy more fundraising and attention rewards for prolonging than solving our border problems.
“Tech industry got serious about guarding consumer data, serving public good.” Google, Meta, Twitter (now X) and a host of other tech companies didn’t – and won’t – because they earn billions abusing your privacy and juicing the culture wars.
“Americans increasingly reject hyper-partisan ‘news’ outlets.” Ideological “news” is a pestilence that sullies digital spaces and cable TV.
“As college athletic conferences chase dollars, universities reject being mainly sports brands, elevate learning.” Go ahead, laugh. All the way to watch football on TV.
“World’s biggest oil producing nation sharply cuts output to blunt climate change.” Yes, the United States.
Are we dreaming?
Probably.
Unapologetically.
And with hope for 2024.
30-Second Read on the news biz
Will we tire of the Ukraine disaster?
I would add: Congress overhauls voting rights laws to eliminate Citizens United and political gerrymandering, moving elections to Saturdays and requiring all candidates for national office to participate in a series of debates set by the election commission and not the parties. I know, too many words.
I agree on all. I ran up against my arbitrary word limit of 180! And I’ll point out that Louisiana, which ranks near the bottom in so many socioeconomic and educational rankings, holds elections on Saturdays.