Last Saturday night, at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner President Biden urged reporters to follow his lead by covering what he wants them to cover. The problem with his plea was not that he made it. The problem would be if reporters heeded his advice. Read more
In Washingtonian magazine this month, New York Times book critic Carlos Lozada discussed how he turns the straw of reading political memoirs into the gold of an art form. Read more
Is American journalism facing, as a recent Atlantic story said, an “existential moment”? The news about the news might not be as unrelievedly bad as described. Read more
The chief theme of Netflix’s popular series “American Nightmare” is hardly groundbreaking. It was noted nearly eighty years ago by none other than George Orwell. Read more
The Times can take one of two paths: rededicate itself to its venerable creed or practice (progressive) opinion journalism honestly. Read more
The inaugural column is meant to be short versions of what magazine editors used to call “brights”—upbeat, inspiring, or humorous articles. Read more
Follow these tips. They may not make you the second coming of Tom Wolfe or Joan Didion, but they will make you a more competent and professional writer. Read more
Molly Ball’s biography of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi explores the pride the San Francisco Democrat takes in her profession and achievements without reckoning with its downsides. Read more
Many journalists act as if access to the Great Man or Woman is everything. This is a mistake. Reporters can write great stuff by talking with ordinary people. Just ask Gay Talese, who wrote one of the most celebrated articles in American history. Read more
Writing about a divisive political leader like former President Trump is possible. Witness David Brinkley’s under-recognized essay on the infamous labor leader Jimmy Hoffa. Read more
