Dear Reader,

The day when an AI agent can fetch all the news its algorithm decides you want or need is getting closer to reality. Regardless of whether you think that is scary or wonderful, you probably know that algorithms tend to keep you in a loop of seeing more of the same – whether it’s your views on politics or the music you like to hear … or the cat videos you might have once looked at. 

At The Conversation, there are human hands at work choosing what to show you. But we aren’t simply throwing more articles at you; instead, we deliberately bring you a variety of perspectives on a topic to give you a better map for navigating a complicated world.  

As the Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters here, I’m often in a position to gather up the best of our articles, which is a regular reminder to me of the breadth and depth we bring. Most newsrooms have been eviscerated over the past several years, losing seasoned journalists and dropping coverage areas. The Conversation is unusual in that we have been growing – and have desk editors who commission stories on science, politics, history, health, economics, arts and culture, religion and ethics, and more. Our editors actively coordinate to ensure that we approach a subject or news event from a variety of different angles, working with our expert authors to bring you coverage that is compelling, relevant and different from what you read elsewhere.

I work with the team to find ways to package our daily journalism to help you understand the big picture, sometimes through e-books, sometimes special courses. When the war in Ukraine broke out or artificial intelligence first swept the world, we were able to commission a broad set of stories and collect them in a way – in one case in an e-book, in another through a series of educational emails – that allows a curious reader to learn deeply from a range of expert authors. All of these useful, highly informative offerings are free, thanks to the support of readers like you.

Our weekly topic-specific newsletters also feature a diversity of perspectives. Our science newsletter, for example, includes new research but also stories on health trends, the economic impact of cuts in scientific research or how communities are adapting to climate change. 

With the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we saw another occasion to pull together our content in a way that brings fresh viewpoints to a well-worn subject. All donors to our current fundraising campaign will receive this downloadable e-book on July 4th. Our Philadelphia Editor Kate Kilpatrick provides an introduction and shares untold stories that bring nuance to the debates from our country’s origins. 

But wait, in the words of the old TV ad, there’s more: In addition to that e-book, we’ll send you collections of informative stories on AI and on visions for affordable housing. And you’ll have the satisfaction of helping us give away this journalism to anyone to read anywhere, without subscription fees or paywalls. 

Thank you for being a reader and part of The Conversation’s community.  Your support makes our work possible.

With thanks,

Martin LaMonica
Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters

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