Newsy News
Because this post is about ‘NEWS,’ here are some more kittens. This is Mikey and Milo in 2006 when they first arrived in our home.
Tired of the same old news outlets? Huff Post make you scream? Fox Snooze killing ya? CBS/ABC/NBC news putting you to sleep? Here are some alternate sources for what’s happening across the nation and also locally.
Lion Publishers is all about local independent online news. There are over 450 members under the Lion banner, probably one or two near you. Check them out and support them if possible. Here are just a few in Arizona I like to peruse.
The Arizona Agenda is a substack that is geared toward outing the bullshit in state politics and government. Arizona journalists Rachel Leingang and Hank Stephenson use in-depth pieces that cut through the smoke and mirrors politicians use, watchdog stories about how the government is failing or screwing its citizens, and provide facts and point fingers — and hopefully inspire more people to get involved.
The Border Chronicle is a substack newsletter that focuses on the big issues challenging border regions, such as climate change, economic inequality, government surveillance, and the rapid growth of the border security industrial complex. Instead of using the ‘crisis’ narrative popular in mainstream media, longtime journalists Melissa del Bosque and Todd Miller, based in Tucson, strive to challenge preconceived notions about the borderlands, even their own.
The Tucson Sentinel has been publishing for over a decade. Their goal is to create a more informed community that is making wiser choices, to dampen rhetoric, and foster a respectful dialogue about local and regional issues through solid, reliable accountability journalism.
The AZ Luminaria is another Tucson-based online news outlet founded by Irene McKisson, Dianna Náñez, and Becky Pallac, who together have more than 50 years of experience in Arizona newsrooms as reporters, editors, mentors, community organizers, business-side experts and digital innovators.
And in Kansas, check out the Lawrence Times (as opposed to the Lawrence Journal World). It’s an independent grassroots online news publication with the goal of maintaining open news access for all members of the community regardless of income. It began publishing March of 2021 and it exists thanks to your generous donations.
Here are a couple other independent online news outlets not associated with Lion I think do great work:
Prescott (AZ) Indivisible…yes, there are progressives in this red town. This online news source promotes social justice and political accountability through advocacy and activism while advancing humanitarian, inclusive and progressive values at all levels of civic engagement.
The Kansas Reflector launched in 2020 and is a nonprofit news operation providing in-depth reporting, diverse opinions and daily coverage of state government and politics. This public service is free to readers and other news outlets.
Damn. I’m slightly gobsmacked that Susie Bright, from her Substack journal, has endorsed my Tales from the Homestead. She is an American feminist, author, journalist, critic, editor, publisher, producer, and performer, often on the subject of politics and sexuality, and is the recipient of the 2017 Humanist Feminist Award. Check out her writings…
And I cannot recommended enough Heather Cox Richardson’s almost daily posts on Substack called Letters from an American. She cuts through the BS in politics with smooth precision.
For folks living in the Ol’ Pueblo, retired columnist and cartoonist for the Arizona Daily Star David Fitzsimmons’ Substack is a good read. He calls it a blog on southwestern life, politics and culture with a side of salsa and satire.
And now…
