Why We Wrote This
Who reports the news? People. And at 海角大神, we believe that it鈥檚 our job to report each story with a sense of shared humanity. Through conversations with our reporters and editors, we explain the qualities behind our reporting that affect how we approach the news. Behind today鈥檚 headlines we find respect, resilience, dignity, agency, and hope. 鈥淲hy We Wrote This鈥� shows how. The Monitor is an award-winning, nonpartisan news organization with bureaus around the globe. Visit CSMonitor.com/whywewrotethis to learn more.
One Reporter鈥檚 Guide to Gratitude
In this re-topped encore episode, writer Harry Bruinius reflects on his exploration last Thanksgiving of the effects that letters of gratitude can have on senders and recipients alike. For this Thanksgiving, he speaks with host Clay Collins about how he has been thinking about that story and its subject since 鈥� and about tapping into the enduring power of gratitude, even in especially troubling times.
A Politics Writer鈥檚 Real Test
The recent elevation to U.S. House speaker of a relative unknown set off a wave of declarative side-taking. Some pointed to hopes for civility and responsible government. Others to controversial stands on social issues and the division they can sow. For our senior congressional writer, the news meant sifting factual accounts of Mike Johnson鈥檚 words and actions, and not getting caught in the efforts to shape any particular narrative. Gail Chaddock guest hosts this episode.
Respect, Dignity, and Getting Along
Can civility 鈥� true, deep civility 鈥� save what can sometimes seem like a broken world? Stephen Humphries, the Monitor鈥檚 chief culture writer, joins host Clay Collins to talk about his expansive view of the culture beat and about how he came to write about Alexandra Hudson鈥檚 book, 鈥淭he Soul of Civility.鈥� Ms. Hudson, too, joins this episode to talk further about how to bridge the empathy gap that reveals itself around issues ranging from Mideast side-taking to vaccines.
Mideast Turmoil: What鈥檚 Different This Time
Where does Israel鈥檚 pursuit of Hamas go next, and what does it mean for the broader Israeli-Palestinian struggle? Ned Temko, a veteran Mideast-watcher, joins host Clay Collins to talk about a region that demands command of context to cover 鈥� let alone analyze 鈥� fairly. Ned offers a high-altitude look at how this latest round of violence has, in a way, returned the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to its deepest roots 鈥� but also is focusing eyes on the importance of attempting some form of political resolution.
A Zeal for Reels, Unspooled
How does the Monitor鈥檚 film critic approach the work of identifying what to review, and how? For Peter Rainer, it鈥檚 about intelligent curating, and staying moored by his own context-rich experience 鈥� even amid buzz around topics like 鈥淏arbenheimer,鈥� or the question of whether superhero movies are a scourge. It鈥檚 about serving his audience by filtering the noise that can overshadow the works themselves. Peter spoke with host Clay Collins about how he does that 鈥� with a bonus anecdote about a surprising encounter with Quentin Tarantino.
Braving Rockets To Build Social Bonds
A hot war in the Middle East rightly owns international headlines now. But Russia鈥檚 war on Ukraine continues to deeply affect daily lives 鈥� including those of the very young. This year, a third of Ukrainian students are going back to in-person classes full time, in places where their schools can be called relatively safe. Writer Dominique Soguel spoke to host Clay Collins about the work of reporting her recent story on Ukrainians鈥� resolve to give their children the human connection they need to thrive.
Rejecting an Easy, Ageist Narrative
How does the Monitor report fairly on the rising number of important U.S. politicians who are reaching advanced ages 鈥� and getting ever greater media and public scrutiny over issues of mental acuity? Two longtime Washington reporters, Linda Feldmann, the Monitor鈥檚 D.C. bureau chief, and Gail Chaddock, guest host and former congressional correspondent, discuss how not to get swept up in a prevailing narrative.
This Forest is More Than the Trees
Talk about seeing the forest for the trees. When Jingnan Peng, a multimedia reporter as well as regular producer of this show, caught wind of a forest-planting project near our Boston base, he grabbed his video camera and a drone. The story he ended up filming: that of Maya Dutta, whose work with Biodiversity for a Livable Climate has her creating Miyawaki forests. For this episode 鈥� partly an encore of one in which Jing described his approach to videography 鈥� Jing spoke to host Clay Collins about how he found this story, why it鈥檚 a natural Monitor piece, and how it fits his oeuvre.
A Writer鈥檚 Wrexham Moment
Journalists on the culture beat often get to be on hand for big events. Usually they can see them coming. As Season 2 of the Welsh football series 鈥淲elcome to Wrexham鈥� rolls out on FX, the Monitor鈥檚 Stephen Humphries relives a May assignment that dropped him into the stadium where a low-tier team would notch an improbable victory. He tells guest host Kendra Nordin Beato about the surge of fan identity that the team鈥檚 win gave to its sleepy hometown 鈥� and to a larger community beyond.
How Lahaina Looks Forward
What does it take to report on a disaster sensitively, safely, and through a Monitor lens? How can a reporter find credible hope for eventual renewal amid devastation? Writer Sarah Matusek spoke to host Clay Collins about reporting from West Maui immediately following the Aug. 8 fires 鈥� and about finding generosity and agency in abundance.
