We have that in the UK it's called 'Big Issue' and I often buy one, it's actually worth a read as it covers the politics of things that affect the poorest members of society.
Came here to post this. I swapped my daily news reading habit for an Economist subscription (paper only) and have not looked back. The first 1-2 pages will typically summarise the week's news well enough for me not to feel like I've missed out on anything, and the quality of writing and variety of interesting topics is excellent. I also agree with your second point about feeling obligated to read it!
Edit: for some humorous and UK-specific news/investigative journalism/cynicism I can also highly recommend a subscription to the fortnightly Private Eye. It works out at like £1 per copy and is always a fun read.
Look at the Economist- it covers many aspects worldwide, however ask yourself if an average Joe on the street would read it instead of the usual suspects.
The Economist is the only news publication I pay for, I do wish they were more economics focused (as opposed to politics, though of course the two are fundamentally intertwined).
Any other publications (paid or free) I should be looking at?
I read the Economist back when I used to travel a lot as a backpacker. Its content acquainted me with the issues of other countries in a way no other publication could have done.
Some travelers I met were surprised when they talked with the younger me about their country's healthcare reform, the valuation of their currency or their mroe vocal political leaders.
I can recommend The Economist (if you are willing/able to pay). Top-notch succinct writing, an audio version and a wide selection of articles. I always thought that it focuses too much on politics (which does not interest me that much), but every issue has still plenty of articles that I find compelling.
Another benefit of paying for what you read: you feel obligated to use that source instead of mindlessly browse online
These days The Economist and Teen Vogue have more in common than most are prepared to admit.
It's disappointing that the only publications willing to tackle heavy issues are things like Vogue, The Rolling Stone and Vice Magazine. The rest seem content to sit back and take a more academic approach if they take one at all.
You really should try reading the economist for several weeks. They are pretty dry (not sensational) and filled with analysis. They also do a much better job than most American mainstream publications about giving space/content to the rest of the world. It's a pretty dense magazine and I don't think the "masses" read it.
If you’re in the UK, your local library may have access to the Economist as an online magazine
My county’s libraries use Libby, and I get to read The Economist and many other magazine ‘for free’ (reality is my council and other taxes pay for it but you get my drift)
I'm not sure if it's universal; where I live, the US embassy offers free magazines for anyone (and, yes, they have The Economist). The downside is that they are a couple months old.
_The Week_ is quite good (US or UK). They have people read many of the things you don't have time to (including _The Economist_ :) ) and pull highlights from them across a broad range of topics.
I subscribe as well. The US weekly news magazines never had the depth of The Economist but at least in pre-Internet days they gave you a reasonable summary of important things. But in the past decade they've totally declined into irrelevance. Not even sure what print editions still exist.
I don't read it cover to cover. There's a fair bit of international detail that I just don't find very interesting or relevant but it covers so many things that there's plenty to read about.
I like the Economist which I think does a good job of providing an outsiders view of American politics as well as context on how a story has other implications. Not sure if their coverage of UK politics is biased or not.
reply