Dearest Community, we’ve made it to Saturday once again! Good job, and thanks for all of the writing you’ve done to help keep each other informed and thinking critically about the ever-changing news cycle.
I want to get right to our newest Tip of the Week, but as always, here’s a quick primer on how this list gets populated from stories written Fri.-Thur. of any given week, for those who may be new to how Picks are … well, picked.
Truly, there is no formula. We tend, unsurprisingly, toward stories with solid writing and fresh perspectives, that cover a wide swath of topics. We’re suckers for stories with a personal bent when we can find them. We also aim to feature different writers whenever possible. Finally, with this diary being put out on Saturdays, we do our best to pick stories that haven’t gone stale by the time I hit Publish.
In the interest of fairness and to reduce the threat of pie-olence in this cheerful space, we’re also avoiding presidential candidate diaries until the nominee is chosen.
Does making this list really matter? That’s up to you to decide!
This list isn’t just for this weekly diary, either. Community Picks started out as an email newsletter long before I started at Daily Kos, much less publishing these diaries in August 2018! That means that every staff-chosen Pick of the Week reaches a far wider audience than it might usually find. Pretty cool stuff.
While we’re recapping, here’s a little insight on the addition of weekly tips!
Here’s a quick recap of that demand, for those who may be thinking, “I sure didn’t ask for this!”: The 2018 Daily Kos Caucus at Netroots Nation featured a too-short discussion, launched by Community members, about ways to tweak the great content that’s already being created, so as to better conform with the site’s editorial standards. Similar questions have also found their way to the “Picks of the Week” comments.
Last week, we explored the importance of using a Lead Image and a quick cheat to help you find one that’s been licensed by that image’s creator/copyright owner. We’ve also explored quality headlines and ledes, though we’ll be doing a deeper dive int he future. Also covered: headline style rules, and the essential Page Break. That reminds me, it’s time for one.
Circling back to last week’s conversation about using Staff Uploaded images from the Library, I have confirmed that those images are, indeed, for Community use in diaries! There was some uncertainty raised in the comments about permissions, but please allow me to enthusiastically encourage y’all to use Staff Uploaded images when possible.
Moving on, we’re going to stick with Lead (Title) Images this week. To make your diary shine, as noted last week, these images, which appear at the top of a diary, add so much to how a diary appears on its own, in Recents, and on the sidebars. Additionally, diaries without these Images look different on social media: They simply have a greyscale Flag Guy as their image. We absorb images far faster than words, so for anyone scanning a newsfeed, a photo is really helpful.
An image is also a great opportunity to add a impact to your story, or even have fun with it. Let’s check out a couple of Title Images that make their headlines that much better!
Those photos definitely fall under the “perfect fit” umbrella, and sometimes, you know them when you see them.
Other stories don’t seem to have a perfect fit, at least not when you first set out to choose an image. In my experience, though, the right image will eventually make itself known.
In a perfect world, your image should be high-resolution (1920 x 1080), and taken in landscape mode (ie if your cell phone is on its side instead of its bottom). The system does adjust things for you if that’s simply not possible.
See how important images are? Use them! (Or don’t, I’m not the boss of you!)
No really … use them.
Without further delay, let’s dive into this week’s picks!
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A little ray of sunshine
By dot farmer
A cute little story about pushing back against sexism … with the help of a preschooler.
Long-time union guy, first-time striker
By daveinchi
As Chicago teachers continue to strike, one career educator finds himself on the picket line for the first time.
Trump appeals court nominee would discriminate from the bench
By AFJ Action Campaign
Why shouldn’t Steven Menashi be confirmed as a federal judge? Let us count the ways.
The Maternal Mortality Lie That Ensures Women Will Keep Dying
By ZawnVillines
Childbirth shouldn’t be as deadly as it is in the United States … and it also doesn’t have to be.
Maryland AG Sues Slumlord Jared Kushner's Company
By Navy Vet Terp
These appalling allegations are just the latest proof that the White House senior adviser who just happens to be “the First Son-in-Law” fits right in with the Trumps.
Raising livestock and growing crops in the city
By occupystephanie
This installment from Regenerative Farming dives into the realities of urban farming. From finding the space, to keeping “farm odor” away, to fighting urban predators and giving neighbors tours of the crops in the front yard, it’s all here.
Is Social Media Making Us Sick? AOC quit some platforms, because of "public health threat"
By mettle fatigue
A deep dive into the existing research on this relatively new form of communication that’s become such a mainstay of so many lives.
Greta Thunberg Visits Lakota Country and Joins Our Call to Stop Keystone XL
By Chase Iron Eyes
The Swedish climate activist teamed up with another teen environmental warrior for a youth-led fight to stop a pipeline that will destroy Native American communities.
Putin's longterm aim: reverse America's Cold War win
By monkeybrainpolitics
The 2020 election isn’t just about outing Donald Trump. It’s about protecting this nation from Vladimir Putin.
An Accomplice To Murder
By Tom Conway
Mexico is abysmal on labor rights, and for some workers, the fight to organize can turn deadly.
That’s it for this week, folks! Hope you found some good reads you might have missed. Give these writers a follow if you’re so inclined, so you catch their next diary.
As always feel free to drop submissions my way via KosMail, and keep on writing. We’re so glad you’re here.