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No images? Click here  Dear Reader, After eight years as senior politics editor at The Conversation U.S. – that’s two Trump presidencies, two impeachments, one insurrection, two presidential campaigns, three wars, the demise of congressional power and the profound testing of the Constitution, our election systems, the rule of law and the very nature of politics in America − I'm stepping down from running the politics desk as of April 1. My experienced colleague Alfonso Serrano will be taking over the desk. I’m not leaving The Conversation – I’ll be working a couple of days a week. Most importantly, our politics coverage won’t skip a beat as Alfonso meets both the everyday and long-term challenges of chronicling our civic lives, from the actions of small-town government in rural America to immigration policy set in Washington, D.C. Over all the years I’ve worked here, we’ve given you, our readers, a broader view of politics: “Coverage on the politics desk at The Conversation U.S. is not politics the way many Americans think of it – partisan bickering, horse-trading and he-said-she-said false equivalencies,” we wrote in a manifesto for the desk. “Rather, we cover democracy: what government is and how it happens, why it was set up that way, and what the effects are for individual people, various demographic groups and the nation as a whole.” We believe it’s crucial during this time of immense change and conflict to help readers understand what values and ideals Americans claim to uphold, the processes by which they seek to do that, and the results – including whether they actually uphold or instead undermine those values and ideals. I’ve covered politics for almost 40 years. But sometimes what’s been happening over the past few years has been so confounding to me that commissioning and editing a story has been my only way of figuring out what’s going on. That’s the beauty of having researchers write all of The Conversation’s stories. I am enormously grateful to have had a job in journalism that has allowed me to ask important questions, and work with fascinating people to get the answers. These scholars’ intelligence and knowledge has deepened my understanding of the world – and, I hope, yours. I have learned so much in this job. Throughout my tenure at The Conversation, my husband and I have contributed in response to fundraising appeals. We intend to continue that support. I hope that you, too, will affirm the value of our work and, by implication, how that work helps sustain democracy. Please consider giving as generously as you can, because you will be investing not just in The Conversation but in a better-informed public – and our democracy. The late playwright Tom Stoppard wrote one of my favorite quotes. “Words are sacred,” he said. “They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” If our stories have managed to nudge your understanding a little, that means the world to us. With thanks, Naomi Schalit P.S. When you donate today, we’ll send you a downloadable e-book showcasing some of the best recent work from my desk and others: 6 articles that provide much-needed context on the Iran war. The Conversation US, Inc. is a tax-exempt public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. All donations made are fully tax deductible if you itemize. Our tax ID number is 46-0906774. How to donate: |
