Does this type of online/mobile news service exist?

May 21, 2014 9:17 AM

I'm looking for what I can only describe as the Sunday paper of online news, but with significantly fewer stories, "delivered" to me once or twice a week. More criteria inside.

I'm looking for what I can only describe as the Sunday paper of online news, but with significantly fewer stories, "delivered" to me once or twice a week. I'm having trouble finding something that is right.

The perfect candidate would look something like this:

• Sent to me via email or mobile notification once a week (maybe twice a week).
• Contains a dozen or so of the top stories of the previous week. The stuff that I should know about to be an informed citizen of the world and the US.
• The stories linked within provide all of the context I would need to have a general understanding of the news item and any related information. It shouldn't read like a breaking news story - it should be more like a synopsis.
• The stories/synopses don't have to be super short and simplified. I don't necessarily need something like Circa and would probably prefer something with more meat.
• Nothing else. I don't need or want a place to go check regularly.
• Obviously less bias/spin is better.
• Bonus points if there are videos and photos to supplement the text
• Super bonus points if there are links to stuff that would help me read or learn more if the story interests me.
• Super mega bonus points if it contains local news (although I've never seen this done very well outside of local papers).

I've realized that I've become almost completely uninformed. I don't have cable or network TV and I've slowly lost interest in checking the news online every day. I don't want to put the effort or time into being constantly plugged in, but I still want to have a good understanding of what's going on in the world. News really doesn't happen that quickly and I don't think these two desires are mutually exclusive, but I can't find anything that supports this style of news consumption.

Any suggestions? Thank you in advance!

posted by Defenestrator to Technology (6 answers total)

It's daily, but The Skimm might fit.
posted by radioamy at 9:23 AM on May 21, 2014

Economist weekly newsletters
posted by michaelh at 9:29 AM on May 21, 2014

Wikipedia has a Current Events portal. I think it is a good candidate for what you want to read (short summary, links to more detail, worldly and usually non-biased). The delivery part is missing, though.
posted by soelo at 9:32 AM on May 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I just subscribed to The Best of Journalism - I am sent articles 2x a week. This costs $1.99 a month.

Also, Harpers Magazine sends out a weekly summary of events every Tuesday. The cost is free.
posted by seawallrunner at 2:30 PM on May 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

The Week has a digital edition. UK-centric, but pretty broad. Not free. I read it for a while and it's a very good, relatively non-partisan overview of international news.
posted by Happy Dave at 4:57 AM on May 22, 2014

Response by poster: I was hoping there was more of this type of thing, but many of these suggestions are still great. I've been getting the Harpers weekly summary for a couple months now and have been enjoying it. Exactly what I wanted!
posted by Defenestrator at 8:50 AM on July 28, 2014