Why News in FiVe?
Reading the news can be frustrating.
You want to understand events that affect you, but it takes a lot of your time. And by the time you did, news organizations will have moved on to the next hot topic.
So we created News in FiVe to address two problems...
o How can we keep relevant issues from getting lost in a new news cycle?
But we do lots more. Like showing you how well your representatives in Congress are representing your interests. And providing a way for you to easily and confidently let your representative and senators know how you feel.
We do what journalism is meant to do
When we say "5 minutes", we don't mean we just give you headlines. Anyone can do that. And by the time you read today's headlines, you've already forgotten what yesterday's were. And how all of that affects your life.
We really explain things. We don't assume you know all the various terms that get tossed around. Don't know what something means? Chances are you can click on it and find out in our glossary. Suddenly, you understand what you've been wondering about.
There's no magic pill to understanding. But if you read our news for 5 minutes each day (that's about half an hour a week), we guarantee you'll realize just how much more you understand. And the next time you hear someone - including your representative in Congress - say something, you'll instantly know whether or not they're representing YOUR interests.
Why should I trust you over anyone else?
Honestly... you shouldn't trust anyone. You always should verify what you read and hear. That's why we always tell you where we got our information - so you can evaluate it yourself.
That said, we adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.
Beyond that, we challenge each other on what we write. And you're welcome to challenge us too. If we say something you disagree with, try to determine what facts we got incorrect. And if we did get something wrong, please tell us.
And we do our homework. We try to get our information from various sources (and we give you links). Often what you can read in 5 minutes took us a day or longer to research and write.
How are you non-partisan?
Whenever there are two parties arguing completely different suggestions on a position, people are always going to see the other side as partisan. But analyzing available information and showing how different policies produce different results is not being idealogical. What's idealogical is sticking to a position that evidence clearly doesn't support.
Ask two people what you should wear outside. If one says shorts, and the other says to bundle up, don't you think looking out the window might help you decide?
We look out the window and tell you what we see.
Why can't I comment on your stories?
There are plenty of places to express your thoughts, whether on a newspaper website or on your own social media page.
But if you're going to take the time to write, why not write to someone who actually can do something about it? Write to your representative and senators. We make that easy too...
Just click the megaphone.
Why would a representative listen to me rather than a corporate lobbyist?
Here's a simple fact... money doesn't directly buy votes. It buys minds (through advertising)... and the votes follow.
But what if they can't buy enough minds... because enough people understand the real issue and won't be confused by campaign ads? And what if your representatives know that thousands of people in their districts understand?
They would need to respect their constituents' interests. Or their now-informed constituents will vote them out of office.
That's why it's vital that you understand the issues, and let your representatives know. And that's exactly why News in FiVe exists - to make both of these things easier, quicker, and more interesting for you.
Put simply, the most powerful force in a democracy is you!