ABOUT

“Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government,” Thomas Jefferson said. In the 21st century, this rings especially true. Democracy thrives on informed citizens. And one government’s choices can affect people far beyond that nation.

But how do people become well-informed? We can read and watch news, but often all we get are tidbits of knowledge that don’t explain the whole picture. Unless you’ve been following a story from start to finish and researching it from every angle, the news isn’t as useful as it could be.

And who has time for that?

Journalist, screenwriter and director Ben Hecht put it simply. “Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock,” he said.

This site is here to address that problem. State of the Stuff will investigate the most written-about stories by covering what’s at the top of the Google News World section. The site will provide information from news sources across the globe– and across the political spectrum– to answer the basic questions a person would have.

When consensus appears to exist among competing news sources, State of the Stuff will report the agreed-upon facts. And when controversy or unique perspectives exist, it will explain that too.

The past always plays a role in what’s happening today, so the site will sum up relevant history for you as well.

And all this information will be provided in lists and bullets, so you don’t have to take the time to pick apart blocky paragraphs. But if you do want to look further, the site will provide links to as many information sources as possible.

News is complex. Journalists should explore various perspectives, provide background information, and use easy-to-understand terms and formats.

State of the Stuff is here to do that. It’s your time-efficient resource to keep up with what’s going on.

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