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Top Tips: To write about what’s new, look to the past
Things don’t happen in a vacuum. If we understand how we got here, we might see ways out of the mess we’re in. A little history adds a whole lot of context.
With a passport, you should be able to vacation abroad. No?
Tens of thousands of people pay good money for tourist visas to Western countries. But the odds of getting that passport stamp are getting worse.
Decoder Replay: Is U.S. democracy in a deathward spiral?
Half a century ago, Richard Nixon plunged the U.S. into a constitutional crisis. The crisis under Trump feels much worse.
When a snake bites, sometimes traditional medicine won’t do the trick
In India, traditional medicine seems to cure most snake bites. But most snakes there aren’t venomous. When they are, that’s a different story.
First a drought, then the flood
Kenya has been hit with a whiplash of extreme weather and government help for recovery has eluded many at the bottom level of the income stream.
The war in Gaza is a test for humanity
Standing by while a whole people gets massacred doesn’t absolve countries of their responsibility in that. There is complicity in silence.
The guardians of the exosphere
Some 10,000 U.S. soldiers protect weather balloons and navigation and spy satellites from threats from above. It isn’t the only space force out there.
Here’s to 10 years! And many more.
As News Decoder celebrates its 10th birthday, the need for young people to appreciate different perspectives and be globally aware is more pressing than ever.
Let press freedom ring
In only a handful of countries are journalists supported, protected and generally trusted. We need to change that.
For women athletes, world recognition is a long time coming
From Olympic racers to WNBA ballers, women are now getting the fandom and respect they have long deserved. For girls getting into the game? It’s just a start.
Top Tips: Be naive
When you ask questions about problems people have long accepted you come across as naive. Own that.
The politics of representation
Voters in the U.S. state of Delaware elected someone to Congress because of issues they care about. The gender of that person at birth was not one of them.
Decoder Replay: Spain tries to rein in housing costs
With housing prices at sky-high levels, people in Spain say it is time for their government to take action. Governments elsewhere are taking notice.
With no warning
As the planet heats up and extreme weather events get more common, the United States slashes funding to its weather services. What does that mean for the world?
Music as the lifeblood of a nation
Inside one of Italy’s quietly radical institutions, musicians and educators reshape how we hear — and understand — a nation’s soundscape.
Top Tips: How to get started making a podcast
Good podcasters make podcasting seem easy. But creating one that sounds natural and makes people want to listen takes planning. Here’s a quick guide.
Among explosions and gunfire, a quiet place to study
As India and Pakistan battle over control of Kashmir. Young people there flock to reading halls. They still have exams to pass.
Decoder Replay: Can Britain and Europe be partners again?
The Labour government wants to renew trade with Europe. The Tories had failed to do that after Brexit. We take a look back at that last attempt.
Should schools limit what kids can read?
Curling up with a good book is a basic pleasure. But these days doing just that might be a political statement.
Do teens gamble on sports? You bet!
Sports betting sites are supposed to be off limits to minors. But odds are, many teens get past the barriers.
Is social media turning our hearts to stone?
Social media is supposed to connect us. But endless scrolling through posts leaves many feeling disconnected.
Kidney disease doesn’t have to be a death sentence
Uganda has a lower rate of kidney disease than the United States. But the mortality rate from it? That’s another story.
Decoder Replay: A global revolution in cancer medicine
We seem to be leaping ahead in cancer prevention and treatment. But will that be only for those who can pay? A doctor prepares a cervical exam. (Illustration by News Decoder)...
What happens if you cross a border you cannot see
As India and Pakistan stare each other down, people who fish around a disputed sea border find themselves caught in a trap.
Decoder: A history lesson on Europe for Donald Trump
For eons, European nations were at war with each other. The formation of the European Union was meant to change that. Isn’t that a good thing, Mr. President?
From the ground in Kenya to the gold stud in the ear
Artisanal gold miners in Kenya work to extract the shiny metal even though doing so poses serious health risks.
Can the sea’s rise be a language’s demise?
As rising sea levels force migration of people, the languages they speak can get dispersed and die out.
Decoder Replay: Australia waltzes with two superpowers
Australia is its own continent but it has key strategic relationships with two big nations that don’t like each other. Political isolation is not an option.
And the winners are…
Grade inflation. Book and cell phone bans. Sports equity. School diversity. How a small town dealts with a world conference. Our storytelling contest winners.
Universities struggle with the speed of demographic change
In academia, a cookie-cutter approach to teaching and learning doesn’t always work when students come from diverse geographic regions, cultures and ethnicities.
Should getting ahead depend on who you know?
Nepotism has a bad name because it gives an unfair advantage to those with connections. But isn’t it natural to get a helping hand from friends or family?
When that dream job turns into a nightmare
Victims of fake job offers in South Asia find themselves far from home, forced to work digital fraud scams with high ransoms demanded for their freedom.
Eliminating grade inflation isn’t as easy as ABC
Critics of grade inflation argue that it cheats students who work hard for grades. But to others, letters don’t represent the many ways a student can excel.
The silencing of America’s voice leaves journalists abandoned
Reporters in South Asia have risked their lives to report stories for Voice of America. Now, these journalists are left exposed and their stories left untold.
Decoder Replay: What happens when tyrants fall from power?
Around the world we see tyrants rising. Once they hold power it is difficult to unseat them. But their fall often leaves a vacuum and chaos.
To combat obesity, let’s change how we measure ourselves
Obesity wasn’t an epidemic when children and teens spent their days running and playing outside. Maybe we need to get them off screens and on their feet.
Silencing voices by banning books
When groups try to keep books off library shelves, they close off young people to new worlds and perspectives.
A pipeline of prosperity or plunder
Will an oil pipeline that would stretch from Tanzania to Uganda bring wealth to East Africa or is it the same old story of exploitation?
What happens to the ski runs when the snow runs out?
With climate change snow packs are disapearing. If we don’t do something to slow it down, the idea of flying down a mountain will be a thing of the past.
Decoder Replay: China-U.S. animosity goes way back
Interlocking economies have turned China and the United States into powerful frenemies. What happens when the illusion of friendship dissolves?
Can we de-stress from climate change distress?
Earth Day reminds us that we need to take care of the planet. But being the Earth’s caretaker puts a mental burden on us that is difficult to handle.
Can we keep live music venues from dying out?
People spend big on megaconcerts. But the audience for local music is shrinking and local clubs are disappearing.
Giving species the space they need
In Punta San Juan, Peru wildlife researchers are working to help boobies, pelicans, sea lions and other animals to not just survive, but thrive.
When the government tells you that you cannot pray
Restrictions on Muslim festivals in India have turned public prayer into an illegal act.
Can young people save local news?
With journalism organizations struggling, a competition seeks to find and honor young people supporting local newsrooms in their area.
Could Trump’s tariffs end up spurring green innovation?
U.S. trade wars could create new alliances around energy independence, and make fossil fuel investments risky.
Are smartphones at schools all bad?
Across the world, schools are banning phones. But parents want to keep connected to their kids and students and some teachers find they can enhance learning.
The mining of sand scars Kenya’s land
The world’s most consumed natural resource after water fuels global construction. But harvesting it strips riverbanks and lakeshores, destroying ecosystems.
News Decoder helps launch digital student journalism tool
By producing news stories and other content, young people master the gathering, assessing and sharing of factual and verifiable information.
Decoder Replay: Globalization peaked before Trump’s tariffs
Both the Covid pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted international supply chains. Many thought it was time to bring supplies closer to home.