Let's face it, TV news is crap ... here is the answer

For all the promise of "We report, you decide" and other blather on TV news, the boob tube does do one thing well; it provides news of the day in short, manageable bursts.

Too bad those bursts are aimed to an audience that never really graduated from the short bus of life. If you have more than two brain cells to rub together to keep your brain warm, you'll probably find most TV news to be more entertainment than issue.

If you’re like me, you've probably turned to the Internet to get most of your news. But, also if you’re like me, you are too busy to keep scoring every resource to get the best in news -- or to capture stories that are interesting but don’t live on your favorite web sites.

This is the strength of The Week.

The Lowdown
In fewer than 60 pages (including ads), each issue of this magazine scours both paper and electronic media - dozens and dozens, ranging from CNN.com, to the Washington Post, to the New Yorker to the London Daily Telegraph to the BBC to the Wall Street Journal to GQ to Playboy to the Christian Science Monitor and on and on and on.

The key is that The Week does not have any reporters of its own. The staff consists of editors who read all these other sources whether in English or not, then they synthesize them into a weekly magazine.

They glean the top stories; compare the way stories were covered, combine editorial of top papers, magazines and websites.

What normally would be a mish-mash of voices in other hands (or on Google News) - in the deft hands of the editors of this publication becomes a very concise - and insightful - work of journalism.

Let's see what an issue holds:

The typical issue
Each week (barring the year-end holiday), an issue will arrive in your mailbox. It will be deceptively thin.

At 8 x 10.5 inches, it is normal magazine size, but it is THIN -- fewer than 60 pages. There is no way this magazine looks like it is worth $3 an issue of its cover price. But it is.

Opening the non-assuming cover page, and past the ads, you will find the first regular feature of this magazine -- no table of contents. That's what the front page is for, Here, the magazine launches into is first weekly feature:

Feature 1: The Main Stories ...

This will be the "big" story of the week. Usually the latest on Iraq, or whatever issue gained the most press of the week. In this part of the magazine, The Week's editors pull tidbits from between 6 and 10 major news sources. In 10 or so paragraphs, you'll get a very complete picture of the biggest news story of the week.

Then, on the next page:

Feature 2: ... and how they were covered

Here, the magazine delves into editorial slant and bias of the news media, if it is shown. Also, you get a very brief and well written collection of the main ideas expressed in the leading editorials around the world and how they opined on the big issues of the week.

Next page:

Feature 3: Controversy of the week

Here, The Week looks at what scandal rocked the nation - or grabbed the nightly news headlines. (just in case you miss that TV news after all). It covers the issue in about 6 paragraphs.

Feature 4: The World at a glance

This is usually three pages: The Americas, Africa and Europe and Asia/Oceania. You get the biggest stories from each continent. This is handled very well.

Feature 5: People

Here, you get a dose of pop culture. about 75% of the page provides actual snippets of in-depth profiles. Intelligent pop culture - yes, it does exist.

Never fear gossip hounds, the very bottom of this page will contain 9 or 10 snippets of the juiciest and most lurid gossip of the week. Usually presented in no more than two sentences on each topic.

Feature 5: Briefing

This section is a faux question and answer. The editors will pick an in-depth topic - Muslims in the American South, Chronic Homelessness. They will pose questions about the topic and answer them from coverage of the issue in the various news sources they scour. This is done very well.

Feature 6: Best Columns

Like opinions? This is for you. the editors find the best, most humorous and most insightful opinion columns of the week and provide 5 to 7 sentence synopses of them. Quick way to catch up on what the leading thinkers in our media are saying in both the U.S. and Europe (and Asia and Africa).

Feature 7: Talking Points

The idea behind this is that The Week readers are usually intelligent and BUSY people who find themselves in social situations. The magazine provides 2 pages of facts, opinions and synopses on some of the most popularly discussed stories of the week. Whether it's facts about a national politician or a moral dilemma facing the nation.

Feature 8: Pick of the Week's Cartoons

A gleaning of the best editorial cartoons of the week. The Week usually beats Time magazine by a week for the best in this bunch.

Feature 9: Health and Science

Exactly what you expect here. A synopsis of the big stories of the week in science, technology and medicine.

Feature 10: Arts

Here you get reviews of books, film, Music, stage and TV. But instead of only one critic's opinion, The Week gleans a story by combining reviews of various well-respected critics. Then it will give a star rating by judging what the consensus views are on the topic. The works reviewed are timely and not limited to the best sellers. This is a great resource.

Feature 11: Leisure

If you like recipes, and other how-to tips, this is your section. The Travel section also finds interesting and sometimes obscure travel destinations.

The hidden gem here is the Real Estate section, which always features four homes for sale. Usually by some theme: "Island homes" or "Country Cottages". None of them will be less than $1 million. Except the fourth, the "Steal of the week" - it will usually be a dream house for an outrageously small amount of dough, but located in a city/state/town that no one in their right mind would ever purposely move to.

The Consumer section features odd and interesting things to buy. I must admit I have used this more than once for birthday and Christmas gifts - usually greeted with compliments on the originality of my purchases.

Feature 12: Obituaries

Usually a profile of two or three people. At least one really famous death. And at least one not-so-famous person who did otherwise extraordinary things or was involved in a very famous event.

Feature 13: Business

The hottest news, in-depth issue and opinion columns for business as covered by the leading news sources. A very thorough and complete job here.

Feature 14: The last word

Unlike the rest of the magazine, here The Week will re-print a complete full-length article that appeared in one of the publications it monitors. The topic will be in depth - but will never be about something that was covered to death in any other media. It is usually a human interest story.

Feature 15: Television

The vast wasteland gets the last page. Here, you get very quick guides to what is on the upcoming week and what to set your TiVo to record.