Books in Headlines series

Melting in the Arctic, increasingly destructive weather events, massive species loss, and the resulting economic toll were predicted as early as the 1960s. In the 21st century, these signs of climate change are occurring right on schedule. These problems are harder to fix due to the scale of human fossil-fuel dependency and the challenges of converting entire economies to carbon-neutral energy sources. Add to this, any political climates and inactivity driven by denial. The articles collected here detail our growing understanding of climate change, the urgency of its challenges, and the steps we are taking to combat it. Media literacy questions and terms are included to help readers further analyze news coverage and reporting styles.

The temptation to enhance athletes' performance with substances is great when fame, money, and national pride are involved. From the early days of professional sports, both human and animal athletes have tried to improve their strength and endurance with a range of steroids, hormones, and other drugs. Antidoping regulations established by every conceivable sport seek to ensure fairness on the playing field. Yet deception occurs widely, whether from state-sponsored doping regimens or individual efforts. In this collection of articles, readers will gain a nuanced view of the issues and people involved in the most pivotal news about doping in the sports world.

Many popular social media websites and apps have one thing in common: celebrities looking to be worshipped. These social influencers come from all walks of life, and cater to young demographics with content including comedy routines, make-up advice, product reviews, and music videos. Watched by millions of viewers worldwide, they create diversion, provide commentary, endorse brands, and sometimes inspire the wrath of governments. With the aid of media literacy terms and questions, readers will discover how this comprehensive collection of articles reveals the ins and outs of internet commerce and culture.

The stories we tell about war tend to glorify it, with clear heroes and villains who direct war by abstract strategy. The reality of war, especially in its 21st century form, is best understood in its effects on everyday people. Though these people often do not choose war, they are exposed to its unthinkable outcomes: massacre, torture, rape, famine, displacement. By focusing on the victims, this volume challenges our often comfortable distance from conflict. The articles within highlight our mutual responsibility to end such conflicts, and showcase the tools we have built to limit their worst excesses. Media literacy questions and terms further challenge readers to assess how journalistic principles are applied to the coverage of war and those affected by it.

This important volume examines historys darker side: the massacres, terrorist attacks, ethnic cleansing, and subjugation of races that have taken place throughout the history of humankind. Through examination of acts of brutality such as the Crusades, the Holocaust, the Hutu massacre of the Tutsis in Rwanda, recent terrorist attacks committed by al-Qaeda and ISIS, and many others, readers will be forced to confront the violence that continues to plague the human race. Sidebars, a glossary, and books and websites in the further reading section are also included.

Melting in the Arctic, increasingly destructive weather events, massive species loss, and the resulting economic toll were predicted as early as the 1960s. In the 21st century, these signs of climate change are occurring right on schedule. These problems are harder to fix due to the scale of human fossil-fuel dependency and the challenges of converting entire economies to carbon-neutral energy sources. Add to this, any political climates and inactivity driven by denial. The articles collected here detail our growing understanding of climate change, the urgency of its challenges, and the steps we are taking to combat it. Media literacy questions and terms are included to help readers further analyze news coverage and reporting styles.

Due to their affordability, versatility, and relatively easy production, plastics are used in a variety of products of all different scales, from household goods to computers to airplanes. Advancements in chemical technology following World War I catalyzed innovations in the industry, with mass production beginning in the 1940s. Since the earliest days of production, environmentalists have questioned the sustainability of plastic, and voiced the potential risks of reliance on this synthetic material that has such a slow decomposition rate. Through the New York Times articles and media literacy terms and questions collected here, readers will explore the rise of plastics, the implications of the industry, and the environmental movement that arose in response, posing the question: is a plastic-free future possible?

History books tend to celebrate the successes, the geniuses, and the breakthroughs that have made our world what it is today. But what about the mistakes? This book examines the blunders and the goof-upsboth miniscule and colossal in scalemany of which have been lost to history. Readers of The Worlds Worst Mistakes will find humor in the story of the priest who married a bride to her grooms best man and cringe at the poor fool who thought he actually purchased the White House. They also will learn about mistakes that changed the course of history, like the sinking of the Titanic, the Exxon Valdez disaster, and the weapons of mass destruction that started a war but didnt exist. Sidebars, a glossary, and books and websites in the further reading section are also included.

Due to their affordability, versatility, and relatively easy production, plastics are used in a variety of products of all different scales, from household goods to computers to airplanes. Advancements in chemical technology following World War I catalyzed innovations in the industry, with mass production beginning in the 1940s. Since the earliest days of production, environmentalists have questioned the sustainability of plastic, and voiced the potential risks of reliance on this synthetic material that has such a slow decomposition rate. Through the New York Times articles and media literacy terms and questions collected here, readers will explore the rise of plastics, the implications of the industry, and the environmental movement that arose in response, posing the question: is a plastic-free future possible?

Since establishing the importance of journalistic freedoms in the nineteenth century, The New York Times has continually demonstrated the importance of free communication between press and public, from the publication of the controversial Pentagon Papers in 1971, to its navigation of the contentious relationship between the press and the Trump administration. The articles collected in this volume take readers through decades of American journalism, with a particular focus on the changing notions of press freedoms, notable cases of censorship defiance, addressing bias and controversy in different media outlets, and highlighting the lives and legacies of journalists in the 21st century. Media literacy questions and terms are included to help readers further analyze news coverage and reporting styles.

American politics have become increasingly polarized over the past several decades. As the two primary parties have moved further apart, so have those whose beliefs fall on the extremes of the political spectrum. This book features articles that examine the ideas and actions of political extremists from across the spectrum, ranging from single-issue groups like Second Amendment and anti-abortion radicals, to larger movements such as anti-government activists and the growing presence of white nationalists. With the reporting, photography, and media literacy questions and terms collected here, readers will discover that while these groups may operate on the fringes of American politics, the echoes of their positions resonate into the mainstream.

Shopping is a pastime ingrained in American life, from the annual Black Friday sales to the rise in prominence of big-box stores such as Target and Walmart. But as customers have shifted to using online merchants such as Amazon, businesses have had to fight to reach consumers. This collection features articles that address trends in consumer culture, explaining the psychology behind what we buy and the significance of consumer habits to the larger economy. It also tells the story of individuals who are beginning to fight back, seeking to disrupt the powerful cycle of consumer capitalism. Media literacy questions and terms are included to further engage readers with reporting styles and techniques.