Louise Kiernan

What happens when you buy the decorations at the dollar store

This is something I’ve been working on for the last little while. Journalists, bring us your ideas!

Speaking at #IRE25 this Saturday in New Orleans:
“International journalists, American press freedom & what’s happening now”.Grateful to share the stage with a powerhouse panel of press freedom champions @kathycpj.bsky.social
@lisatomic.bsky.social Mariana Belloso
@louisekiernan.bsky.social

I'm beyond thrilled that I get to moderate a conversation at #IRE25 with two of my very favorite journalists, the superstars @pamelacolloff.bsky.social and @hannahdreier.bsky.social. If our hilarious and frank brainstorming session was any indication of what's to come, you won't want to miss it.

Hey, @medillschool.bsky.social alums! If you're going to the @ire.org conference next week in NOLA, join us for a meetup with the dean. Free food and drink! 🎉
events.ard.northwestern.edu/Dn8g9BS7/5a6...

There’s nowhere in Chicago I love more than Garfield Park Conservatory. The flowers, the warmth, the infinite shades of green, the quinceañera party, the man dancing with his front-packed baby, the woman arguing with her wedding photographer, the teenagers marveling over a turtle…a city under glass

If you ever wondered whether school-related anxiety dreams end, they don’t. Only the role changes. Last night, I dreamed it was the last day of class and I had forgotten to tell my students they had a final project. And in a journalism chaser, a student reporter showed up to cover it.

I’m always going to start with @propublica.org

When I think about everything we know that's happened in the past week and I think about how stressed and depleted our news ecosystem is, I wonder what else is happening that we don't know about. And then I think something I think all the time: We all need to do what we can to support journalism.

If we're being honest, British English absolutely cooked with the pronunciations of 'aluminum' and 'laboratory.'

Read Your Way Around Chicago Chicago is a city of bookish abundance, home to countless literary giants past and present. The author Rebecca Makkai recommends works that capture its spirit.

This Chicago reading list by @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social is excellent, though she's too modest to include her own "The Great Believers," which would definitely be on mine. Plus, the Fine Arts Building!

www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/b...

And I'm sure there are more I haven't seen yet.

UnitedHealth Is Strategically Limiting Access to Critical Treatment for Kids With Autism Leaked internal documents show that the insurance giant is culling providers of applied behavior analysis from its network and scrutinizing the medical necessity of therapy. Advocates say the company’...

www.propublica.org/article/unit...

Hospitals Gave Them Meds During Childbirth. Why Did Patients Get In Trouble? Mothers were reported after they were given medications used routinely for pain or in epidurals, to reduce anxiety or to manage blood pressure during cesarean sections.

www.themarshallproject.org/2024/12/11/p...

The Global Fertility Trade: A Story of Extraction, Exploitation and Opportunity Following human eggs as they’re exchanged across open, gray and black markets — reaping rewards for an extremely high price.

www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...

Tracking Putin’s Most Feared Secret Agency—From Inside a Russian Prison and Beyond The spy unit that arrested a Wall Street Journal reporter is leading the biggest campaign of internal repression since the Stalin era.

www.wsj.com/world/russia...

Just in the past day, at least four investigations I'm dying to read have dropped. I know why there's a year-end crunch (it starts with the letter 'P') but it's hard on those of us who need to wrap up our own work and prepare for the holidays and would rather just read all day.

BTW, those stories:

I have five reporters solely focused on the federal government, abuses of power, the rule of law, democracy and corruption.

Do you work in the federal govt? Get in touch with them!

And my Signal is: 718-496-5233

Yes, I bought an advent calendar for my dog. Yes, I realize it makes no sense from either a theological or animal cognition perspective.

All I want is a social media site where I can find accurate, diverse, timely and excellent journalism (and journalists); learn some cool stuff about the world, especially the beautiful corner of it that is Chicago; and not have to deal with a shitshow. This is my third try. 🤞