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I've discussed how I think the quality has decline elsewhere in the thread, but in short, they flip-flop so as to be on the "correct" side of the conversation t

I've discussed how I think the quality has decline elsewhere in the thread, but in short, they flip-flop so as to be on the "correct" side of the conversation too often instead of admitting fault, their UK/EU commentary has been of such a low quality I could find it in a tabloid newspaper if I wanted, and their general Anglo-centric view of the world is not valuable to me explicitly for the reason you describe; I'm British, I don't need more of a pro-UK narrative. I put the Jacobin explicitly because I wanted to make it clear that I'm open to the whole political spectrum. I've read some good articles on there, as well as bad. I'm happy to be convinced out of subscribing to it. I've had a lot of people say it's a rag, but not explain how. Is it because it's poor journalism, or is it because it's socialist? And no, it's not that I'm looking for validation of my own opinions. That's why I've put it out to a forum and not just picked the one most appealing to me.

chipotle_coyote 4y ago
> I've had a lot of people say [Jacobin is] a rag, but not explain how. Is it because it's poor journalism, or is it because it's socialist? Anecdotally, I'm in sympathy with a lot of Jacobin's political viewpoints (even though I'm not as anti-capitalist, or at least anti-market, as they seem to be), but I have a lot of trouble really clicking with their style. They're far more opinion-driven than The Economist or even The Atlantic, and there's what I can only describe as a sneering subtext to much of the work by them I've been pointed to, e.g., "this premise is plainly true to anyone who isn't stupid and/or evil", when I'm sort of mentally raising my hand and going "wait, you are skipping work you really need to dedicate at least a few paragraphs to." It's the leftist version of the feeling I got reading C.S. Lewis decades ago.
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 4y ago
  > "this premise is plainly true to anyone who isn't stupid and/or evil" You are dead on. I often sympathize and appreciate the core of their message but the presentation is off putting, to me anyway.
rainingmonkey 4y ago
I've found Tribune Magazine (https://tribunemag.co.uk/ https://tribunemag.co.uk/) a good source of well-written leftist opinions without the tone and US focus of Jacobin.
jdgoesmarching 4y ago
Jacobin’s editorial philosophy focuses on conversational writing to make the articles more accessible. This is intentionally different from the didactic style of The Economist or what I’d call the philosophical ramblings of the NYT or Atlantic. It isn’t trying to be a publication that sounds smart or pretends to be unbiased, but that is the expectation most people have from economic and political writing. That plus the obvious political position makes it unpopular, but I’d argue the quality is just as good as any other major publication. I’d say it’s important to keep it in your mix because you’re just not going to find views or analysis from that perspective otherwise.

chipotle_coyote 4y ago

> I've had a lot of people say [Jacobin is] a rag, but not explain how. Is it because it's poor journalism, or is it because it's socialist? Anecdotally, I'm in sympathy with a lot of Jacobin's political viewpoints (even though I'm not as anti-capitalist, or at least anti-market, as they seem to be), but I have a lot of trouble really clicking with their style. They're far more opinion-driven than The Economist or even The Atlantic, and there's what I can only describe as a sneering subtext to much of the work by them I've been pointed to, e.g., "this premise is plainly true to anyone who isn't stupid and/or evil", when I'm sort of mentally raising my hand and going "wait, you are skipping work you really need to dedicate at least a few paragraphs to." It's the leftist version of the feeling I got reading C.S. Lewis decades ago.

2OEH8eoCRo0 4y ago
> "this premise is plainly true to anyone who isn't stupid and/or evil" You are dead on. I often sympathize and appreciate the core of their message but the presentation is off putting, to me anyway.

rainingmonkey 4y ago

I've found Tribune Magazine (https://tribunemag.co.uk/ https://tribunemag.co.uk/) a good source of well-written leftist opinions without the tone and US focus of Jacobin.

jdgoesmarching 4y ago

Jacobin’s editorial philosophy focuses on conversational writing to make the articles more accessible. This is intentionally different from the didactic style of The Economist or what I’d call the philosophical ramblings of the NYT or Atlantic. It isn’t trying to be a publication that sounds smart or pretends to be unbiased, but that is the expectation most people have from economic and political writing. That plus the obvious political position makes it unpopular, but I’d argue the quality is just as good as any other major publication. I’d say it’s important to keep it in your mix because you’re just not going to find views or analysis from that perspective otherwise.