JANUARY 14, 2016

Full News Archive

• Headline: Life Under Siege in Madaya. Impact: The plight of Madaya became a rallying point for global humanitarian efforts. Ironically, the images of deprivation prompted a new trend in social media influencers: 'Misery Aesthetics'—where influencers visit war zones for 'authentic content.'. Fact: Did you know that Madaya became infamous not just for its siege, but also for the viral hashtag #SaveMadaya? Because nothing says 'we care' like trending topics on Twitter..
• Headline: Exploring Ferrante’s Naples Through Time. Impact: Elena Ferrante's portrayal of Naples inspired a tourism boom that led to an unanticipated rise in gelato shops, and now tourists are more interested in Instagramming their sorbet than the cultural heritage of the city.. Fact: Elena Ferrante remains anonymous, which has led to endless speculation and conspiracy theories. Some believe she's actually a collective of Italian grandmothers plotting world domination through literature..
• Headline: Officials Accused of Extortion to Clear Athletes Who Doped. Impact: The doping scandal revealed a web of corruption that led to a dramatic overhaul of sports governance. In the long run, this created a new league: the 'Integrity Games,' where athletes are judged on their honesty rather than their performance.. Fact: Did you know that blackmailing athletes is a great way to ensure the only thing they win is a lifetime supply of guilt? Who needs medals when you have ethical dilemmas?.
• Headline: How Some Would Level the Playing Field: Free Harvard Degrees. Impact: The idea of free Harvard degrees sparked debates about elitism in education, causing a nationwide trend of 'free degree' campaigns and leading to the invention of the 'Harvard degree in hand, but no job in sight' meme.. Fact: Harvard's Board of Overseers once included a guy who thought 'overseeing' meant just watching Netflix while pretending to care about academic policies. Who knew?.