Notes from a Hired Pen: Independent media that got me through the year

Readers!

I was going to write about this whole Citius “Mag” debacle (point three here, or here with a caveat about it being an anonymous message board). But Citius has done a nice job shooting themselves in both feet, so instead, I’m going to recommend a few ethical media projects I found valuable this year.

I know this isn’t really about freelancing but, except the last one, these are all ways a person can be self employed.

I also want to thank you all for supporting my own little newsletter project, whether that’s through reading, sharing, and/or buying me coffees or one of my ebooks. I am determined to keep this newsletter free, and your support helps.

• 404 Media. This four-person team writes about about technology in a way that takes the current administration and big tech to the woodshed for their terrible practices. They’ve broken stories on AI influencers, ICE using facial recognition scanners, and perhaps their biggest line of reporting,  the license plate scanning system Flock. They have exposed how it’s being abused by law enforcement, like when a sheriff’s office in Texas used it to try and hunt down a woman who had an abortion, and lied about it. They’ve also been reporting on citizens fighting back against the Flock-powered surveillance state, and how these efforts can be replicated. I read it almost every day and sometimes dip into the podcasts. It’s really inspiring work. (Side note to that sheriff: he has since been indited on sexual harassment and perjury charges).
• The Handbasket. This is an outfit run by Marisa Kabas, where she routinely breaks news that main stream media outlets then report on (some crediting her AND SOME NOT GET IT TOGETHER). She’s not afraid to say how she feels either. She’s been a highlight to an otherwise bleak media year. And yes, Tom Homan IS a bitch.
• Assigned News. Instead of reading with cis people have to say about transgender people, why not read a publication written by transgender people? This has been my go-to source, and I’ve been pleased to watch the website grow even if the news isn’t always good. For example, they recently ran a story on how transgender people often do office work in prisons for safety reasons. Worth your time (and support if you have a few extra bucks).
• Type Click Type. This Brian Grubb project is more a newsletter than a publication, but I can do what I want. It’s also not on Substack, as Grubb made the decision to make the switch platforms. Good choice as I’d no longer want to be hanging out at the Nazi bar either (and also why I didn’t list any Substacks here — I know it can be hard to change platforms, but I hope those of you still publishing there have planned an exit in 2026). ANYWAY, Grubb writes about movies, TV and Philadelphia sports am, with tangents into heists, Marshawn Lynch, and about what it’s like to be a wheelchair user. He sends out two newsletters a week. One is free; one is for paid subscribers only. Try out the free version to see if you dig it.
• Moles R Cool. I follow this guy on Instagram, but he also has TikTok and Youtube accounts if that’s your jam — same handle. He makes videos mostly about two things: the stupidity car bloat, and why Cybertrucks suck. I barked laughing at this one.
• Knowledge Fight. This is a two-man podcast that tears apart Alex Jones and, as an inevitable consequence, the far right. I have a much better handle on the right wing implosion happening right now because I’ve listened to this podcast for more than three years, and while I can’t say it’s always fun, it is nice to know that I’m not the only one who feels the way I do about what’s happening to this country right now. It’s definitely influenced how vocal I am about those feelings, as you have probably noticed in this newsletter!
• People Magazine. You might be wondering why I put an old, established tabloid on this list. Because despite its channels on celebrities, entertainment, and red carpets, People Magazine is doing clear eyed reporting on the current situation in which we find ourselves, in ways that other publications are not. A few examples: “JFK Niece Kerry Kennedy Vows to Remove Trump Name from the Kennedy Center with a ‘Pickax,’” “SNAP Benefit Recipients Will Face Stricter Bans on What Can Be Purchased in 2026,” “Baby Jesus with Zip-Tied Wrists and Mary in a Gas Mask: Why Some Churches are Taking a Stand with Anti-ICE Nativity Scenes.” They are also deeply sourced, with strict rules for what makes it into print. They don’t publish rumor or innuendo, and will only run it if it’s confirmed through actual reporting. That’s why when they first reported that Rob and Michele Reiner were killed by their son — not couching it in “allegedly” — I knew it wasn’t a grammar mistake. And also: I get the print magazine. I like flipping through it every week and yes even reading the celebrity interviews. More physical media please.

 

Recent Bylines

“This Jersey High School Teacher Built One of the Nation’s Largest Book Banks,” New Jersey Monthly

 

What I’m Reading

• A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession and a Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst, read by Marisa Calin. For some reason, in times of great stress, I want to listen to a British person tell me about maritime disaster. This go around is about Maurice and Marilyn Bailey, a married couple who were lost at sea in 1973. One reason they weren’t able to ask for help? Because they didn’t bring a radio, in the spirit of wanting to be disconnected from the world. Whoops. I won’t tell you what happened (I’m glad I didn’t look it up before I listened to this), but it’s a gripping story.

 

What I’m Watching

• Eleanor the Great. On a big scale, this is a movie about grief, and on a small one, how a little lie can turn into a huge mess. Eleanor (played by June Squibb) moves back to New York after her best friend, who she lived with in Florida for 11 years, dies. This friend was a Holocaust survivor (played by Rita Zohar, who was born in a concentration camp). In trying to meet people, Eleanor goes to the JCC and accidentally walks into a Holocaust survivor meeting. She doesn’t leave, and small things mount from that decision. I don’t know how I feel about the ending, but I enjoyed this overall.  Squibb filmed this when she was 94 years old. She is now 96 and doing a show on Broadway. I want that kind of energy in my 90s! Also, I’m going to use this as an opportunity to again plug Thelma, about a woman who falls for the grandparent scam, then sets out to get revenge. I’m so happy for her to have this late in life run.
• Sean Combs: The Reckoning. I went back and forth on whether to watch this. I’m not sure I’m glad that I did, but now I know at least what everyone is talking about. I do appreciate 50 Cent’s commitment to spite, but it’s also important to note that he has domestic violence accusations in his past. Comedian Josh Johnson has a few bits on the spite that you can watch on Instagram. It’s why I finally watched the documentary.
• Jay Kelly. There’s a line in this movie that the hardest thing to do in acting is be yourself. I don’t think this is really George Clooney playing himself (especially since the Jay Kelly part was originally supposed to be done by Brad Pitt), but he does play a very famous movie star who looks back on his life and his choices after the death of the director who discovered him. It’s a lot of “old rich guy has regrets,” but it’s so well acted (and yes, Adam Sandler is extremely good in this) with a perfect final line. There’s also a whole sequence of flashbacks while riding on a train, where going into a different compartment lets Kelly “watch” a scene from his younger life, that I keep thinking about. They did the obvious thing of casting a younger actor to play a younger version of Kelly and a few other characters. None of that de-aging crap. One note: I think his daughter is on her way to see Palio di Siena, a horse race in Tuscany. It’s held in July and August it Italy, and they’re wearing coats. Be for real.
• Murder in Monaco. My thoughts while watching this were that it was a typical Netflix documentary about the murder of a rich person. That was all undone in the last 15 minutes, and I don’t say that as a compliment. I’ll let you watch it and/or look up why.
• Train Dreams. This is a movie about the life of a logger working in the early part of the 20th century. It’s a quiet, often sad story, so don’t watch it if you don’t want to get bummed out. But Joel Edgerton is wonderful in it, playing not a great man, but just a man living through the drama of any life. It helps that the movie is a stunning portrayal of the Pacific Northwest, which makes sense given that the cinematographer used 99% natural light. As an aside, Edgerton is my pick to play Richard Burton if someone ever makes a movie about the time Burton and Elizabeth Taylor were running around Italy at the start of their affair on the set of Cleopatra — which I have been thinking about since him as Tom Buchanan in Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 The Great Gatsby. Someone, please take my idea!
• Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts. I don’t watch a ton of standup, but I enjoyed this one-hour special. I appreciate that he addressed the collective trauma our society experienced (and are still experiencing!!!) because of COVID, but the overall shove to pretend it never happened. Sorry folks. It did. And it’s still going around — as is RSV and the flu — so mask up!

 

Nail Polish of the Week

Rated Pea-G by OPI. It’s not quite a Christmas green, but brighter than that, and given how bad the weather was last week, I wanted a little pop (also, my bottle of Regina by Zoya, a dark, shimmery green I’d usually wear around now, went bad. Boo!) I also must issue a correction from last week. My gold nail polish was actually Million Mile Hues by Essie. My apologies!

 

I will most likely be back next week with another newsletter before we get into my usual start of the year content (breaking down how much I made; my freelancer anniversary, etc). Until then, happy holidays!

 

 

Jen A. Miller (she/her)

Notes from a Hired Pen ebook series

Like this post? Buy Jen a Coffee!

Book links are affiliate links.