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“Traditional media” is broken. It’s an echo chamber for singular perspectives that are driven by business and other interests. Examples abound, but the perhaps the most clear was Washington Post’s recent failure to endorse any presidential candidate. It’s a billionaire owner making a decision not because it’s good for the public or the press, but to protect his interests from a certain outcome. It appears to have paid off, perhaps at the cost of the country.

“Social media” is broken. Algorithms control what we see, and what we see is an attention bubble full of engagement bait. Most social media platforms exist only to show us more of what we’ll engage with, rather than what we actually ask for. Platforms that don’t are struggling because people end up finding their feeds, while exactly what they asked for, boring in comparison.

So, what’s the solution?

Look beyond the aggregators. Look for the curators and individuals instead.

There’s an amazing amount of really well written and thoughtful journalism, analysis, and commentary out there. It’s just not in traditional media, and it’s being hidden from you on social media because it’s not rage-baity enough.

The only catch is that you have to make an effort to find it.

Look for people, not corporations.

Yes, by definition, they’ll each provide a singular viewpoint, but it’ll be clear. It’ll be one criterion you’ll use when you decide who to follow. And you can pick and choose whose viewpoint is worth consuming.

And it’s about more than viewpoints, of course. Many are valuable sources of information or entertainment you won’t find elsewhere.

Start with newsletters or platforms that curate and share what the newsletter publisher finds valuable or interesting. If you find a curator that matches your own interests, it can be gold, but it’s also worth finding one that challenges you with new or alternate ideas.

You’ll also find them on open platforms like Substack, Medium, and others. They’re making it possible for an amazing array of individuals to publish regularly. They’re providing a wider variety of more thoughtful insight than much of the traditional and social media we’ve previously relied on.

And of course there are also many who are publishing on their own websites, blogs, and other platforms. Watch for them.

Then, subscribe.

Subscribe to the email newsletters and other writings of the independent voices that speak to you.

There’s no algorithm or corporate agenda filtering what you will and will not get. When you subscribe by email, that author’s writing shows up directly in your inbox. (Spam filter eat it? It’s still in your control. Most email programs have tools to prevent that from happening.)

Subscribe to people, not publications. This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, since some people create fantastic publications, but it’s a great start. As you discover good people writing good things online, sign up. Your subscriptions, even when free, make a big difference.

Then, as you build your collection of quality reading, share.

Word of mouth makes a huge difference. Rather than relying on corporate promotion, advertising, and other manipulation, if you like what you see, share it. It’s probably how you encountered many of them to begin with.

And if you really like what you read, and want them to continue producing, consider a paid subscription, if it’s offered. Spend your money on these individuals adding value to your world, rather than the big market, big business, big algorithm publications of old.