For 15 years, our Summer season Studying Contest has been inviting youngsters world wide to inform us what New York Occasions items get their consideration and why. Up till now, college students may solely enter by posting quick written feedback, however this 12 months we’re additionally permitting 90-second video responses.
That’s why this week, the primary of our 10-week problem, we’re that includes each the successful essay by Daphne Nguyen in addition to our three favourite movies. Although the overwhelming majority of the 509 submissions this time round had been written, we hope to encourage extra college students to experiment with video.
Scroll right down to see this work, together with a listing of runners-up and honorable mentions. As you go, notice the number of subjects that caught the eyes of those teenagers, together with items about A.I., Alzheimer’s, Asian grocery chains, gardening, cockroaches, rom-coms and the saga of J. Lo and Ben Affleck.
You may learn the work of all of our winners since 2017 in this column. And bear in mind which you could take part any or each week this summer time till Aug. 16. Simply examine the highest of our contest announcement to search out the correct place to submit your response.
Winner
Daphne Nguyen, 16, from San Jose, Calif., responded to a June information merchandise, “Costco Plans to Cease Promoting Books 12 months-Spherical,” by writing:
I like books, and I additionally like Costco. Like many people, I spend time with each of them commonly. I carry a paperback so I can cease my cellphone, even throughout our weekly Costco run.
So I used to be genuinely disconcerted to learn that “Costco Plans to Cease Promoting Books 12 months-Spherical” and provide them solely throughout the vacation season. I assume books are a pleasant reward for another person, however not one thing you’d need for your self?
Or on your kids? In actual fact, the Costco ebook part is thoughtfully curated for the whole procuring household. There are “My Busy E-book” play units, particular C.S. Lewis field units, and greatest sellers like “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yaros. The aisle feels enjoyable and welcoming, not dated or misplaced.
Costco says that books are inconvenient to promote as a result of they should be specifically unpacked off the pallet and altered out weekly for brand spanking new releases. That looks like the “it’s not you, it’s me” break-up routine. And it looks like a cop-out. They’ve acquired loads of folks buzzing round doing all types of issues — what concerning the staffers continually refolding garments?
Costco’s ingenuity shines with the $6 rotisserie hen. Why not get inventive with books? Put Oprah’s prime picks on the check-out traces! Shock us with cookbooks across the meals aisles!
What Costco shares is what America buys. So Costco, don’t give on America as a nation of readers, educated residents of a democracy. And please don’t surrender on books.
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Three Favourite Video Responses
Andrew Han on “Don’t Name It an ‘Ethnic’ Grocery Retailer”
