csmonitor--2020-06-05--Glimmer of hope: US unemployment fell to 13.3% in May

The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 13.3 % in May from 14.7 % , and 2.5 million jobs were added – a surprisingly positive reading in the midst of a recession that has paralyzed the economy in the wake of the viral pandemic .
The May job gain suggests that businesses have quickly been recalling workers as states have reopened their economies .
Other evidence has also shown that the job market meltdown triggered by the coronavirus has bottomed out .
The number of people applying for unemployment benefits has declined for nine straight weeks .
And the total number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leveled off .
The overall job cuts have widened economic disparities that have disproportionately hurt minorities and lower-educated workers .
Though the unemployment rate for white Americans was 12.4 % in May , it was 17.6 % for Hispanics and 16.8 % for African Americans .
Even with the surprising gain in May , it may take months for all those who lost work in April and March to find jobs .
Some economists forecast the rate could remain in double-digits through the November elections and into next year .
A report Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picture of a bleak job market : The number of people seeking jobless aid last week was double the previous record high that prevailed before the viral outbreak occurred .
Still , that report did offer a few glimmers of hope .
As restaurants , movie theaters , gyms , hair salons , and other retail establishments gradually reopen , job cuts are slowing and employers are recalling some of their laid-off workers .
The total number of people receiving unemployment aid rose slightly , the government said , but stayed below a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier .
And the number of laid-off workers applying for aid , while historically high , has declined for nine straight weeks .
The economic shock , like the pandemic itself , has widened economic disparities that have disproportionately hurt minorities and lower-educated workers .
More than 55 % of African Americans say they or someone in their household has lost income since mid-March , compared with 43 % of whites , according to a weekly survey by the Census Bureau .
For Hispanics , the figure is 60 % .
The pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporarily , at restaurants , hotels , retail chains , and other lower-wage industries .
The street protests over George Floyd 's killing that led to some vandalism and looting in dozens of cities do n't affect Friday 's jobs figures , which were compiled in the middle of May .
But business closures related to the unrest could cause job losses that would be reflected in the June jobs report to be issued next month .
A few businesses are reporting signs of progress even in hard-hit industries .
American Airlines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would fly 55 % of its U.S. routes in July , up from just 20 % in May .
And the Cheesecake Factory said one-quarter of its nearly 300 restaurants have reopened , though with limited capacity .
Sales at those restaurants are at nearly 75 % of the levels reached a year ago , the company said .
Both companies ' share prices rose .
Those limited gains may lead to more rehiring as companies slowly restart shuttered businesses .
But economists say the pace of hiring will then likely lag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold back consumer spending , the main driver of the economy .
Erica Groshen , a labor economist at Cornell University and a former commissioner of the Labor Department 's Bureau of Labor Statistics , said hiring could ramp up relatively quickly in coming months and reduce unemployment to low double-digits by year 's end .
“ Then my inclination is that it will be a long , slow slog , '' she said .
Overhanging the jobs picture is widespread uncertainty about how long the unemployed will remain out of work .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were a direct result of the sudden shutdowns of businesses in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Though many of the unemployed have said they expect their layoffs to be temporary , many large businesses wo n't rehire everyone they laid off .
And some small employers might not reopen at all if the recession drags on .
Until most Americans are confident they can shop , travel , eat out , and fully return to their other spending habits without fear of contracting the virus , the economy will likely remain sluggish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. job losses turn out to be permanent , that would leave roughly 10 million people out of work .
That is still more than all the jobs lost in the Great Recession .
A hole that size would take years to fill .
Oxford Economics estimates that the economy will regain 17 million jobs by year ’ s end , a huge increase by historical standards .
But that would make up for barely more than half the losses .
Gwyneth Duesbery returned this week to her job as a hostess at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rapids , Michigan , as the restaurant prepares to reopen .
Ms. Duesbery said she is grateful for the opportunity , given that she has n't received unemployment benefits since the restaurant closed in March and has run through her savings .
She will spend this week helping to clean the restaurant and setting tables 6 feet apart .
The restaurant will be able to seat only about one-quarter of its usual capacity .
The restaurant , Bowdie 's Chop House , has reservations for about 20 people for its opening night Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest from longtime customers .
Still , Ms. Duesbery worries about her health .
“ I am concerned that it will expose me to potential diseases , and expose others , no matter the precautions that we take , '' she said .
“ It ’ s kind of uncharted waters . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 13.3% in May from 14.7%, and 2.5 million jobs were added – a surprisingly positive reading in the midst of a recession that has paralyzed the economy in the wake of the viral pandemic.
The May job gain suggests that businesses have quickly been recalling workers as states have reopened their economies.
Other evidence has also shown that the job market meltdown triggered by the coronavirus has bottomed out. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits has declined for nine straight weeks. And the total number of people receiving such aid has essentially leveled off.
The overall job cuts have widened economic disparities that have disproportionately hurt minorities and lower-educated workers. Though the unemployment rate for white Americans was 12.4% in May, it was 17.6% for Hispanics and 16.8% for African Americans.
Even with the surprising gain in May, it may take months for all those who lost work in April and March to find jobs. Some economists forecast the rate could remain in double-digits through the November elections and into next year.
A report Thursday on applications for unemployment benefits reinforced the picture of a bleak job market: The number of people seeking jobless aid last week was double the previous record high that prevailed before the viral outbreak occurred.
Still, that report did offer a few glimmers of hope. As restaurants, movie theaters, gyms, hair salons, and other retail establishments gradually reopen, job cuts are slowing and employers are recalling some of their laid-off workers. The total number of people receiving unemployment aid rose slightly, the government said, but stayed below a peak of 25 million reached two weeks earlier. And the number of laid-off workers applying for aid, while historically high, has declined for nine straight weeks.
The economic shock, like the pandemic itself, has widened economic disparities that have disproportionately hurt minorities and lower-educated workers. More than 55% of African Americans say they or someone in their household has lost income since mid-March, compared with 43% of whites, according to a weekly survey by the Census Bureau. For Hispanics, the figure is 60%. The pandemic has especially eliminated jobs, at least temporarily, at restaurants, hotels, retail chains, and other lower-wage industries.
The street protests over George Floyd's killing that led to some vandalism and looting in dozens of cities don't affect Friday's jobs figures, which were compiled in the middle of May. But business closures related to the unrest could cause job losses that would be reflected in the June jobs report to be issued next month.
A few businesses are reporting signs of progress even in hard-hit industries. American Airlines, for example, said this week that it would fly 55% of its U.S. routes in July, up from just 20% in May.
And the Cheesecake Factory said one-quarter of its nearly 300 restaurants have reopened, though with limited capacity. Sales at those restaurants are at nearly 75% of the levels reached a year ago, the company said. Both companies' share prices rose.
Those limited gains may lead to more rehiring as companies slowly restart shuttered businesses. But economists say the pace of hiring will then likely lag as a severe recession and high unemployment hold back consumer spending, the main driver of the economy.
Erica Groshen, a labor economist at Cornell University and a former commissioner of the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, said hiring could ramp up relatively quickly in coming months and reduce unemployment to low double-digits by year's end.
“Then my inclination is that it will be a long, slow slog," she said.
Overhanging the jobs picture is widespread uncertainty about how long the unemployed will remain out of work. Most of the layoffs in recent months were a direct result of the sudden shutdowns of businesses in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Though many of the unemployed have said they expect their layoffs to be temporary, many large businesses won't rehire everyone they laid off. And some small employers might not reopen at all if the recession drags on. Until most Americans are confident they can shop, travel, eat out, and fully return to their other spending habits without fear of contracting the virus, the economy will likely remain sluggish.
Even if just one-third of the U.S. job losses turn out to be permanent, that would leave roughly 10 million people out of work. That is still more than all the jobs lost in the Great Recession. A hole that size would take years to fill. Oxford Economics estimates that the economy will regain 17 million jobs by year’s end, a huge increase by historical standards. But that would make up for barely more than half the losses.
Gwyneth Duesbery returned this week to her job as a hostess at a steakhouse where she lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as the restaurant prepares to reopen. Ms. Duesbery said she is grateful for the opportunity, given that she hasn't received unemployment benefits since the restaurant closed in March and has run through her savings.
She will spend this week helping to clean the restaurant and setting tables 6 feet apart. The restaurant will be able to seat only about one-quarter of its usual capacity.
The restaurant, Bowdie's Chop House, has reservations for about 20 people for its opening night Monday and said it has drawn plenty of interest from longtime customers. Still, Ms. Duesbery worries about her health.
“I am concerned that it will expose me to potential diseases, and expose others, no matter the precautions that we take," she said. “It’s kind of uncharted waters."
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-05-26--In Chicago’s Little Village, federal aid begins to flow. Is it enough?

Will this onetime infusion be enough to ensure their survival ?
Laura Gutierrez , owner of the Nuevo Leon , is not optimistic .
Rudy Medina , president of Second Federal , part of a Federal Credit Union , puts it this way : “ This was a breather for a lot of businesses , a good breather .
But it ’ s not enough.
” The money is helping to sustain the local Nuevo Leon restaurant , a nonprofit community development organization , and a funeral home , among others , while they struggle to survive the pandemic ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minority neighborhoods , business owners often don ’ t have the know-how or connections to apply for the federal government ’ s emergency loans to small firms .
And in the $ 349 billion first round of the Paycheck Protection Program , bigger companies and less needy areas snapped up most of the money .
But in the PPP ’ s $ 310 billion second round , a concerted effort by a local Chicago credit union secured loans for some of the hundreds of restaurants , taquerías , hair salons , dollar stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly 3-square-mile neighborhood known as Little Village .
It ’ s afternoon at Nuevo Leon , a popular restaurant in the once bustling immigrant neighborhood of Little Village , a roughly 3-square-mile slice of Chicago ’ s West Side .
Now the room is empty , the furniture pushed to one side .
The owner , Laura Gutierrez , sits alone at a small table where she takes the orders that trickle in each day over the phone .
“ Sure , my love , ” she says , “ What would you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else ?
” Her surface cheer conceals a deeper gloom .
The coronavirus and its economic pain have fallen hard upon Little Village , where many of its hundreds of businesses – restaurants , cafés , taquerias , hair salons , dollar stores , travel agencies , groceries , jewelers , dress boutiques , roofing companies , and more – are either closed or hardly working .
Sales at Nuevo Leon , which has been filling carry-out orders since March , have reached barely 5 % of what they once were .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency loans have finally arrived at Nuevo Leon and many other businesses across Little Village , offering at least a temporary reprieve from financial disaster .
The question now facing these small businesses is whether that federal lifeline will be enough to see them through until they ’ re allowed to reopen .
That was Friday , May 29 , for Illinois barbershops , salons , offices and manufacturers ; no sooner than late June for restaurants and bars .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This was a breather for a lot of businesses , ” says Rudy Medina , president of Second Federal , a part of the Self-Help Federal Credit Union , which was active in getting Little Village businesses to sign up for the federal aid .
“ A good breather .
But it ’ s not enough.
” Blanca Soto , head of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce , says she hopes that the entrepreneurial spirit of the immigrants of Little Village will help see them through their current troubles .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she says .
Ms. Gutierrez is more pessimistic .
“ I don ’ t see a light at the end of the tunnel , ” she says .
A new rule that will allow Illinois restaurants to serve guests in outdoor seating beginning next Friday won ’ t help her restaurant , she says : There ’ s no room on the sidewalk .
For the smallest businesses , especially those in minority neighborhoods and other underserved areas , federal help has been slow in coming .
Money from the Paycheck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available in early April , offering businesses with fewer than 500 employees eight weeks of payroll and other expenses .
The aim was to encourage them to retain workers .
But most of the $ 349 billion didn ’ t go to the areas that needed it most , according to an analysis by Business Insider .
Instead , it was quickly snatched up by larger businesses with established relationships with big banks .
In less than two weeks the money was gone .
“ The big institutions just took care of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , head of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce .
“ We noticed that a lot of the small businesses were left out.
” Others saw the same thing happening in Chatham , an African American neighborhood a few miles from Little Village .
“ There was a lot of panic , a lot of questions , a lot of uncertainties , ” says Pattilyn Beals , interim director of the Chatham Business Association .
“ I think a lot of businesses expected to get something .
Unfortunately , that wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many business owners didn ’ t even know about the program .
Other were simply skeptical of borrowing money and didn ’ t understand that the loans would turn into grants if spent mostly on payroll .
So when Congress funded a second round of business loans last month , worth $ 310 billion , Mr. Medina ’ s Second Federal redoubled its outreach .
After securing about 300 loans in the first round , it nearly doubled that amount in the first two weeks of the second round .
Ms. Gutierrez of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first .
“ I didn ’ t think I could get one , ” she says .
But with Second Federal ’ s help she got her check quickly , in the middle of April .
“ This means I ’ m going to be able to pay my employees and my utilities , ” she says .
She has cut back hours and reduced her staff from 15 full-time workers to seven part-timers .
They have learned to cook in smaller batches .
There was a small crisis when the closure of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she wrestled with whether to raise her prices .
“ How far can you go ?
” she asks .
“ If I ’ m going to increase it , there are fewer people who are going to eat , or going to do pickup.
” In the end , she didn ’ t increase prices .
“ We are nothing without our community , ” she adds .
PPP loans have helped nonprofits , too .
Telpochcalli Community Education Project , a tiny community development organization in Little Village , received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mind , ” says Maria Velazquez , Telpochcalli ’ s director .
“ It means I can concentrate on what I ’ m doing now , how we can support families.
” The group helps families survive the pandemic , many of them poor and undocumented , helping them get food and diapers from local donors , pay rent , and receive health care .
Some needs still can ’ t be met .
A single mother with five children came down with COVID-19 , and only a relative was willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours a day .
“ How can we help her ?
We still don ’ t have a plan for that , ” says Ms. Velazquez .
Not everyone has been able to get a loan .
On 26th Street , the heart of Little Village , Maria Sotelo runs a small cafe that sells sandwiches and waffles but is best known for its natural fruit drinks .
Before COVID-19 , the cafe took in $ 600 to $ 800 a day , selling to shoppers who crowded the street .
Now the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only $ 100 to $ 200 .
She ’ s had to cut the hours of the young woman who is her only employee from eight hours a day to just three or four .
Ms. Sotelo applied for a $ 6,000 loan and was turned down – twice .
She doesn ’ t know why .
She ’ ll stay open as long as she can .
“ I have to keep it open every day so I can at least pay my rent , ” she says .
“ I still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s no money for taxes.
” Even businesses in high demand are facing new challenges .
The Martinez Funeral Home , for instance , has plenty of clients right now .
But the problem is that increasingly , funeral rituals have been curtailed or abandoned , reducing the income of those who stage and direct them .
For example , more and more families have been choosing cremation over burial , says owner Manuel Martinez .
“ People are afraid , ” he says .
Instead of long wakes , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visitations , with no more than 10 people at a time .
Funeral services have been suspended .
“ The revenue is half of what it would be even though I ’ m doing more volume , ” Mr. Martinez says .
The challenges for Mr. Martinez go well beyond finances .
He has tried to find ways to honor the dead and comfort the grieving at a time when many traditions are impossible and extended families ca n't be together or hug one another .
The PPP has been a lifeline for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full time , three part time .
He says he received $ 49,000 in a PPP loan and needed it .
“ It helped tremendously , ” he says .
“ I could pay everybody [ and ] not have to let anyone go.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

One of the pandemic’s many lessons is that federal relief is only as helpful as its distribution system. In Chicago, community leaders are having to get creative to ensure that paycheck protection funds reach underserved communities.
Will this onetime infusion be enough to ensure their survival? Laura Gutierrez, owner of the Nuevo Leon, is not optimistic. Rudy Medina, president of Second Federal, part of a Federal Credit Union, puts it this way: “This was a breather for a lot of businesses, a good breather. But it’s not enough.”
The money is helping to sustain the local Nuevo Leon restaurant, a nonprofit community development organization, and a funeral home, among others, while they struggle to survive the pandemic’s economic squeeze.
In immigrant and minority neighborhoods, business owners often don’t have the know-how or connections to apply for the federal government’s emergency loans to small firms. And in the $349 billion first round of the Paycheck Protection Program, bigger companies and less needy areas snapped up most of the money. But in the PPP’s $310 billion second round, a concerted effort by a local Chicago credit union secured loans for some of the hundreds of restaurants, taquerías , hair salons, dollar stores, and other companies that cram this roughly 3-square-mile neighborhood known as Little Village.
It’s afternoon at Nuevo Leon, a popular restaurant in the once bustling immigrant neighborhood of Little Village, a roughly 3-square-mile slice of Chicago’s West Side. Now the room is empty, the furniture pushed to one side. The owner, Laura Gutierrez, sits alone at a small table where she takes the orders that trickle in each day over the phone.
“Sure, my love,” she says, “What would you like? The cold dinner? Anything else?”
Her surface cheer conceals a deeper gloom. The coronavirus and its economic pain have fallen hard upon Little Village, where many of its hundreds of businesses – restaurants, cafés, taquerias, hair salons, dollar stores, travel agencies, groceries, jewelers, dress boutiques, roofing companies, and more – are either closed or hardly working. Sales at Nuevo Leon, which has been filling carry-out orders since March, have reached barely 5% of what they once were.
Why We Wrote This One of the pandemic’s many lessons is that federal relief is only as helpful as its distribution system. In Chicago, community leaders are having to get creative to ensure that paycheck protection funds reach underserved communities.
Yet there’s one consolation: Federal emergency loans have finally arrived at Nuevo Leon and many other businesses across Little Village, offering at least a temporary reprieve from financial disaster. The question now facing these small businesses is whether that federal lifeline will be enough to see them through until they’re allowed to reopen. That was Friday, May 29, for Illinois barbershops, salons, offices and manufacturers; no sooner than late June for restaurants and bars.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
“This was a breather for a lot of businesses,” says Rudy Medina, president of Second Federal, a part of the Self-Help Federal Credit Union, which was active in getting Little Village businesses to sign up for the federal aid. “A good breather. But it’s not enough.”
Blanca Soto, head of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, says she hopes that the entrepreneurial spirit of the immigrants of Little Village will help see them through their current troubles. “That’s where the strength is,” she says. Ms. Gutierrez is more pessimistic. “I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel,” she says. A new rule that will allow Illinois restaurants to serve guests in outdoor seating beginning next Friday won’t help her restaurant, she says: There’s no room on the sidewalk.
For the smallest businesses, especially those in minority neighborhoods and other underserved areas, federal help has been slow in coming. Money from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) first became available in early April, offering businesses with fewer than 500 employees eight weeks of payroll and other expenses. The aim was to encourage them to retain workers. But most of the $349 billion didn’t go to the areas that needed it most, according to an analysis by Business Insider. Instead, it was quickly snatched up by larger businesses with established relationships with big banks. In less than two weeks the money was gone.
“The big institutions just took care of their own,” says Jaime di Paulo, head of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “We noticed that a lot of the small businesses were left out.”
Others saw the same thing happening in Chatham, an African American neighborhood a few miles from Little Village. “There was a lot of panic, a lot of questions, a lot of uncertainties,” says Pattilyn Beals, interim director of the Chatham Business Association. “I think a lot of businesses expected to get something. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.”
Richard Mertens View caption Hide caption Maria Sotelo, owner of the cafe Kafecita, says she was not able to get a federal PPP loan. She poses behind plexiglass and alongside her one employee, Carolina Malagon, in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, May 11, 2020.
In Little Village, many business owners didn’t even know about the program. Other were simply skeptical of borrowing money and didn’t understand that the loans would turn into grants if spent mostly on payroll. So when Congress funded a second round of business loans last month, worth $310 billion, Mr. Medina’s Second Federal redoubled its outreach. After securing about 300 loans in the first round, it nearly doubled that amount in the first two weeks of the second round.
Ms. Gutierrez of Nuevo Leon didn’t apply at first. “I didn’t think I could get one,” she says. But with Second Federal’s help she got her check quickly, in the middle of April.
“This means I’m going to be able to pay my employees and my utilities,” she says. She has cut back hours and reduced her staff from 15 full-time workers to seven part-timers. They have learned to cook in smaller batches. There was a small crisis when the closure of meat packing plants drove up meat prices and she wrestled with whether to raise her prices.
“How far can you go?” she asks. “If I’m going to increase it, there are fewer people who are going to eat, or going to do pickup.” In the end, she didn’t increase prices. “We are nothing without our community,” she adds.
Not everyone qualifies
PPP loans have helped nonprofits, too. Telpochcalli Community Education Project, a tiny community development organization in Little Village, received $12,000. “It means peace of mind,” says Maria Velazquez, Telpochcalli’s director. “It means I can concentrate on what I’m doing now, how we can support families.”
The group helps families survive the pandemic, many of them poor and undocumented, helping them get food and diapers from local donors, pay rent, and receive health care. Some needs still can’t be met. A single mother with five children came down with COVID-19, and only a relative was willing to help the mother out, a few hours a day. “How can we help her? We still don’t have a plan for that,” says Ms. Velazquez.
Not everyone has been able to get a loan. On 26th Street, the heart of Little Village, Maria Sotelo runs a small cafe that sells sandwiches and waffles but is best known for its natural fruit drinks. Before COVID-19, the cafe took in $600 to $800 a day, selling to shoppers who crowded the street. Now the sidewalks are empty and she brings in only $100 to $200. She’s had to cut the hours of the young woman who is her only employee from eight hours a day to just three or four.
Ms. Sotelo applied for a $6,000 loan and was turned down – twice. She doesn’t know why. She’ll stay open as long as she can. “I have to keep it open every day so I can at least pay my rent,” she says. “I still haven’t paid my taxes. There’s no money for taxes.”
Lots of business, less profit
Even businesses in high demand are facing new challenges. The Martinez Funeral Home, for instance, has plenty of clients right now. But the problem is that increasingly, funeral rituals have been curtailed or abandoned, reducing the income of those who stage and direct them. For example, more and more families have been choosing cremation over burial, says owner Manuel Martinez.
“People are afraid,” he says. Instead of long wakes, the funeral home now holds only short afternoon visitations, with no more than 10 people at a time. Funeral services have been suspended. “The revenue is half of what it would be even though I’m doing more volume,” Mr. Martinez says.
The challenges for Mr. Martinez go well beyond finances. He has tried to find ways to honor the dead and comfort the grieving at a time when many traditions are impossible and extended families can't be together or hug one another.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
The PPP has been a lifeline for him and his six employees – three full time, three part time. He says he received $49,000 in a PPP loan and needed it. “It helped tremendously,” he says. “I could pay everybody [and] not have to let anyone go.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-06-05--Readers share their favorite poems of comfort

It is abundantly clear that our readers love poetry .
After the Monitor ’ s staff shared poems they ’ ve carried with them over the years , readers enthusiastically accepted the invitation to send in their own favorite published poems by recognized poets , along with what the poems have meant to them .
The replies were heartwarming .
Thanks to those who wrote in .
My boyfriend and I , ages 5 and 6 in 1944 , buried my favorite A.A. Milne book , “ Now We Are Six , ” in a shoebox purloined from my mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bed .
The purpose was to create a time capsule with the book and other favorite items to be dug up in 10 years !
I ’ m 81 and still have the book .
Peter is gone , but I ’ m still here and remember those times .
I still love poetry and those times .
I volunteer for Wheeled Meals , which delivers meals to seniors .
After reading the article “ Poems on Wheels ” in the Monitor , I received permission to send out a poem of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I write out the poems on notecards and choose short but meaningful poems ( Emily Dickinson never lets me down ) .
Our poetry program began the week we could no longer enter homes to drop off the meals and visit briefly .
The poems became our human touch , left with the coolers of food outside people ’ s homes .
One of my regulars leaves Post-it notes expressing her appreciation of the “ uplift ” and another leaves us her own “ poem of the week.
” Here ’ s the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ A Psalm of Life , ” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : Let us , then , be up and doing , With a heart for any fate ; Still achieving , still pursuing , Learn to labor and to wait .
I love “ The People Upstairs ” by Ogden Nash because it is about something so universally exasperating , even if you ’ re staying in a hotel !
And Nash just turns that exasperation on its head with ever-so-precious and much needed light-heartedness !
“ Love III ” by George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a conversational tone to evoke the essence of man ’ s relationship to his God .
I often contrast this poem with “ Batter My Heart ” by Herbert ’ s contemporary and rival John Donne , which evokes a relationship between God and man so different that it ’ s hard to believe these two men practiced the same religion .
I definitely prefer Herbert ’ s God .
My enormous thanks to the Monitor staff for generously hosting this gathering of so many old friends , and some new .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I finally left .
Then returned .
Two poems that I deeply love came to mind as I read .
Lucille Clifton ’ s “ Blessing the Boats ” came to my attention a number of years ago during a challenging time , like a powerful promise .
And Wislawa Szymborska ’ s poem , “ A Little Girl Tugs at the Tablecloth ” makes me smile .
The final line reads : “ This experiment must be completed .
And it will.
” A poem I turn to often for comfort and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ How We Are Spared.
” It ’ s a concrete poem in that the words on the page are shaped like the wing of a bird .
But what attracts me to the poem is its simple and powerful directness .
Like haiku , it uses nature to provide spiritual insight .
The morning light comes on but brings with it a weight .
The poem doesn ’ t define this weight , but I often think if it as the weight of the day we all face : the relentless obligations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our lives , and now , with the COVID-19 pandemic , keeping family safe while still providing food and other necessities .
But like a kind of grace , that weight is lifted , even if only momentarily , in the flight of birds .
The pandemic had me feeling overwhelmed and anxious .
How would I ever get through months of social isolation , restrictions , and shortages ?
A line from “ Love ’ s Lantern ” by Joyce Kilmer came back to me , reminding me that I didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all at once .
No matter how long or hard the road , all I had to do was keep going step by step .
The lantern and its light would always be with me .
Wherever I was , I would not be in darkness .
I love `` This Moment of Your Living '' by Godfrey John because it is so timeless and reassuring .
I also enjoy “ Epigram 86 ” by Ben Jonson because I ’ ve always known that my best friends were books , since I learned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
My mother read “ The Story of Ferdinand ” and “ The Little Engine that Could ” aloud to me until I memorized them , and then I put the words together with the print in the books .
When I would know thee , ... my thought looks Upon thy well-made choice of friends , and books ; Then do I love thee , and behold thy ends In making thy friends books , and thy books friends ... My choice is “ Loveliest of Trees ” by A.E .
Housman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeps me mindful of the need to treasure the moments of beauty all around us .
The enduring cycle of the seasons gives me hope that this pandemic will pass and we will have found an inner strength to cope with whatever life brings us .
Ibadan is the largest city in West Africa by land size , and it is located in Oyo state , in the western part of Nigeria .
The poem “ Ibadan ” by John Pepper Clark captures the essence of this large sprawling city in just 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just so .
The beauty and aptness move me as only good poetry can .
When I was a first-year student at Sydney Girls High School in Australia , I used “ Abu Ben Adhem ” by Leigh Hunt in a speech contest .
Although I didn ’ t win , as that honor was usually reserved for older students , it didn ’ t really matter .
The poem had such meaning for me then and still does many decades later , due to the spiritual light it sheds .
I wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Billy Collins , which is one of my favorites and so apropos for now .
I enjoy anything by Mary Oliver but I have “ The Guest House ” by Rumi on my refrigerator .
I remember the first time I read this poem I was jolted , shocked to realize that even in tough times there is always good .
I took the time to memorize “ Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening , ” by Robert Frost during our snowy winter up here on the shore of Lake Ontario .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveler on his horse , being pulled into nature .
But then the promises of life move him more as he readies himself to return homeward .
I also like the idea that thoughts can lead us and we are not totally at the mercy of random microbes .

It is abundantly clear that our readers love poetry. After the Monitor’s staff shared poems they’ve carried with them over the years, readers enthusiastically accepted the invitation to send in their own favorite published poems by recognized poets, along with what the poems have meant to them. The replies were heartwarming.
Thanks to those who wrote in.
***
My boyfriend and I, ages 5 and 6 in 1944, buried my favorite A.A. Milne book, “Now We Are Six,” in a shoebox purloined from my mother, in a hole in the iris bed. The purpose was to create a time capsule with the book and other favorite items to be dug up in 10 years! I’m 81 and still have the book. Peter is gone, but I’m still here and remember those times. I still love poetry and those times.
Jean Macomber
Napa, California
***
I volunteer for Wheeled Meals, which delivers meals to seniors. After reading the article “Poems on Wheels” in the Monitor, I received permission to send out a poem of the week in the Monday menu envelopes. I write out the poems on notecards and choose short but meaningful poems (Emily Dickinson never lets me down). Our poetry program began the week we could no longer enter homes to drop off the meals and visit briefly. The poems became our human touch, left with the coolers of food outside people’s homes. One of my regulars leaves Post-it notes expressing her appreciation of the “uplift” and another leaves us her own “poem of the week.”
Here’s the last stanza of my favorite poem, “A Psalm of Life,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
Jean Blechschmidt
Bowling Green, Ohio
***
I love “The People Upstairs” by Ogden Nash because it is about something so universally exasperating, even if you’re staying in a hotel! And Nash just turns that exasperation on its head with ever-so-precious and much needed light-heartedness!
Elizabeth Mata
Elsah, Illinois
***
“Love III” by George Herbert (1590-1630) uses simple words and a conversational tone to evoke the essence of man’s relationship to his God. I often contrast this poem with “Batter My Heart” by Herbert’s contemporary and rival John Donne, which evokes a relationship between God and man so different that it’s hard to believe these two men practiced the same religion. I definitely prefer Herbert’s God.
Eric Klieber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
***
My enormous thanks to the Monitor staff for generously hosting this gathering of so many old friends, and some new. I could not pull myself away. I finally left. Then returned. Two poems that I deeply love came to mind as I read. Lucille Clifton’s “Blessing the Boats” came to my attention a number of years ago during a challenging time, like a powerful promise. And Wislawa Szymborska’s poem, “A Little Girl Tugs at the Tablecloth” makes me smile. The final line reads: “This experiment must be completed. And it will.”
Kay Weed
Aurora, New York
***
A poem I turn to often for comfort and reassurance is W.S. Merwin’s “How We Are Spared.” It’s a concrete poem in that the words on the page are shaped like the wing of a bird. But what attracts me to the poem is its simple and powerful directness. Like haiku, it uses nature to provide spiritual insight. The morning light comes on but brings with it a weight. The poem doesn’t define this weight, but I often think if it as the weight of the day we all face: the relentless obligations to jobs, caring for the people in our lives, and now, with the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping family safe while still providing food and other necessities. But like a kind of grace, that weight is lifted, even if only momentarily, in the flight of birds.
Michael T. Young
Jersey City, New Jersey
***
The pandemic had me feeling overwhelmed and anxious. How would I ever get through months of social isolation, restrictions, and shortages? A line from “Love’s Lantern” by Joyce Kilmer came back to me, reminding me that I didn’t have to get through it all at once. No matter how long or hard the road, all I had to do was keep going step by step. The lantern and its light would always be with me. Wherever I was, I would not be in darkness.
Virginia Povraznik
Ridgway, Pennsylvania
***
I love "This Moment of Your Living" by Godfrey John because it is so timeless and reassuring.
I also enjoy “Epigram 86” by Ben Jonson because I’ve always known that my best friends were books, since I learned to read at the age of four. My mother read “The Story of Ferdinand” and “The Little Engine that Could” aloud to me until I memorized them, and then I put the words together with the print in the books.
When I would know thee, ... my thought looks
Upon thy well-made choice of friends, and books;
Then do I love thee, and behold thy ends
In making thy friends books, and thy books friends...
Carolyn Nagusky
Salida, Colorado
***
My choice is “Loveliest of Trees” by A.E. Housman. It is easy to memorize and keeps me mindful of the need to treasure the moments of beauty all around us. The enduring cycle of the seasons gives me hope that this pandemic will pass and we will have found an inner strength to cope with whatever life brings us.
Verna Colliver
Lansdale Pennsylvania
***
Ibadan is the largest city in West Africa by land size, and it is located in Oyo state, in the western part of Nigeria. The poem “Ibadan” by John Pepper Clark captures the essence of this large sprawling city in just 19 words. The words are strung together just so. The beauty and aptness move me as only good poetry can.
Moji Anjorin-Solanke George
Boston, Massachusetts
***
When I was a first-year student at Sydney Girls High School in Australia, I used “Abu Ben Adhem” by Leigh Hunt in a speech contest. Although I didn’t win, as that honor was usually reserved for older students, it didn’t really matter. The poem had such meaning for me then and still does many decades later, due to the spiritual light it sheds.
Auriel Wyndham Livezey
Lake Forest, California
***
I wanted to suggest “The Blue” by Billy Collins, which is one of my favorites and so apropos for now.
Virginia Woodeson
London
***
I enjoy anything by Mary Oliver but I have “The Guest House” by Rumi on my refrigerator. I remember the first time I read this poem I was jolted, shocked to realize that even in tough times there is always good.
Debby Morrison
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
***
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
I took the time to memorize “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” by Robert Frost during our snowy winter up here on the shore of Lake Ontario. I like the image of the lone traveler on his horse, being pulled into nature. But then the promises of life move him more as he readies himself to return homeward. I also like the idea that thoughts can lead us and we are not totally at the mercy of random microbes.
Sharon Brunner
Rochester, New York


csmonitor--2020-05-08--Deceased taxpayers were sent relief checks. Should they be returned?

President Donald Trump , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin – and now the IRS – are urging people who received coronavirus relief payments for a deceased taxpayer to return the money to the government .
But legal experts say there is no law requiring people do that .
Some of the more than 130 million economic impact payments that went out to taxpayers as part of the $ 2.2 trillion economic relief package were sent to dead people .
That happened mainly because of a lag in reporting data on who is deceased .
It 's happened with past federal stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is almost inevitable .
However , this is the first time the IRS has asked for the money back from the deceased taxpayers ' survivors .
Some law experts say the government may not have the legal authority to require it be returned .
They also suggest the move may be just the IRS responding to pressure from the White House and the Treasury Department .
Mr. Trump and Mr. Mnuchin have both said publicly in recent weeks that money sent to deceased taxpayers should be returned .
But the IRS did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Wednesday , it updated its website , stating that if a person died before the payment was issued , the money should be returned .
It also provided instructions on how to do so .
The IRS and Treasury did not say what would happen if these payments were not returned or otherwise repaid .
Former Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson said that there is nothing in the law prohibiting payments from going to the deceased .
Nor is there anything in the law requiring people to return the payments .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the IRS website does not say that returning the payments is required by law .
`` We are starting from these two soundbites and working backward , '' Ms. Olson , who now runs the nonprofit Center for Taxpayer Rights , said .
The Treasury did not respond to multiple requests for comment .
The relief payments were made to taxpayers based on the information filed on their 2019 or 2018 taxes .
But it is considered a rebate on 2020 taxes .
The government used the prior tax forms to help speed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the economic devastation from the coronavirus pandemic .
The problem is , some people who filed those taxes may no longer be alive .
Those payments are sent to an heir or executor of their estate .
If the payment is based off a final tax return completed after their death , an economic impact payment check may even denote that the person is deceased next to their name .
It 's confusing at best .
But it would also be a legal and logistical mess for the government to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are unlikely to be pursued , Ms. Olson and others said .
`` They do n't have a legal leg to stand on , '' she said .
The coronavirus rescue package , which included the relief payments , was passed at the end of March .
The government started issuing the payments in April .
There is no official count of how many payments went to dead people .
Bryan Camp , a law professor at Texas Tech University , is more cautious .
He said that the legality of the payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died .
If someone died in 2020 , they should be due the money but before that , likely not .
The IRS guidelines , however , are more fuzzy – only that the death must be prior to the payments , some of which are still pending .
Ms. Olson and others , including Keith Fogg , a clinical professor of law at Harvard , do n't expect the government will go to extreme measures to claw back the money .
The government would be hard pressed to prove survivors were n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place as the law is written .
`` Someone dies in March of COVID-19 , really you are going to say ( to their survivors ) that you you have to return that payment ? ''
Ms. Olson said .
So what should someone do if they received a check for someone who is deceased ?
Mr. Camp says if it is not due to you , to give it back .
Ms. Olson says to hold on to it , citing that the IRS has pivoted on some of the rules before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel bad , send it back .
If you do n't feel bad about it I would n't say you have to send it back , '' Mr. Fogg said .
`` You are not breaking the law as I see it . ''
Richard Neal , D-Mass.
, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee , agreed that that there is nothing in the law requiring the money to be returned .
While families that do n't need the cash should give it back , `` some families receiving these payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associated with losing a loved one due to the virus , '' Mr. Neal said in a statement .
`` People with that kind of need should be able to put the money to use as they grapple with the ongoing crisis . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

President Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin – and now the IRS – are urging people who received coronavirus relief payments for a deceased taxpayer to return the money to the government.
But legal experts say there is no law requiring people do that.
Some of the more than 130 million economic impact payments that went out to taxpayers as part of the $2.2 trillion economic relief package were sent to dead people. That happened mainly because of a lag in reporting data on who is deceased. It's happened with past federal stimulus payments, and tax experts say it is almost inevitable.
However, this is the first time the IRS has asked for the money back from the deceased taxpayers' survivors. Some law experts say the government may not have the legal authority to require it be returned. They also suggest the move may be just the IRS responding to pressure from the White House and the Treasury Department.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Mnuchin have both said publicly in recent weeks that money sent to deceased taxpayers should be returned. But the IRS didn't issue any formal guidance until this week. On Wednesday, it updated its website, stating that if a person died before the payment was issued, the money should be returned. It also provided instructions on how to do so.
The IRS and Treasury did not say what would happen if these payments were not returned or otherwise repaid.
Former Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson said that there is nothing in the law prohibiting payments from going to the deceased. Nor is there anything in the law requiring people to return the payments. And she noted that the language used on the IRS website does not say that returning the payments is required by law.
"We are starting from these two soundbites and working backward," Ms. Olson, who now runs the nonprofit Center for Taxpayer Rights, said.
The Treasury did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The relief payments were made to taxpayers based on the information filed on their 2019 or 2018 taxes. But it is considered a rebate on 2020 taxes. The government used the prior tax forms to help speed along payments to the public to offset some of the economic devastation from the coronavirus pandemic.
The problem is, some people who filed those taxes may no longer be alive. Those payments are sent to an heir or executor of their estate. If the payment is based off a final tax return completed after their death, an economic impact payment check may even denote that the person is deceased next to their name.
It's confusing at best. But it would also be a legal and logistical mess for the government to try to take back all the money that are unlikely to be pursued, Ms. Olson and others said.
"They don't have a legal leg to stand on," she said.
The coronavirus rescue package, which included the relief payments, was passed at the end of March. The government started issuing the payments in April. There is no official count of how many payments went to dead people.
Bryan Camp, a law professor at Texas Tech University, is more cautious. He said that the legality of the payment may depend more on when the person died. If someone died in 2020, they should be due the money but before that, likely not.
The IRS guidelines, however, are more fuzzy – only that the death must be prior to the payments, some of which are still pending.
Ms. Olson and others, including Keith Fogg, a clinical professor of law at Harvard, don't expect the government will go to extreme measures to claw back the money. The government would be hard pressed to prove survivors weren't entitled to the payments in the first place as the law is written.
"Someone dies in March of COVID-19, really you are going to say (to their survivors) that you you have to return that payment?" Ms. Olson said.
So what should someone do if they received a check for someone who is deceased?
Mr. Camp says if it is not due to you, to give it back. Ms. Olson says to hold on to it, citing that the IRS has pivoted on some of the rules before and may again.
"If you feel bad, send it back. If you don't feel bad about it I wouldn't say you have to send it back," Mr. Fogg said. "You are not breaking the law as I see it."
Richard Neal, D-Mass., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, agreed that that there is nothing in the law requiring the money to be returned.
While families that don't need the cash should give it back, "some families receiving these payments could use the assistance to cover costs associated with losing a loved one due to the virus," Mr. Neal said in a statement. "People with that kind of need should be able to put the money to use as they grapple with the ongoing crisis."
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-05-07--Stocks rise despite 33 million US jobless claims from pandemic

Nearly 3.2 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week as the business shutdowns caused by the viral outbreak deepened the worst U.S. economic catastrophe in decades .
Despite the bleak report , the U.S. stock market has continued to make gains since the crash in late February .
Roughly 33.5 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the seven weeks since the coronavirus began forcing millions of companies to close their doors and slash their workforces .
That is the equivalent of one in five Americans who had been employed back in February , when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of just 3.5 % .
On Friday , the government will issue the April jobs report , and it ’ s likely to be the worst since modern record-keeping began after World War II .
The unemployment rate is forecast to reach at least 16 % , the highest rate since the Great Depression , and economists estimate that 21 million jobs were lost last month .
If so , it would mean that nearly all the job growth in the 11 years since the Great Recession ended has vanished in a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t fully capture the magnitude of the damage the coronavirus has inflicted on the job market .
Many people who are still employed have had their hours reduced .
Others have suffered pay cuts .
Some who lost jobs in April and didn ’ t look for a new one in light of their bleak prospects won ’ t even be counted as unemployed .
A broader measure – the proportion of adults with jobs – could hit a record low .
The official figures for jobless claims may also be under-counting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think tanks suggest that as many as 12 million workers who were laid off by mid-April did not file for unemployment benefits by then , either because they couldn ’ t navigate their state ’ s overwhelmed systems or they felt too discouraged to try .
As the economy slides further into what looks like a severe recession , economists are projecting that the gross domestic product – the broadest gauge of economic growth – is contracting in the current April-June quarter by a shocking 40 % annual rate .
As it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond front-line industries like restaurants , hotels , and retail stores .
And yet , stocks are rebounding .
Stock markets and the price of oil pushed higher on Thursday ahead of the latest weekly jobless claims figures in the U.S. and after China reported a rise in exports as its pandemic lockdown eased .
As more countries start to remove the draconian limits on business and public life , investors are trying to gauge how quickly the global economy might bounce back .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 11 a.m. Thursday .
In Europe , France 's CAC 40 gained 0.8 % to 4,470 .
Germany 's DAX also added 0.8 % , to 10,692 , while Britain 's FTSE 100 rose 0.7 % to 5,895 .
The Chinese trading data showed an encouraging 3.5 % rise in exports in April , driven by electronics shipments and textiles , which included a surge in mask exports .
The data shows China 's exports to the United States rose 2.2 % in April , while imports of American goods fell 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industrial and consumer demand despite the lifting of most anti-virus controls .
Imports fell 13.7 % from a year earlier to $ 179.6 billion , worse than the first quarter 's 2.9 % decline .
But total exports rose to $ 200.3 billion , a turnaround from the 13.3 % contraction in the three months ending in March .
Forecasters warned that strength is unlikely to last as the coronavirus pandemic depresses global consumer demand .
Comments by President Donald Trump raising the possibility of further trade friction with Beijing have also worried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economies begin to reopen from pandemic shutdowns .
Mr. Trump said he would soon assess progress in a preliminary trade agreement with China that took effect in January , extending a truce in a painful tariffs war between the world 's two biggest economies .
The possibility of revived friction over trade at a time when economies have been slammed by the pandemic and resulting travel restrictions has rattled investors in Asia , where China is the main driver for regional growth .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Nearly 3.2 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week as the business shutdowns caused by the viral outbreak deepened the worst U.S. economic catastrophe in decades.
Despite the bleak report, the U.S. stock market has continued to make gains since the crash in late February.
Roughly 33.5 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the seven weeks since the coronavirus began forcing millions of companies to close their doors and slash their workforces. That is the equivalent of one in five Americans who had been employed back in February, when the unemployment rate had reached a 50-year low of just 3.5%.
On Friday, the government will issue the April jobs report, and it’s likely to be the worst since modern record-keeping began after World War II. The unemployment rate is forecast to reach at least 16%, the highest rate since the Great Depression, and economists estimate that 21 million jobs were lost last month. If so, it would mean that nearly all the job growth in the 11 years since the Great Recession ended has vanished in a single month.
Even those stunning figures won’t fully capture the magnitude of the damage the coronavirus has inflicted on the job market. Many people who are still employed have had their hours reduced. Others have suffered pay cuts. Some who lost jobs in April and didn’t look for a new one in light of their bleak prospects won’t even be counted as unemployed. A broader measure – the proportion of adults with jobs – could hit a record low.
The official figures for jobless claims may also be under-counting layoffs. Surveys by academic economists and think tanks suggest that as many as 12 million workers who were laid off by mid-April did not file for unemployment benefits by then, either because they couldn’t navigate their state’s overwhelmed systems or they felt too discouraged to try.
As the economy slides further into what looks like a severe recession, economists are projecting that the gross domestic product – the broadest gauge of economic growth – is contracting in the current April-June quarter by a shocking 40% annual rate. As it does, more layoffs appear to be spreading beyond front-line industries like restaurants, hotels, and retail stores.
And yet, stocks are rebounding.
Stock markets and the price of oil pushed higher on Thursday ahead of the latest weekly jobless claims figures in the U.S. and after China reported a rise in exports as its pandemic lockdown eased.
As more countries start to remove the draconian limits on business and public life, investors are trying to gauge how quickly the global economy might bounce back.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were up 1.2% as of 11 a.m. Thursday.
In Europe, France's CAC 40 gained 0.8% to 4,470. Germany's DAX also added 0.8%, to 10,692, while Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.7% to 5,895.
The Chinese trading data showed an encouraging 3.5% rise in exports in April, driven by electronics shipments and textiles, which included a surge in mask exports.
The data shows China's exports to the United States rose 2.2% in April, while imports of American goods fell 11% in a reflection of weak Chinese industrial and consumer demand despite the lifting of most anti-virus controls.
Imports fell 13.7% from a year earlier to $179.6 billion, worse than the first quarter's 2.9% decline. But total exports rose to $200.3 billion, a turnaround from the 13.3% contraction in the three months ending in March.
Forecasters warned that strength is unlikely to last as the coronavirus pandemic depresses global consumer demand.
Comments by President Donald Trump raising the possibility of further trade friction with Beijing have also worried investors hoping for better times as other economies begin to reopen from pandemic shutdowns.
Mr. Trump said he would soon assess progress in a preliminary trade agreement with China that took effect in January, extending a truce in a painful tariffs war between the world's two biggest economies.
The possibility of revived friction over trade at a time when economies have been slammed by the pandemic and resulting travel restrictions has rattled investors in Asia, where China is the main driver for regional growth.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP Writers Joe McDonald and Kelli Kennedy contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-06-05--‘We’ve sold thousands of bikes’: The businesses surging at a tough time

The pandemic has also inspired a bicycle boom that has caused Detroit Bikes to sell seven times the volume it sold in the same period last year .
“ People are going back to touchstones that are comforting , ” says company founder Zak Pashak .
“ There ’ s something that feels almost nurturing about being on a bicycle.
” In an era of shelter-in-place rules , games are big .
Sales of traditional board games have risen , and even online chess is flourishing in unexpected ways .
A recent online tournament reached 10 times the viewers that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Sometimes , it ’ s nimble manufacturers that find new markets to replace declining ones .
Other times , opportunity falls into a company ’ s lap : Oak Barn Beef , a tiny farm-to-consumer firm , has seen its subscription-beef service rise tenfold since the beginning of the year .
Even in a pandemic , with unemployment high and businesses closed , winners emerge .
Besides the obvious ones , like grocery stores and the online video company Zoom , there are some not-so-obvious industries and firms that are flourishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest that these unexpected winners may be leading the way toward a more general recovery .
For Hannah Esch , the surge was as sudden as it was unexpected .
At the beginning of March , her fledgling company , Oak Barn Beef , had a freezer full of meat .
By the end of the month , it was empty .
Even before huge meat processors began shutting down plants because of the spread of the coronavirus , consumers were scrambling to find alternative sources of meat – and small , direct-to-consumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s , reaped the windfall .
Currently , she ’ s sold out of almost everything , her base of subscribers who sign up for periodic deliveries of meat has ballooned tenfold to 72 , and she ’ s not accepting new subscribers until September .
“ The beef just started flying off the shelf , ” says the newly minted college graduate from West Point , Nebraska .
Her new videos on how to start a direct-to-consumer business go on sale Monday .
Every crisis offers opportunity – even one brought on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world and brought U.S. unemployment to levels not seen since the Great Depression .
Although businesses large and small continue to struggle , new evidence suggests that the downturn is already beginning to ease .
On Friday , the Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate fell from 14.7 % in April to 13.3 % in May .
While there ’ s still a devastatingly high level of joblessness , the addition of 2.5 million jobs was a stunning surprise to many analysts who had expected further losses in May .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
And it offers new hope that the winners during the pandemic are simply leading the way toward a general recovery that is happening sooner than expected .
“ We just came off our four best months in company history , ” says Drew Greenblatt , president of Marlin Steel Wire Products in Baltimore , which replaced its plunging aerospace business by supplying booming medical-supply companies .
“ This is stuff that maybe they bought in China in the past ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America .
... Nimble , adaptive companies are figuring out ways to add value in a challenging time.
” This year has seen obvious winners : online communications tools like Zoom and Slack , grocery stores , and cleaning product manufacturers .
The pandemic has also created boomlets for not-so-obvious companies and industries , like cycling .
“ We ’ ve sold thousands of bikes , ” says Zak Pashak , owner and founder of Detroit Bikes , a made-in-America bicycle manufacturer .
Sales are up sevenfold over the same period a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking preorders for some models that won ’ t be available until August .
During the pandemic , Americans have taken to biking in a big way .
Families in lockdown , looking for some physical activity , have bought bicycles to roam around the neighborhood with or installed stationary bikes in their basements .
According to NPD Group , a market research company based in Port Washington , New York , the cycling market grew 31 % in the first quarter of the year , with half of that jump coming in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took effect .
“ People are going back to touchstones that are comforting , ” says Mr. Pashak .
“ There ’ s something that feels almost nurturing about being on a bicycle.
” With major league sports shut down , Americans have sought out other recreation .
Online gaming companies like Activision Blizzard and Electronic Arts have seen sales surge .
Traditional board games have also seen rising sales – even that most ancient of games , chess .
“ It ’ s almost like November , before the Christmas holidays , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ChessUSA in North Massapequa , New York , which bills itself as America ’ s largest chess store .
While the brick-and-mortar store had to close , online sales have boomed as people have snapped up chess sets and fancy versions of other traditional board games , like Scrabble .
Mr. Turner ’ s biggest concern is that he won ’ t have enough inventory when the real Christmas season comes around .
“ If everyone places their orders in June and we have lost two months of manufacturing , are they [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet the demand ?
” he asks .
Online chess has exploded even more .
Online tournaments , until now considered less serious than face-to-face matchups , are suddenly drawing big online audiences .
The second-most important event in the chess world , which decides who will face the world champion in the championship match , started in Russia in March .
Before the pandemic shut it down , it drew some 1 million viewers on TV and online .
But during the pandemic , world champion Magnus Carlsen helped organize an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – unheard-of for an online chess event – and convinced top players to play online from their homes .
That tournament , which wrapped up last month , got 10 times more viewers than the Russia match .
“ We ’ ve been completely blown away by the interest – and it has definitely worked and taken chess to a new level , ” says Leon Watson , spokesman for Chessable , an online chess training platform and an organizer of the tournament .
“ We ’ re not trying to replace classical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in harmony together .
We ’ re just trying to broaden the appeal of chess.
” One reason for the online tournament ’ s success was its format .
Unlike traditional tournaments , where players spend hours hunched over a chessboard and even the online commentators take breaks because the movement is so slow , the online tournament had only “ rapid ” games , where the time constraints are much tighter and players usually wrap up a game in about 45 minutes .
The event was so popular that the organizers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the next few months with a total $ 1 million in prize money .
A springtime of social distancing also fueled a boom in pet adoptions .
That doesn ’ t mean the pet industry is recession-proof in the current upheaval , but pet-supply seller Chewy has seen sales surge – an uptick also driven by a more general migration of consumers online during the pandemic .
What happens as the economy opens back up is anybody ’ s guess .
Will people put away their bikes and chess sets to watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stick with their direct-from-the-farm supplier or go back to the grocery store for their steak and chops ?
“ Hopefully , we ’ ll see the surge continue , ” says Ms. Esch .
“ People are really starting to realize it is even more important to support farmers directly , if possible.
” It may partly depend on whether the entrepreneurs can change their mindset to broaden their appeal .
“ Images of sweaty , anguished riders with no body fat , [ which ] abound in cycling magazines , on television @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasingly being replaced by a new reality of families riding together , and everyday health and fitness enthusiasts riding their bikes indoors , ” writes Dirk Sorenson , an NPD analyst , in a blog post .
“ To attract and retain families , it ’ s time the industry look at short-term improvements in the way it works with non-athlete cyclists to maintain enthusiasm.
” Editor ’ s note : This article was updated to clarify when Hannah Esch plans to start selling videos on how to start a direct-to-consumer business .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

The pandemic has also inspired a bicycle boom that has caused Detroit Bikes to sell seven times the volume it sold in the same period last year. “People are going back to touchstones that are comforting,” says company founder Zak Pashak. “There’s something that feels almost nurturing about being on a bicycle.”
In an era of shelter-in-place rules, games are big. Sales of traditional board games have risen, and even online chess is flourishing in unexpected ways. A recent online tournament reached 10 times the viewers that an important face-to-face match received earlier this year.
Though the pandemic has posed daunting challenges for many businesses, it has also opened up opportunities for some. These firms have had an ability to pivot – and have benefited from changing consumer demands.
Sometimes, it’s nimble manufacturers that find new markets to replace declining ones. Other times, opportunity falls into a company’s lap: Oak Barn Beef, a tiny farm-to-consumer firm, has seen its subscription-beef service rise tenfold since the beginning of the year.
Even in a pandemic, with unemployment high and businesses closed, winners emerge. Besides the obvious ones, like grocery stores and the online video company Zoom, there are some not-so-obvious industries and firms that are flourishing. And new unemployment numbers out Friday suggest that these unexpected winners may be leading the way toward a more general recovery.
For Hannah Esch, the surge was as sudden as it was unexpected.
At the beginning of March, her fledgling company, Oak Barn Beef, had a freezer full of meat. By the end of the month, it was empty. Even before huge meat processors began shutting down plants because of the spread of the coronavirus, consumers were scrambling to find alternative sources of meat – and small, direct-to-consumer operations, such as Ms. Esch’s, reaped the windfall.
Currently, she’s sold out of almost everything, her base of subscribers who sign up for periodic deliveries of meat has ballooned tenfold to 72, and she’s not accepting new subscribers until September. “The beef just started flying off the shelf,” says the newly minted college graduate from West Point, Nebraska. Her new videos on how to start a direct-to-consumer business go on sale Monday.
Why We Wrote This Though the pandemic has posed daunting challenges for many businesses, it has also opened up opportunities for some. These firms have had an ability to pivot – and have benefited from changing consumer demands.
Every crisis offers opportunity – even one brought on by a pandemic that has slowed economies around the world and brought U.S. unemployment to levels not seen since the Great Depression. Although businesses large and small continue to struggle, new evidence suggests that the downturn is already beginning to ease. On Friday, the Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate fell from 14.7% in April to 13.3% in May. While there’s still a devastatingly high level of joblessness, the addition of 2.5 million jobs was a stunning surprise to many analysts who had expected further losses in May.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
And it offers new hope that the winners during the pandemic are simply leading the way toward a general recovery that is happening sooner than expected.
“We just came off our four best months in company history,” says Drew Greenblatt, president of Marlin Steel Wire Products in Baltimore, which replaced its plunging aerospace business by supplying booming medical-supply companies. “This is stuff that maybe they bought in China in the past; now, it’s being made in America. ... Nimble, adaptive companies are figuring out ways to add value in a challenging time.”
Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff/File View caption Hide caption Hannah Esch, shown here in Unadilla, Nebraska, on June 6, 2019, moved her family's ranching business into branded beef, selling beef directly to consumers under the name Oak Barn Beef. The business has surged during the pandemic, with almost everything sold out.
This year has seen obvious winners: online communications tools like Zoom and Slack, grocery stores, and cleaning product manufacturers. The pandemic has also created boomlets for not-so-obvious companies and industries, like cycling.
“We’ve sold thousands of bikes,” says Zak Pashak, owner and founder of Detroit Bikes, a made-in-America bicycle manufacturer. Sales are up sevenfold over the same period a year ago. And the company is taking preorders for some models that won’t be available until August.
During the pandemic, Americans have taken to biking in a big way. Families in lockdown, looking for some physical activity, have bought bicycles to roam around the neighborhood with or installed stationary bikes in their basements. According to NPD Group, a market research company based in Port Washington, New York, the cycling market grew 31% in the first quarter of the year, with half of that jump coming in March as schools closed down and lockdowns took effect.
“People are going back to touchstones that are comforting,” says Mr. Pashak. “There’s something that feels almost nurturing about being on a bicycle.”
With major league sports shut down, Americans have sought out other recreation. Online gaming companies like Activision Blizzard and Electronic Arts have seen sales surge. Traditional board games have also seen rising sales – even that most ancient of games, chess.
“It’s almost like November, before the Christmas holidays,” says Quentin Turner, president of ChessUSA in North Massapequa, New York, which bills itself as America’s largest chess store. While the brick-and-mortar store had to close, online sales have boomed as people have snapped up chess sets and fancy versions of other traditional board games, like Scrabble. Mr. Turner’s biggest concern is that he won’t have enough inventory when the real Christmas season comes around.
“If everyone places their orders in June and we have lost two months of manufacturing, are they [the manufacturers] going to be able to meet the demand?” he asks.
Virtual matches
Online chess has exploded even more. Online tournaments, until now considered less serious than face-to-face matchups, are suddenly drawing big online audiences. The second-most important event in the chess world, which decides who will face the world champion in the championship match, started in Russia in March. Before the pandemic shut it down, it drew some 1 million viewers on TV and online.
But during the pandemic, world champion Magnus Carlsen helped organize an online tournament with a $250,000 purse – unheard-of for an online chess event – and convinced top players to play online from their homes. That tournament, which wrapped up last month, got 10 times more viewers than the Russia match.
“We’ve been completely blown away by the interest – and it has definitely worked and taken chess to a new level,” says Leon Watson, spokesman for Chessable, an online chess training platform and an organizer of the tournament. “We’re not trying to replace classical chess. The two can certainly run in harmony together. We’re just trying to broaden the appeal of chess.”
One reason for the online tournament’s success was its format. Unlike traditional tournaments, where players spend hours hunched over a chessboard and even the online commentators take breaks because the movement is so slow, the online tournament had only “rapid” games, where the time constraints are much tighter and players usually wrap up a game in about 45 minutes.
The event was so popular that the organizers have set up a series of online tournaments over the next few months with a total $1 million in prize money.
Good times for pets
A springtime of social distancing also fueled a boom in pet adoptions. That doesn’t mean the pet industry is recession-proof in the current upheaval, but pet-supply seller Chewy has seen sales surge – an uptick also driven by a more general migration of consumers online during the pandemic.
What happens as the economy opens back up is anybody’s guess. Will people put away their bikes and chess sets to watch college and professional football? Will they stick with their direct-from-the-farm supplier or go back to the grocery store for their steak and chops?
“Hopefully, we’ll see the surge continue,” says Ms. Esch. “People are really starting to realize it is even more important to support farmers directly, if possible.”
It may partly depend on whether the entrepreneurs can change their mindset to broaden their appeal.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“Images of sweaty, anguished riders with no body fat, [which] abound in cycling magazines, on television, and in broad-reach periodicals ... are increasingly being replaced by a new reality of families riding together, and everyday health and fitness enthusiasts riding their bikes indoors,” writes Dirk Sorenson, an NPD analyst, in a blog post. “To attract and retain families, it’s time the industry look at short-term improvements in the way it works with non-athlete cyclists to maintain enthusiasm.”
Editor’s note: This article was updated to clarify when Hannah Esch plans to start selling videos on how to start a direct-to-consumer business. As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-30--Fake news 101: A guide to help sniff out the truth

Duke University ’ s Reporters ’ Lab has compiled a list of 237 fact-checking sites in 80 countries – a nearly 26 % increase since last year .
So even as misinformation and disinformation proliferate , so do the “ fact cops ” determined to stop them in their tracks .
Whether it ’ s a news outlet you ’ ve never heard of , or a Facebook post written by your best friend , some key questions can help you better assess online information .
Want to be more discerning in your news intake , but don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s understandable .
We ’ re a long way away from the day when Americans would hunker down to watch Walter Cronkite .
In addition to the splintering of our media landscape into hundreds of outlets , you ’ re probably also aware of the swirling misinformation ( inaccurate information shared unwittingly ) and disinformation ( information shared with an intent to mislead ) on the internet .
Concerns around the proliferation of disinformation and so-called fake news have gained new urgency with the World Health Organization declaring an “ infodemic ” around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to consider while reading news or social media posts .
What is misinformation vs. disinformation ?
Misinformation is information that is misleading or wrong , but not intentionally .
It includes everything from a factoid your friend reposted on Facebook to assertions made by officials or , yes , even journalists .
Disinformation is more deliberate and is distributed with the intent to confuse , disturb , or provoke .
It also includes plausible information shared through devious means , such as a fake Twitter account ; done en masse , this can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A particularly deceptive form of disinformation are “ deepfake ” videos , with imperceptible alterations in the footage making it appear that someone said or did something that he or she never said or did .
Be particularly on guard against misinformation and disinformation during crises , which provide fertile ground for exploiting fear , anger , and other emotions .
How can I tell which news sources are credible ?
Here are a few points to consider : Standards : What information does this outlet provide about who they are , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or standards ?
Show me the money : Who is paying for their work , and why ?
Is this news outlet ’ s business model dependent to some degree on generating “ clicks ” ?
If so , how might that have influenced this story ?
Track record : Does this outlet publish corrections to errors in stories , indicating transparency and accountability ?
Have they been recognized for journalistic excellence ?
None of these methods are fool-proof , but together they will provide a more informed understanding of the sources .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Fact-checking sites are cropping up all over the internet to help you do just this .
Duke University ’ s Reporters ’ Lab , run by the creator of PolitiFact , has compiled a list of such sites .
Their database includes more than 237 fact-checkers in nearly 80 countries – a 26 % increase in less than a year .
Some of these specialize in exposing online hoaxes and disinformation .
You can go directly to one of these sites and search for the claim you ’ re researching , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the name of a recommended site , to see if any of them have looked into it .
If you don ’ t see the claim you ’ re researching on your preferred fact-checking site , look for a place to submit a claim for investigation , such as these pages on PolitiFact and Snopes .
If it ’ s a photo you ’ re trying to verify , a reverse image search on Google can help to pinpoint its origin .
Sometimes photos are reposted out of context , or with false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and event at which they were taken .
As the media has become more polarized , more bias has seeped into the news – but it has also become easier to spot .
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you read an article : Angle : What discrete aspect of this topic does this article attempt to address , and what does that say about the news organization ’ s priorities and/or worldview ?
Scope : Does this do a reasonable job of addressing all relevant points given the space allotted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach , and diversity of people included in terms of age , gender , race , cultural background , professional expertise , political views , etc.
?
Sources : Who are the sources , what is their expertise , and how does their background and work inform their approach to this topic ?
What is the relative emphasis placed on each source ?
Who is quoted most , first , and last ?
Author : Who is the author ?
What did they study , and where ?
What do they normally write @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter ?
Do they have any affiliations ( past or present ) that might affect how they approach this topic ?
Yourself : This might be the hardest of all !
If you ’ re reading a map and want to follow the blue trail , but don ’ t realize you ’ re wearing red-tinted glasses , you might end up following the purple trail without realizing it .
So it ’ s worth asking : What is coloring the way I see this news source , issue , and/or article ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ media literacy ?
Oxford Internet Institute ’ s Computational Propaganda Project offers a host of resources on disinformation designed for civil society groups , but relevant to individuals as well .
Data & Society , an independent nonprofit , explains the phenomena of misinformation and disinformation in great depth in this report .
The European Journalism Centre just put out a new edition of its Verification Handbook that addresses disinformation and media manipulation .
UNESCO compiled a seven-module course for teaching about journalism , fake news , and disinformation .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good template for self-instruction as well .
The Center for Media Literacy and the News Literacy Project are also great resources for teachers .
The Enoch Free Pratt Library in Maryland has put together a concise guide for spotting fake news .
There are also online courses , such as the Great Courses ’ “ Fighting Misinformation : Digital Media Literary , ” offered in partnership with IREX .
Once you feel like you ’ re getting the hang of media literacy , you can test yourself with this fun online game , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University Game Lab to see if you can tell the difference between real and fake news .
Editor ’ s note : The original version of this story misidentified the creators of Verification Handbook and Factitious .
They are the European Journalism Centre and American University Game Lab , respectively .

Sifting fact from fiction can seem bewildering in our increasingly fragmented media landscape. But it doesn’t need to be.
Duke University’s Reporters’ Lab has compiled a list of 237 fact-checking sites in 80 countries – a nearly 26% increase since last year. So even as misinformation and disinformation proliferate, so do the “fact cops” determined to stop them in their tracks.
Whether it’s a news outlet you’ve never heard of, or a Facebook post written by your best friend, some key questions can help you better assess online information.
Want to be more discerning in your news intake, but don’t know where to start? It’s understandable. We’re a long way away from the day when Americans would hunker down to watch Walter Cronkite. In addition to the splintering of our media landscape into hundreds of outlets, you’re probably also aware of the swirling misinformation (inaccurate information shared unwittingly) and disinformation (information shared with an intent to mislead) on the internet.
Concerns around the proliferation of disinformation and so-called fake news have gained new urgency with the World Health Organization declaring an “infodemic” around COVID-19. Here are some key questions to consider while reading news or social media posts.
What is misinformation vs. disinformation?
Misinformation is information that is misleading or wrong, but not intentionally. It includes everything from a factoid your friend reposted on Facebook to assertions made by officials or, yes, even journalists.
Why We Wrote This Sifting fact from fiction can seem bewildering in our increasingly fragmented media landscape. But it doesn’t need to be.
Disinformation is more deliberate and is distributed with the intent to confuse, disturb, or provoke. It also includes plausible information shared through devious means, such as a fake Twitter account; done en masse, this can create a skewed impression of popular opinion. A particularly deceptive form of disinformation are “deepfake” videos, with imperceptible alterations in the footage making it appear that someone said or did something that he or she never said or did.
Be particularly on guard against misinformation and disinformation during crises, which provide fertile ground for exploiting fear, anger, and other emotions.
How can I tell which news sources are credible?
Here are a few points to consider:
Standards: What information does this outlet provide about who they are, their mission, and their fact-checking process or standards?
Show me the money: Who is paying for their work, and why? Is this news outlet’s business model dependent to some degree on generating “clicks”? If so, how might that have influenced this story?
Track record: Does this outlet publish corrections to errors in stories, indicating transparency and accountability? Have they been recognized for journalistic excellence?
None of these methods are fool-proof, but together they will provide a more informed understanding of the sources.
How can I fact-check a particular claim?
Fact-checking sites are cropping up all over the internet to help you do just this. Duke University’s Reporters’ Lab, run by the creator of PolitiFact, has compiled a list of such sites. Their database includes more than 237 fact-checkers in nearly 80 countries – a 26% increase in less than a year. Some of these specialize in exposing online hoaxes and disinformation.
You can go directly to one of these sites and search for the claim you’re researching, or type the claim into Google along with the name of a recommended site, to see if any of them have looked into it. If you don’t see the claim you’re researching on your preferred fact-checking site, look for a place to submit a claim for investigation, such as these pages on PolitiFact and Snopes.
If it’s a photo you’re trying to verify, a reverse image search on Google can help to pinpoint its origin. Sometimes photos are reposted out of context, or with false captions about the year, place, and event at which they were taken.
What about bias?
As the media has become more polarized, more bias has seeped into the news – but it has also become easier to spot. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you read an article:
Angle: What discrete aspect of this topic does this article attempt to address, and what does that say about the news organization’s priorities and/or worldview?
Scope: Does this do a reasonable job of addressing all relevant points given the space allotted? What is the timeframe, geographical reach, and diversity of people included in terms of age, gender, race, cultural background, professional expertise, political views, etc.?
Sources: Who are the sources, what is their expertise, and how does their background and work inform their approach to this topic? What is the relative emphasis placed on each source? Who is quoted most, first, and last?
Author: Who is the author? What did they study, and where? What do they normally write about? What do they post on Twitter? Do they have any affiliations (past or present) that might affect how they approach this topic?
Yourself: This might be the hardest of all! If you’re reading a map and want to follow the blue trail, but don’t realize you’re wearing red-tinted glasses, you might end up following the purple trail without realizing it. So it’s worth asking: What is coloring the way I see this news source, issue, and/or article?
Where can I find more resources on media literacy?
Oxford Internet Institute’s Computational Propaganda Project offers a host of resources on disinformation designed for civil society groups, but relevant to individuals as well.
Data & Society, an independent nonprofit, explains the phenomena of misinformation and disinformation in great depth in this report.
The European Journalism Centre just put out a new edition of its Verification Handbook that addresses disinformation and media manipulation.
UNESCO compiled a seven-module course for teaching about journalism, fake news, and disinformation. It’s geared toward educators, but is a good template for self-instruction as well. The Center for Media Literacy and the News Literacy Project are also great resources for teachers.
The Enoch Free Pratt Library in Maryland has put together a concise guide for spotting fake news.
There are also online courses, such as the Great Courses’ “Fighting Misinformation: Digital Media Literary,” offered in partnership with IREX.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Once you feel like you’re getting the hang of media literacy, you can test yourself with this fun online game, “Factitious,” developed by American University Game Lab to see if you can tell the difference between real and fake news.
Editor’s note: The original version of this story misidentified the creators of Verification Handbook and Factitious. They are the European Journalism Centre and American University Game Lab, respectively.


csmonitor--2020-04-30--US jobless claims reach 30 million, 1 in 6 unemployed

More than 3.8 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week as the U.S. economy slid further into a crisis that is becoming the most devastating since the 1930s .
Roughly 30.3 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the six weeks since the coronavirus outbreak began forcing millions of employers to close their doors and slash their workforces .
That is more people than live in the New York and Chicago metropolitan areas combined , and it 's by far the worst string of layoffs on record .
It adds up to more than 1 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cutting payrolls to save money , economists have forecast that the unemployment rate for April could go as high as 20 % .
That would be the highest rate since it reached 25 % during the Great Depression .
This week , the government estimated that the economy shrank at a 4.8 % annual rate in the first three months of this year , the sharpest quarterly drop since the 2008 financial crisis .
Yet the picture is likely to grow far worse : The economy is expected to contract in the April-June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at an annual rate .
No previous quarter has been anywhere near as weak since the government began keeping such records after World War II .
As businesses across the country have shut down and laid off tens of millions of workers , the economy has sunk into a near-paralysis in just a few weeks .
Factories , hotels , restaurants , department stores , movie theaters , and many small businesses are shuttered .
Home sales are falling .
Households are slashing spending .
Consumer confidence is sinking .
With some signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least in certain areas of the country , a few governors have taken tentative steps to begin reopening their economies .
But surveys show that a large majority of Americans remain wary of returning to shopping , traveling , and other normal economic activity .
That suggests that many industries will struggle with diminished revenue for weeks or months to come and might be unable to rehire laid-off workers .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage .
It ’ s free .

More than 3.8 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week as the U.S. economy slid further into a crisis that is becoming the most devastating since the 1930s.
Roughly 30.3 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the six weeks since the coronavirus outbreak began forcing millions of employers to close their doors and slash their workforces. That is more people than live in the New York and Chicago metropolitan areas combined, and it's by far the worst string of layoffs on record. It adds up to more than 1 in 6 American workers.
With more employers cutting payrolls to save money, economists have forecast that the unemployment rate for April could go as high as 20%. That would be the highest rate since it reached 25% during the Great Depression.
This week, the government estimated that the economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate in the first three months of this year, the sharpest quarterly drop since the 2008 financial crisis. Yet the picture is likely to grow far worse: The economy is expected to contract in the April-June quarter by as much as 40% at an annual rate. No previous quarter has been anywhere near as weak since the government began keeping such records after World War II.
As businesses across the country have shut down and laid off tens of millions of workers, the economy has sunk into a near-paralysis in just a few weeks. Factories, hotels, restaurants, department stores, movie theaters, and many small businesses are shuttered.
Home sales are falling. Households are slashing spending. Consumer confidence is sinking.
With some signs that the viral outbreak may have plateaued at least in certain areas of the country, a few governors have taken tentative steps to begin reopening their economies. But surveys show that a large majority of Americans remain wary of returning to shopping, traveling, and other normal economic activity. That suggests that many industries will struggle with diminished revenue for weeks or months to come and might be unable to rehire laid-off workers.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.