Welcome to The News List by Vicky Smith

News and current affairs chat from your friendly neighbourhood journalist Vicky Smith - @byvickysmith on Instagram. In The News List, I untangle the news and break down the biggest stories of the week into clear, human language so you don’t have to doomscroll or wade through endless headlines.

I sift through the headlines and the online conversation, including trends that influence news coverage, to look at why certain narratives take off and how that impacts how we think.

I publish every Thursday. To get every single copy of The News List, plus access to occasional longer musings from me about the media and what’s in the news, you can upgrade to a paid subscription. Becoming a paid subscriber is much appreciated as you can support what I do on here and over on Instagram.

Who am I

I have worked in local and national newspapers for nearly 20 years, covering crime, politics, the royal family and much more.

Since 2020 I have been sharing my insights into the media and how it interacts with social media on Instagram, where I help explain the context behind what journalists are writing about and break down the facts that make up the big stories.