Thursday, August 20

Our most popular stories this week, along with editors' picks:

Here are the highlights:

1. Portland's independent journalists team up to cover the front lines
   "People are still here protesting the police, and police are still being brutal. And that's going to continue long after the national media pulls out."
    
2. As America retreats from the long war, Afghan and Pakistani journalists come under attack
   Foreign news outlets are pulling resources away from coverage of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and AfPak journalists and their institutions are left weakened and abandoned.
    
3. Washington Post public editor: The bright side of 2020? Less campaign froth
   At least this year we're not inundated with banal stories of campaign intrigue or swing voters in diners.
    
4. Q&A: Baynard Woods and Brandon Soderberg on police power in Baltimore and beyond
   On gaining trust from vastly different sources, the media's struggle to cover norm-breakers, and the future of urban policing.
    
5. Successful Pitches shows freelancers the way
   How freelancers are pooling resources and helping one another.
    
6. Stop asking how Trump is 'defining' Biden and Harris
   Looking for a puerile nickname to land is to cover politics on Trump's turf.