With the widespread closure of international bureaus, and serious underfunding of those that remain open, American coverage of world affairs nears an all-time low. Today, the mainstream U.S. media often seems precariously close to preaching an official reality and severely restricting the average media consumer’s view of the world.

Jonathan Lethem’s most recent novel, Chronic City, parodies a New York City so exhausted by Iraq reports that the leading newspaper (a thinly-veiled New York Times) is compelled to produce a “War-free edition.” Although Iraq- and Afghanistan-fatigue is perhaps inevitable by this point, one could argue that democracy elevates staying informed to a civic responsibility.