Crossword enthusiasts, Sudoku fans, and astrology lovers—this year more than ever, summer is going to spoil you. How far away those days seem when crossword puzzles and horoscopes vied for attention in the entertainment sections at the back of the newspaper. Sometimes read more than the politics and society sections, perhaps it’s time to take the stars and puzzles seriously.
Some people buy The New York Times just for the crossword puzzles. Having become flagship editorial products, these crossword puzzles are even featured on the App Store through the Crossword app. Ideal for reaching a new audience and building loyalty among longtime fans, these games are also a lucrative revenue stream that helps fund investigative reporting and high-quality long-form content. As for the business model, while The Times offers dedicated subscription plans for its puzzles, The New Yorker requires readers to subscribe to the full content to access its games. Play, yes—but not without a payoff.
But when all the squares in our favorite crossword puzzles are filled in, what meaning can we find in our sunny afternoons? Here at the feminist newsletter Sorocité, we prefer to turn to the vacation workbook. For those who miss their dog-eared, sand-stained pages, here’s the 2021 edition of the feminist summer workbook. Amid the word searches and quizzes to match iconic women with their quotes, you’ll find a slew of cultural recommendations ranging from TV shows to podcasts. Last year, their “What Kind of Feminist Are You?” quiz even revealed some cyberfeminist ambitions à la Sadie Plant.
For those who prefer to look to the stars to give meaning to their summer, horoscopes are always a good idea. With the Astrostudio podcast, Nouvelles Écoutes explores the planetary placements of French singers through music. Like our dear Yelle, perhaps a Moon in Kate Bush, a Leo ascendant, and a Sun in Étienne Daho are hiding in your birth chart? And for those of you who prefer to read a horoscope guaranteed to put you in a good mood, we recommend checking out the Instagram account of Tapage, the pop and socially conscious magazine from My Little Paris. The post “Tell us your zodiac sign without actually telling us” was a huge hit, with nearly 800 comments that really made us smile.
Their ability to attract and retain an audience has propelled entertainment sections into the heart of the media’s business model and value proposition. Today, they’re curated to appeal to specific target audiences and highlighted through visual or musical aesthetics. How about you—would you like to check out your summer media horoscope? Head over to TikTok.
