Why subscribe?

If you want to think critically about aspects of the American zoo and aquarium industry, this writing is for you. This isn’t a newsletter about the ethics of captivity: it addresses the how and the why - and the “why not?” - of tangible things. There’s no PR spin in the content here, and no gymnastics to align content with brand standards or industry politics.

This newsletter leans into the fact that the zoo industry is constantly evolving. Like any major change, it’s a messy, non-linear process with some inevitable fumbles along the way. I use this space to dig into interesting aspects of that journey. I look at the industry’s ambiguities, contradictions, and politics. I investigate shifts in language and branding to see if they’re accurate and functional. I fact-check common assumptions. I highlight work that is important and necessary, and critique aspects of concern.

Did I really have to keep the “Why [blank] Does The Thing” brand?

Why yes, yes I did. You can make a blogger into a professional writer, but you can’t take away her love for snarky internet lingo.

The nuts and bolts:

When you subscribe, you’ll get new newsletter content emailed directly to your as soon as it’s published.

Content in this newsletter is my own personal opinion, and is not influenced by nor represents the views of any organization or company I am associated with professionally.

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