Explaining modern mysteries: How the Herald answers your curly questions

The Herald has been helping readers make sense of complicated issues for almost 200 years, and increasingly we’re doing that with the help of our dedicated Explainers team.

Led by editor Felicity Lewis, with reporters Angus Holland and Jackson Graham, this team helps us understand the world by taking deep dives into health, science, politics, culture and human behaviour.

They have answered many of the world’s most pressing questions, such as why is cancer so hard to cure? They’ve also delved into questions you might not have thought to ask: Where did Santa come from? Why do honeybees do a waggle dance?

Explainer editor Felicity Lewis (right) with the new anthology, Why Do People Queue for Brunch? The Explainer Guide to Modern Mysteries.Credit:

They have just published a new anthology of Explainers: Why Do People Queue for Brunch? The Explainer Guide to Modern Mysteries, with Allen & Unwin.

It contains contributions from Herald reporters including Matt Wade, Kate Aubusson, Damien Woolnough, Samantha Selinger-Morris, Eryk Bagshaw, Billie Eder and Angus Dalton.

We asked Felicity how it was put together and what readers should expect.

How long has the Herald been running Explainers?

Explainers are not a new concept in news media, but our newsrooms decided to double down on them six years ago. Back in the day, we could build an understanding of our world at a more measured pace. Now, news and information are being updated endlessly on social media, online, on TV – across so many channels.

Our explainers help readers make sense of all of those information bits and bytes. And then, beyond news events, we tackle some of life’s big mysteries too – which readers tell us is a nice surprise in their reading diet. In a way, our team is building a “context library” for our audience.

What’s the idea behind explainers? What makes them different from a feature story?

It’s our job to put things in perspective and dive into the “hows” and “whys”. It could be about geopolitics (like why China and the US want to control microchips) or decoding the latest buzzword (how can you tell if someone’s a narcissist?) or health issues (why is vertigo so debilitating?) or social trends (pickleball, anyone?). The tone of our explainers is direct and chatty. As for their structure, unlike features, they have a particular format – they’re badged Explainer at the top – and they have sections that each tackle a different aspect of a bigger puzzle.

Who is in the Explainer team?

Me and two reporters. When I started in journalism, they were dismantling the old printing presses in our newsroom – literally, you could feel the building shaking. For years, we were told the internet was coming and then, finally, yes, it arrived. My current job and my previous role (editing premium online storytelling) didn’t exist back in the day. Being the explainer editor is great – I’m always learning something new. Explainer reporter Angus Holland has been in many senior roles, including writing editorials for the Herald’s sister publication, The Age. He was too busy then to focus on story writing; now he’s showing his impressive talents.

Jackson Graham’s CV includes being a country news reporter, which is no easy gig. He’s indefatigable in chasing experts all over the world. Both Jackson and Angus bring a lot of integrity to their explainers: they genuinely get to grips with a subject. Sometimes other reporters write for us too, such as senior economics writer Matt Wade and style editor Damien Woolnough.

What are some of the topics you’ve covered over the years?

We’ve explored enigmas such as deja vu, time travel and reverse swing in cricket; and natural phenomena such as how birds build their nests and why cicadas sing at dusk (the answer was racier than I expected). We’ve asked, Why do Russians keep being poisoned? and, What does Kim Jong-un want?

Our health explainers have been well-received too: on everything from failing eyesight and prostate problems to heart attacks and frozen shoulder. We also delve into areas that aren’t exactly top-of-the-pops for party chatter but that I believe people care about a lot: one of our most popular explainers ever was What happens as we die? – a gentle explanation of the process of dying, with helpful information for loved ones.

Does any explainer stand out for you as particularly interesting, important or entertaining?

Explainers such as Where did budgie smugglers come from? are lots of fun. I took a personal interest in Why is cancer so hard to cure? My mum, who was otherwise vital and healthy, died from an aggressive form of cancer when she was 70. I kept hearing about medical breakthroughs in cancer treatments and thinking: If only they could have helped her. But they are helping many other people – there are now a lot of Australians living with cancer. My colleagues and I wanted to understand this better. We learnt that cancer is not just one thing but actually 200 or so different diseases; and it’s particularly tricky because it comes from within us, from our own cells – it’s not like a virus. This has huge implications for how it’s treated.

Now there’s a new Explainer book – what prompted that?

Why Do People Queue for Brunch? The Explainer Guide to Modern Mysteries.Credit:

We’ve done a couple of anthologies before and there was a lot of interest in them. I decided it was time again! We had more than enough fascinating pieces to fill a book. So I pitched my idea to a publisher at Allen & Unwin who loved it, which is great. The publishers were great to work with and have done a brilliant job, not least with the clever illustrations and a snappy cover design.

What’s in the new anthology?

Twenty-six explainers, from What’s a rogue wave? to How do you make the right decisions in life? I chose timeless, universal subjects. I’ve watched people thumb through the book and say, “Oh, there’s one on how to build sandcastles!” and “I’d love to know what a rogue wave is!” In any case, we wanted a lively mix that readers could dip into and have a bit of a giggle with over summer. There are lots of fun facts and smart conversation starters for parties, barbecues and family lunches. It makes a great Christmas present for adventurous, curious types (we actually ask, Could we ever journey to the centre of the Earth?) and there’s something for everyone, which also makes it a handy gift for people who might be tricky to buy for.

How much does it cost, and how can people get hold of it?

Why Do People Queue for Brunch? The Explainer Guide to Modern Mysteries is in bookshops now for $32.99. Herald subscribers are being offered a 25 per cent discount until December 12. Click here to take advantage of this offer.

Bevan Shields sends an exclusive newsletter to subscribers each week. Sign up to receive his Note from the Editor.