Story Hinckley does something important in her article today. She looks not at an event or an idea, but at a trend in thought.

Polls and research suggest a shift in how many American women view politics. Most news stories would summarize: “American women move left.” But it’s far more nuanced and interesting than that. The political change is one effect. The cause – the thought – is larger. 

Journalism that deals only with facts and events never gets to cause. Exploring changes in thought is one of the most powerful things journalism can do. Then, you’re not accumulating information, you’re gaining understanding.