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Why we do it
Our mission is to promote a healthier democracy by reducing polarization. We believe that understanding multiple perspectives is the most efficient way to stay informed while developing empathy for those you may not agree with.
It’s easy to tune out opposing voices. Often it can be out of fear. It may also be driven by an assumption that people who disagree with us have malicious intentions or are misinformed. Often neither are the case – people with different views have their own stories and their own sincere intentions.
We hope Framechange helps you broaden your knowledge and understanding, engage in more nuanced conversations, and evolve your thinking along the way.
How we do it
Each week, we send you a newsletter summarizing viewpoints from multiple sides of a current issue to help you better understand it and form a viewpoint of your own. We deeply research each topic with consideration of existing perspectives expressed by everyday citizens, politicians, academics, industry leaders, and other experts from across the spectrum.
We write each viewpoint from the perspective of the individual(s) expressing it, taking on their hypothetical voice and summarizing where possible for digestibility. The viewpoints written are not those of Framechange.
We don’t rank or rate the viewpoints, nor claim any one viewpoint is factually bulletproof. We surface those that help paint a broad picture of the arguments and supporting points that are out there. And we always link to our sources.
How we decide what viewpoints to include: We aim to surface viewpoints that are commonly held, frequently cited, or represent a noteworthy minority perspective. The primary goal is to give you a highly informed sense of the topic – we don't aim to include every viewpoint that exists.
We’ll also frequently include supporting data cited by individuals possessing certain viewpoints. We don’t claim validity or accuracy of any linked data, but we do our best to filter for information that has some level of acceptance or support from multiple groups or experts. We do filter out hate speech, conspiracy theories, and apparent disinformation.
We aim for balance: That means representing multiple sides of an issue in as equal weight and depth as possible. You won’t see frequent use of the terms “left” vs. “right” on Framechange. We find it more informative to use specifics like “for” or “against,” given the high variability of viewpoints within and across the political spectrum.
You won’t always agree: That’s the point! We expect you to see viewpoints and support that you don’t agree with. We’re hoping this ultimately excites you.
We won’t always get things right: We may omit a viewpoint that you think we should have included or mischaracterize an argument. Let us know anywhere you think we missed the mark. We’ll always be transparent with corrections.
Format of each edition
Our current weekly edition has 5 sections. As we grow, we plan to experiment with different content formats and frequencies. Let us know what you think of the format and anything you’d like to see in the future.
- Context: Introduction to the topic, background, and implications.
- Notable viewpoints: The meat of the brief. Summary viewpoints are bolded and slotted under broader sections categorizing their position on the topic (e.g., “For…” or “Against…”). Each summary viewpoint has bullet points underneath it representing more specific viewpoints and support (e.g., statements, data, quotes) that align to it.
- From the source: Links to primary sources and other relevant data.
- Be heard: A call to action to share your own viewpoint with us and the community.
- #BTW: A fun song recommendation to tie things off. Let us know what you can’t get out of your head and we may feature it.
About the founder
I'm Eric Thompson. I started Framechange as a way to address the polarization and oversimplified thinking I was experiencing in interactions with friends, family, colleagues, strangers, and the media.
I love connecting people with information, particularly information that surprises them or helps them evolve their thinking. Before Framechange, I co-founded 6Pages, a market intelligence platform used by thousands of investors, business leaders, and students. I also spent 8+ years in management consulting and research, running several publications focused on tech and business trends.
I’m applying my research rigor and passion for informing to make Framechange the most valuable product possible for you. My sole focus is to bring you a fair, balanced, and digestible summary of multiple perspectives in one place. I’m far more interested in bringing you information that will help you shape your own thinking than I am in touting my own viewpoints (which evolve frequently).