The Columnist's Virgin

August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, used to be a quiet day for media, with newspapers often publishing photos of deserted cities like Barcelona. This tradition, once mirrored by television, portrayed capitals as being on vacation. In the 21st century, however, the news cycle never rests. Wars, earthquakes, festivals, fires, eclipses, migration crises, and sporting events now fill this day, defying the old tradition. Moreover, the significant influx of tourists makes capturing an image of a deserted city impossible.

For the journalist on duty, it's a peculiar day. To facilitate staff rotation, a columnist might need to finalize their piece in advance, knowing they may have to rewrite it if a last-minute crisis erupts. The dilemma then becomes what to write about. Common recourse includes discussing 'atemporal' topics like gazpacho, siestas, or the heat. More recently, columnists have resorted to 'profaning Wikipedia' by reviewing lists of historical anniversaries, such as the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, to write about his legacy in pop culture.

Reviewing this survival kit, a desperate columnist might notice the wide variety of world and national days celebrated on August 15th. India and both Koreas celebrate Independence Day, Costa Rica observes Mother's Day, and Mexico marks Women Footballer's Day. There's also World Relaxation Day and Homeless Dogs Day. The question arises whether these ingredients are sufficient to make the reader feel minimally engaged, or if the strategy appears as a typical ploy by writers aware that August 15th is a difficult day for content creation.

The author humbly recommends that columnists avoid this path. They argue that contributing to the use of trivial 'world days' as filler provides readers with valid reasons to question their subscription renewals. The article suggests that a more substantive approach is needed to keep readers engaged on a day traditionally marked by its quietude.