Welcome to Ask a Journalist! Each month this school year, we’re hosting a discussion about a teen-friendly topic with a New York Times journalist who covers it.
In February, we invite you to talk with Shivani Gonzalez about reporting on TV shows and cultural trends. Here’s how to participate:
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Weeks 1-2 (Feb. 1-15): Explore the topic on your own and with other students by reading one or more of the articles below and discussing them in class.
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By Feb. 15: Post your thoughts and questions for Ms. Gonzalez and for other students in the comments section of this post. (You can access that by clicking on the conversation icon under the headline at the top of this page.)
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Week 3 (Feb. 16-22): Ms. Gonzalez will respond to many student comments, and you’ll receive an email letting you know if yours is one of them. Learning Network staff members will also post a final reflection question.
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Week 4 (Feb. 23-28): Come back to the conversation to read Ms. Gonzalez’s responses and to reflect on what you learned. By the final day of the month, Learning Network staff will call out some favorite student conversations and reflections.
Meet Our Journalist
Shivani Gonzalez is a senior news assistant in the Arts section at The New York Times.
She writes a weekly TV column that outlines notable new or returning shows on cable and streaming. She also reports on reality TV and contributes to awards show coverage and other culture reporting.
Ms. Gonzalez grew up in upstate New York and had her first byline in her local small town newspaper at 14.
You can learn more about her background and read her work here.
Explore This Month’s Topic: TV Shows and Cultural Trends
How do you decide what to watch, read, play, or listen to? Where do you go for recommendations?
With so many shows, movies, songs, video games and more available these days, it can be overwhelming to figure out what’s worth your time and what isn’t. The job of arts reporters like Ms. Gonzalez is to help people cut through the noise and find something they’ll really love. Ms. Gonzalez also looks at the wider culture to understand what viewers are watching and why.
In our related “My List” contest, we’re inviting students to do the same about any category of expression The Times covers. If you’re participating, we hope you’ll take something away from this conversation you can use in your own curating and writing.
Before you talk to Ms. Gonzalez, read one or more of the following pieces to understand her work better. As you go, you might annotate with your questions and comments.
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‘Bridgerton,’ Plus 5 Things to Watch on TV This Week (January 2026)
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On ‘Late Night,’ in the Club and at the Gym: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Is Everywhere (January 2026)
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‘The End of an Era,’ and 7 Other Things to Watch on TV This Week (December 2025)
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Why ‘Gilmore Girls’ Became a Fall Tradition (October 2025)
Post a Comment
Now, share your thoughts and questions in the comments:
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Introduce yourself. Share anything that feels both comfortable for you and relevant to the discussion, such as your first name, general location, grade, background, interests or anything else.
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Tell us what you think. What stood out to you in the articles you read? What challenged you? What connections did you make? What do you think is missing from the conversation around this topic? What do you want the journalist to know about a teen’s perspective on the subject?
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Ask a question. Ask the journalist about the article you read or about the topic or her work in general. (Not sure what to ask? Check out this list of more than 20 ideas — but don’t feel that you have to stick to them!)
Post your comments and questions by the end of the day on Sunday, Feb. 15. Ms. Gonzalez will respond from Feb. 16-22. Be sure to check your email to see if she has replied to you!
Reflect on the Conversation
Come back to read Ms. Gonzalez’s responses and answer our reflection questions, which we’ll post here on Feb. 23. By the final day of the month, Learning Network staff will call out its favorite student reflections.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
Are you a teacher or student who has feedback on this new feature or would like to suggest a Times piece for future discussion? Please post a comment here.
The post Ask a Journalist: Reporting on TV Shows and Cultural Trends appeared first on New York Times.
