About ‘NewsMom’

Julie Watts • Founder • NewsMom.com

UPDATE 2019: For years I’ve been investigating the topics and products that most parents would investigate themselves… if they weren’t so busy raising kids.

From car seats to cell phone radiation to child ID theft, it’s been my job to examine product claims and trends, and to scrutinizes the seemingly endless stream of “new studies.”

As a consumer-investigative reporter, my watchdog investigations have prompted recalls, federal investigations and new legislation to protect consumers. They have also shaped the way I raise my own kids. For more about me, see @JulieWattsTV or www.JulieWatts.com

I originally created NewsMom as an outlet to share the parenting life lessons that I was learning while using my investigative research skills “off the clock” as a mom. But NewsMom quickly expanded to become an outlet for me and my fellow news reporter friends to share links to our relevant published research & reports – with an audience of parents that we wouldn’t otherwise reach.

Newsmom has been a transparent and unbiased resource for parents to access “real news” and research since before “fake news” was a thing. We’ve been dedicated to protecting families, keeping companies honest and motivating people in power to ‘do the right thing’. We are not “influencers” or “brand ambassadors.” We are  journalists and parents sharing links to relevant news and research (often our own) with a community of parents that “likes to know stuff.”

@NEWSMOMDOTCOM 2.0

But now I’m taking a bit of a break from posting original content on this website and turning my attention to social media… because that’s is where you are anyway… and because I just had my second kid so… time. 🙂

I’ll still be investigating the topics you’d investigate if you had the time and sharing real news and research that matter to parents.

In addition to @NewsMomDocCom on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & Pinterest… We just launched a #NewsMom News Facebook group!

Join the #NewsMom News Facebook group!

The goal is to build a community of parents who are looking for more than just blogs and viral videos. We’ll be posting and discussing real news & research for parents, that is curated by parents who also happen to be journalists.

About NewsMom.Com (crica 2015)

Journalists tend to ask questions that others might not. We also have a professional (and ethical) obligation to investigate both sides of any story. So you can imagine my frustration as a first-time mom when I set out to prepare for my baby in the same way I would an investigation.

In a world of pay-for-play mommy blogs and messaging boards, my searches were saturated with “influencers” and “brand ambassadors” who were paid by the companies they covered. Sure, there’s a place for that, but I wanted unbiased, independent, multi-sourced content on topics related to parenting.

As a Consumer-Investigative Reporter, my beat includes technology, health, safety, scams, warnings, travel, pocketbook issues and much more. Suddenly, my professional research & resources had a more direct impact on my personal life, and many of my fellow #NewsMoms and Dads describe a similar transition.

#NewsMom: A mom who works in news and uses the skills and resources she’s developed as a journalist to research, prepare for and aid in her parenting.

As #NewsMoms (& Dads), we often instinctively share our research with friends and family, but we rarely get to publish or broadcast all that we’ve learned.

Similarly, the relevant parenting information that does make it into our publish professional reports is generally only accessible to those who happen to catch our broadcasts or stumble on to our station websites.

Enter NewsMom.com.

Parenting News, Reviews & Research By “Real Reporters” Who Are Moms & Dads

#NewsMom is an outlet for journalists to share links to their relevant research and reports with an audience of parents that they wouldn’t otherwise reach.

Maybe more importantly in this era of “Fake News”, #NewsMom is a resource for parents to access trustworthy news and information that is relevant to them.

#NewsMomNews

#NewsMomNews is a compilation of investigations and headlines that are relevant to parents.

“Reporters’ Notebook” features include links to published stories along with additional commentary, anecdotes or useful information from the rerpoter that was left out of the original report.

Under “Interesting Headlines” we share a variety of other relevant news and information that we’re reading, talking about or reporting on.

#NewsMomFeatures

#NewsMomFeatures include a combination of original editorials, blogs and reviews that are intended to help parents better investigate various topics and products on their own.

NewsMom Editorials are in-depth original reports that may include opinions and personal anecdotes in addition to investigative research. Contributors often share how their professional research and reporting has impacted their parenting. In some cases, the original research for features later lead to news stories elsewhere.

NewsMom Blogs & Reviews (aka The Lighter Side) include personal anecdotes about real-life experiences with popular products, apps and services. They are not endorsements (paid or otherwise) and they are never “sponsored.” These features may also include parenting tips, tricks, mom hacks and fun ideas.

As moms and dads, we have an intimate knowledge of the issues facing parents.

As journalists, we have an ethical obligation to remain independent and transparent. Our day jobs require that we avoid conflicts of interest and preclude us from accepting money for coverage.

#NewsMoms & Dads are not “influencers” or “brand ambassadors.” We are journalists, sharing our investigative stories, instincts and research skills with other parents.

PLEASE NOTE: What’s right for each #NewsMom contributor may not be right for your family. 

This content is not meant to offer “advice” on any aspect of parenting. It is simply meant to provide information and resources so that each parent can make better-educated decisions for his or her family.

Reviews are not endorsements (paid or otherwise)—they are simply anecdotes about real-life experiences. NewsMom contributors are asked to disclose any personal connection they may have to any product or company they reference.

The views and opinions of #NewsMom contributors are not necessarily those of the news organizations that they work for or of NewsMom.com.

NewsMom is not affiliated with any network or news organization who may employ NewsMom contributors. NewsMom does not accept advertising, sponsors or donations.

Julie Watts
Julie is the consumer-investigative reporter for CBS in San Francisco. Her reports air nationally on CBS stations across the coun ...Read More