Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Anna Barth
10 Things to do in Chicago this week as October comes to a close
Haunted Halsted Halloween Fest & Parade 7 p.m.|Saturday, Oct. 31 Halsted St. between Aldine Ave. and Addison Ave. Halsted is hosting its annual Halloween parade for the 30th year! Show up in costume and experience live performances, food and drinks, local vendors and more. Streeterville Dog Halloween Party 9–11 a.m.|Saturday, Oct. 31 Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago All are welcome at the annual Streeterville Dog (and Cat) Halloween Costume Party and Parade.
DePaul student leads new team in suicide prevention walk
Lucy Thibault hated running errands growing up. She said every Sunday, her dad would bring her along to the hardware store, the grocery store and anywhere else that fails to incite a child’s excitement. Her dad would hear endless complaints as they traveled from one mundane place to the next. Yet, Sundays were her favorite. “There was always a promise of a treat in the end,” she said. That promise made the hours of boredom worth it.
DePaulia Crossword: Sept. 28, 2026
Support Student Journalism! The DePaulia is DePaul University’s award-winning, editorially independent student newspaper. Since 1923, student journalists have produced high-quality, on-the-ground reporting that informs our campus and city. We rely on reader support to keep doing what we do. Donations are tax deductible through DePaul's giving page.
Punk’s not dead DeJamz
It’s time to scream and shout as we enter a new political season. September 28, 2026 There’s one thing to be sure of: Punk is political. More than just pure pandemonium, punk embodies a mentality that rejects conformance. Punk is a reaction. To be punk is to scream out loud, to cause as much noise as possible. Noise that demands change, noise that demands justice and noise that demands liberation.
Dogs - A woman’s best friend
Lucy plops herself onto the sidewalk and refuses to move. We are a block away from our house. This is her form of protest. She is a 5-year-old golden doodle — too big for me to pick up and carry home, and while she has done this to me before, it never fails to annoy me. This time is no different. I tug at the leash, but she does not budge. Instead, she lets me drag her over to the grass. One of my neighbors has her friends over on her porch. They see my situation and ask if I need help.
Even with diplomas in hand, dream jobs may be out of reach for me and other graduates
When I was a little kid, my dream job was to be a superhero. It wasn’t because of the cape or the superpowers, but because superheroes always seemed to have a calling. They woke up every day knowing exactly who they were and what they were meant to do. As a senior at DePaul graduating this year, my definition of what a dream job looks like no longer involves spandex. I want to be a public interest lawyer, mostly because I feel like I can use my mind to help people, a different superpower.
Chicago residents grapple with rising utility costs
Peoples Gas seeks $202 million rate increase as aging pipes are replaced, raising questions about affordability alternatives. As monthly utility bills climb, many Chicago residents say they are feeling pressed on all sides. This year, major providers including Peoples Gas, Nicor Gas and Illinois American Water have filed rate increase requests that could further raise the cost of essential services.
Tracking apps should be used to connect us, not rank us
For many, hobbies are no longer interesting enough on their own. The books people read need to be shared. The routes they run are posted. Tracking apps have transformed self-reflection into self-comparison. Apps like Strava, NikePlus and MyFitnessPal focus on fitness, but the desire to track personal experiences goes beyond fitness. Apps like Letterboxd and GoodReads allow users to track and share books and movies that they have watched with friends.
You can bet on anything now, and that’s a problem
In 2018, the U.S. began allowing citizens to legally bet their hard-earned money on sports games on a state-by-state basis.Now in 2026, we have the ability to “invest” in prediction markets, which means you can bet on just about anything, even if it’s not legally considered gambling.These so-called investments include “Democratic presidential nominee 2028,” “Will the U.S. invade Iran before 2027?” or even “Hantavirus pandemic 2026?”Unlike traditional sports betting platforms such as FanDuel...
Does age matter?
After sitting through all eight episodes of Netflix’s “Age of Attraction,” I couldn’t help but feel entertained, confused and ultimately riddled with cringe. Hosted by Nick Viall and Natalie Joy, “Age of Attraction” places 40 singles, ages 22 to 60, in a secluded retreat to mingle and date. They omit one central piece of information: their age.
Why not for the plot?
Everyone is the main character in their own life, with different motivations, conflicts, and turning points. Each year is a new season and every decision becomes part of the plot. The people we meet, the risks we take, the opportunities that come our way, and even the mistakes we regret all shape our character development over time.
Politicians can’t put me in a box
The midterm race is pressuring both parties to win seats in Congress. The Trump administration is worried about the Republican Party losing both the House and the Senate, leading the president to urge states like Mississippi and Tennessee to redraw voting lines. Virginia and California have responded by voting on new districts that would create more Democratic seats. This has caused an uproar from both sides. Is any of it fair?
The cost of staying awake
If you look around any classroom on DePaul’s Lincoln Park or Loop campus, chances are you will see at least one student with an energy drink sitting on their desk. Fruit flavored and stimulating, these caffeinated drinks are convenient and affordable. But that easy access can lead to a road of dangerous side effects. I am no stranger to them. After multivitamins, energy drinks are the most consumed dietary supplement for young people.
When aren’t you being watched?
Shortly before I entered high school, a male student was caught taking photos up the skirts of girls at school. While school officials took action to prevent other occurrences, I still did not feel entirely secure in a community that was supposed to keep me safe. Even now, years later, the thought is always in the back of my mind. For many women, this is nothing new.
Chicago Spring DeJamz
Soundtracking the in-between season. May 4, 2026 There’s no denying spring is a time of deeply felt change. After months of cold, harsh winter, the sun begins to peek through and subtly bring warmth back into our lives. Here in Chicago, we face extreme whiplash, tormented with heavy rain and precarious winds after days of seemingly summery weather. Though disorienting, I appreciate the moments of reflection this change provides.
Social media is threatening humanity
We have all heard the classic “desert island” prompt: If you were stranded on a deserted island by yourself, what is the one item you would bring with you? A weapon? Fire starter? Maybe a companion? Or, the more common answer: your phone? Would you rather be entertained or rational? This choice illuminates where our society is headed, or maybe we’ve already arrived. DePaul professor Peter Forster says rationality is fundamental to democracy.
Cancel culture doesn’t affect the powerful
We like to think cancel culture holds people accountable, but somewhere along the way, canceling became less about consequences and more about giving people something to talk about. For people with money, fame or influence, this so-called consequence rarely does lasting damage. In fact, cancel culture often acts as free publicity, making it more performative than punitive for the powerful. We’ve all seen powerful people in headlines, getting bad press for something they said or did.
Dodging the algorithm
Do you ever catch yourself using TikTok lingo in real life? Phrases like “it’s giving,” “NPC” or softened words like “unalive” have quietly moved beyond comment sections and into everyday conversation. Like many Generation Z users, I’ve caught myself using “algospeak” without even realizing it. Algospeak combines the words “algorithm” and “speak.” It refers to coded language, euphemisms and intentional misspellings by social media users to bypass automated content moderation.
Is ‘looksmaxxing’ just another fad - or a warning?
A new self-help trend called “looksmaxxing” has taken over social media feeds, encouraging experimental tactics for often isolated young men to improve their looks and physique and raise their social status. Looksmaxxing has been around fringe and involuntarily celibate communities and forums, known as the “manosphere,” since the mid-2010s. It began to spread across social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram in the early 2020s, and became a serious trend in 2022 and 2023.
Cannabis gets a rebrand, but who is it really for?
Cannabis didn’t just become legal. It became a brand. What was once stigmatized is now packaged into skincare, infused into drinks and marketed as part of a wellness routine. That shift didn’t happen overnight, and it’s not just about legalization. It’s about narrative. For years, cannabis was defined through stigma, especially during the War on Drugs that started in the 1970s. The movement’s messaging shaped how people understood both the substance and the people associated with it.
Weed restrictions suppress college experience
We’ve all smelled cannabis on campus before. Even though adults over 21 have been able to legally use it in Chicago since 2020, DePaul must follow the federal Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Communities Act, which prohibits medical and recreational cannabis anywhere on campus. Medical users should be able to use cannabis on campus without fear. But where do recreational users fit into this? Some students say they have been able to use it recreationally on campus without backlash.
Getting over gatekeeping
My mom loves to tell the story of the time she saw Green Day play at the Metro in the early ‘90s. It was her freshman year of college and they were just a little band in town. Now that they’re the Green Day who opened the Super Bowl and headlined Lollapalooza, my mom wears that as a point of pride.
Stop deflecting compliments
We all have days where we wake up not feeling the best. You sleep through your alarm, your hair is a mess, you’re wearing mismatched socks, you miss the train, and after all that you realize you left your water bottle on the counter at home. But then, you walk into class and someone compliments your hair — the same hair you thought looked awful. Or they say they like the sweater that you threw on in a rush and didn’t look twice at.
Beyond the Label: The truth about Gen Z’s partying scene
When was the last time you went to a party? Young people have decided to opt into different forms and habits of partying, which has led older generations to claim that Gen Z is the generation that doesn’t party enough, but this is not entirely true. Partying is still alive with young people. A USA Today article makes the claim that this generation has become “lonely and antisocial” due to minimal drinking and an absence in social gatherings.
COLUMN: Go on a study abroad - it will probably change your life
Last spring break, I traveled to the Dominican Republic for a 10 day trip — one of the short-term programs for people like me who are too anxious to leave everything they know for a whole quarter. It was my first time leaving the country and I was terrified, but ready to go. My father spent his 62 years of life in Milwaukee. He was a creature of habit and knew what he liked, something I always admired about him.
‘Oma’s house,’: Ramadan far from home
Ramadan is here, greeting me with a rather odd feeling. It’s a privilege to be able to experience another Ramadan, strengthening my beliefs and Muslim faith. Ramadan is Islam’s holy month, where people fast daily from dawn to sunset. It should be easy for me to do that, since I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember. I fasted as a kid in Indonesia. Now I will fast as an adult. But this Ramadan will be harder for me. I am still unsure if it’s a good kind of challenge or a bad one.
From Classroom to Curtain
“Everyone say misery!” “Misery!” But the cast of Blue Demon Theatre’s “The Addams Family” is anything but. Grinning for the camera, the cast captures a moment of joy that belies the words they just shouted, a reminder that even in a show about the macabre, fun is never far behind. The house lights flicker. Fingers snap in rhythm. The familiar Addams family theme fills the room. But tonight, there is no audience. After six weeks of rehearsal, the company is on its final run before the March 1 premiere.
Obsession is the enemy of our health
Unhealthy obsession with our bodies has been a common trend online, but the new star of the show is the harmful focus on the purity of the foods we consume, with many crossing the line of how extreme they can be with their health. This fixation has been circulating on social media and increasingly in public policy discussions.
The weight of the internship hunt
Dozens of applications. Weeks of waiting. One response. For many DePaul students, the internship search is defined less by rejection and more by silence. By the time senior Linnah Stevens had submitted around 30 applications, the process had started to feel routine. Open the job board. Adjust the resume. Rewrite the cover letter. Submit. Repeat. Then wait. “I feel like I was applying and just not even hearing a rejection,” said Stevens, a public relations and advertising student.
Column: Taking up space in PR
Growing up, public relations was something I’d heard all over the media in every entertainment news cycle and celebrity scandal. Whenever a celebrity slipped up in the public eye, commentators would declare how they could’ve “managed their PR better.” I never knew what PR meant or that it was a legitimate career that I could pursue. PR felt unattainable because I had the idea that you had to be a certain type of person to work in that field. In many ways, PR is still exclusive and inaccessible.
Media on Black history, culture and experiences
“Sinners” I remember the first time my mom and I agreed on a movie for our monthly mother-daughter night. I like horror and gothic movies, while my mom likes romance and drama. But we settled on “Sinners.” “Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler, is a Southern supernatural horror film and a fantastic watch. The story grabbed my mom’s and my attention quickly, making us feel like we were transported into that world. Ryan Coogler arrives at the DGA Awards on Saturday, Feb.
How to avoid being bitter this Valentine’s Day
I remember seeing a couple kissing on a street corner one summer night, and I had a bodily reaction of disgust. I was disgusted by how in love they looked. I was disgusted that their moment used to be my moment with someone I now wish I had never met. This is the first Valentine’s Day I’ll be single in seven years. Seven years. Breakups are hard, but spending the day of romance alone is harder. At least I thought it was.
Harry Styles is returning to the music industry
As a longtime Harry Styles fan and someone who is fascinated by album cycles, I’ve known for some time that Styles was on the brink of something big. Having taken a near four-year break from releasing recorded music and a near three-year break from a strenuous tour schedule, it is no surprise that the “Fine Line” artist needed to give the public something. On Jan. 13, 2026, as the temperature in Chicago rested uncomfortably below freezing, there he was: virtually, at least.
‘The ick’: Knowing your worth, or just an excuse?
As someone who has been single for the better part of two years, I’ve developed several “icks” when it comes to dating. If someone doesn’t fit the image that I make up in my mind, or says something that makes my head tilt, it’s an immediate “no.” “It’s visceral and automatic, more a reaction in the body than a rational thought,” Naomi Bernstein, a clinical psychologist in Dallas, explained to TIME magazine.
Why Valentine’s grams should make a comeback
Valentine’s Day is creeping up on us. For some that means romantic dates with their partner, and for others it means trying to find an activity to participate in so they don’t feel as lonely. The day of love and affection does not need to revolve solely around couples or fancy dinners with roses. It can revolve around friends and the love you share with them. What better way to express gratitude and love to your friends than bringing back the age-old tradition of Valentine’s Day grams?
Pet cloning preys on loss, raising ethical red flags
Not too long ago, cloning a beloved pet sounded like science fiction. However, we’re now in an era where the possibility of pet cloning is rising and it reflects not the progression of science, but human discomfort with grief and a willingness to ignore it. Grief is unavoidable for pet owners. It’s the price that comes with love. Pet cloning offers an illusion of escape, which is a delay to loss rather than a confrontation of it.
2026’s obsession with 2016
As the new year began, comparisons between 2026 and 2016 have quickly gained traction. Some people point out commonalities, while others reminisce on what they believe to be the “last good year.” But what is really driving this nostalgia? I believe this fixation stems from a need to create a sense of optimism in what feels like a trend of social, political and cultural repression.
AI friends won’t solve our loneliness epidemic
“I’ll never bail on our dinner plans.” “I’ll never leave dirty dishes in the sink.” “I’ll brave the cold with you.” These statements plastered on Friend.com advertisements insinuate that artificial intelligence can replace human companionship. The concept dangerously suggests that social connection from a person isn’t needed anymore.
Going offline is becoming the new online trend
In the past 10 years, the internet has deteriorated from a shiny new accessory that has all the answers to being the thing with the ability to destroy us all. Online spaces have become the breeding grounds for hostile dialogue, overconsumption, anxiety and so much more.Many of us continue to take part because it keeps us connected to everything — friends, news and even the best dinner spots in Chicago.
We need to stop crushing our whimsy
If you ask anyone who knows me, they will tell you that I love chocolate. Of course, this naturally extends to a love of chocolate milk. I have been known to add chocolate milk to my tea in the morning. Disgusting, I know. But, back to the point: chocolate milk. It’s delicious, questionably nutritious and makes me feel like I am connecting with my inner child and making her happy. It’s whimsical and silly. But there is a weird shame I feel whenever I want to order chocolate milk in public.
Gen Z’s desire for an unknown time
Every generation is inspired by the years that came before them. As such, many teenagers and young adults feel nostalgic for previous decades they never experienced but often feel more connected to than the current year. Although this phenomenon is traceable through history, its effect on Gen Z is rapidly evolving due to the accessibility and homogenization of social media, fueling their interest in the past despite idolizing eras before its existence.
Why does an unfollow mean so much?
Social media has given us, as a society, the ability to dictate our lives and relationships with one another. Think about it: a like, comment, follow, share or repost holds real significance. When two people stop following each other, we don’t ask what happened — we just assume something did. Even something as simple as a Snapchat snap score comes loaded with assumptions, shaping how we perceive someone’s social life or intentions. And the videos we repost?
Why are women choosing to be tradwives?
Tradwives, short for traditional wives, are back. As conservative beliefs gain traction in voting trends and media discourse, so too has the expectation of women as homemakers. Men appear to be driving some of this resurgence. According to Views of the Electorate Research Survey, from 2022 to 2024, the percentage of Republican males who believe women should return to traditional gender roles rose from 28% to 48%.
‘Wicked’ has a way of finding me again, just when I need it most
I have never really been into the colors pink and green, but these colors together always make sense in my mind. Seeing these colors floods me with memories and emotions of a piece of media that has certainly changed my life. On Jan. 3, 2018, I saw “Wicked” for the first time when it arrived in Chicago on tour. I had seen it once before when I was younger, but all I could remember was the Wizard of Oz’s ginormous, scary animatronic head.
Queer stories go mainstream in ‘Heated Rivalry’
Shows like “Heated Rivalry” don’t need an introduction. Even if you haven’t watched it, chances are you’ve heard about it through TikTok edits, group chats or maybe someone insisting you “just give it one episode.” The show has quickly flowed into everyday conversation, and that kind of cultural presence matters, especially when the story at the center is queer. What makes “Heated Rivalry” stand out isn’t just that it tells a queer love story.
What six weeks off really feels like
As the calendar flips from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, DePaul students finally get a moment to breathe: winter break. On paper, it’s a generous stretch of time. Six weeks to decompress, travel or just do nothing. While it sounds perfect, having that much free time has its own challenges. At a certain point, winter break stops feeling like a break and starts feeling like wasted time. Instead of being restorative, the extra time can feel unproductive, like days are passing without much purpose.
Column: Self-reflection versus society’s labels
“To be cringe is to be free.” This newly-born motto is how many young people decide to live their life. But cringe culture isn’t the problem — it’s the perception of ourselves that holds us back. Cringe is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “causing feelings of acute embarrassment or awkwardness; that makes one cringe; cringeworthy.” The term has become common among younger generations, reflecting a growing focus on our public image.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Anna
Contact Anna, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack