Weekly digest

The five most read stories of the week, ranked, with an editor’s pick.

Subject line: The week’s most read: Why every company suddenly has an AI policy. Designed for The Margin, a fictional newsletters and media brand. Swap the logo, colors and images for yours. Replace each {{variable}} with your own value.

Ranked list

Large serif numerals beside square thumbnails, closed by a tinted editor’s pick with a signed note.

Leaderboard

Number one as a full-bleed hero, the rest with readership bars drawn in table cells, and a dark editor’s pick.

Variables

Variable	Example	Description
`logo_url`	https://assets.ui.sh/marks/1.svg?color=%23B5402A	Brand mark image URL.
`publication_name`	The Margin	Publication name shown in the masthead and footer.
`week_range`	September 18 to 24	Week covered by the digest.
`rank_1_url`	https://example.com/stories/top-1	Link to the story ranked 1.
`rank_1_image`	https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1485827404703-89b55fcc595e?w=300&h=300&fit=crop&q=80	Thumbnail of the story ranked 1.
`rank_1_title`	Why every company suddenly has an AI policy	Headline of the story ranked 1.
`rank_1_author`	Jules Marchetti	Author of the story ranked 1.
`rank_1_read_time`	9 min read	Reading time of the story ranked 1.
`rank_2_url`	https://example.com/stories/top-2	Link to the story ranked 2.
`rank_2_image`	https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1509391366360-2e959784a276?w=300&h=300&fit=crop&q=80	Thumbnail of the story ranked 2.
`rank_2_title`	Solar is cheap. Connecting it is not.	Headline of the story ranked 2.
`rank_2_author`	Sasha Lindqvist	Author of the story ranked 2.
`rank_2_read_time`	12 min read	Reading time of the story ranked 2.
`rank_3_url`	https://example.com/stories/top-3	Link to the story ranked 3.
`rank_3_image`	https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1507842217343-583bb7270b66?w=300&h=300&fit=crop&q=80	Thumbnail of the story ranked 3.
`rank_3_title`	The last independent bookshops are doing fine	Headline of the story ranked 3.
`rank_3_author`	Noa Brandt	Author of the story ranked 3.
`rank_3_read_time`	8 min read	Reading time of the story ranked 3.
`rank_4_url`	https://example.com/stories/top-4	Link to the story ranked 4.
`rank_4_image`	https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1477959858617-67f85cf4f1df?w=300&h=300&fit=crop&q=80	Thumbnail of the story ranked 4.
`rank_4_title`	What a four-day week did to one city’s downtown	Headline of the story ranked 4.
`rank_4_author`	Sam Adeyemi	Author of the story ranked 4.
`rank_4_read_time`	11 min read	Reading time of the story ranked 4.
`rank_5_url`	https://example.com/stories/top-5	Link to the story ranked 5.
`rank_5_image`	https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1524758631624-e2822e304c36?w=300&h=300&fit=crop&q=80	Thumbnail of the story ranked 5.
`rank_5_title`	Rethinking the open-plan office, again	Headline of the story ranked 5.
`rank_5_author`	Charlie Nakamura	Author of the story ranked 5.
`rank_5_read_time`	6 min read	Reading time of the story ranked 5.
`pick_url`	https://example.com/stories/dark-skies	Link to the editor’s pick.
`pick_image`	https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1519681393784-d120267933ba?w=1040&h=560&fit=crop&q=80	Photo of the editor’s pick.
`pick_title`	A night under the darkest skies in Europe	Headline of the editor’s pick.
`pick_dek`	In a valley with no streetlights for 40 miles, astronomers and shepherds share the same worry: the glow creeping over the ridge.	Standfirst of the editor’s pick.
`pick_author`	Noa Brandt	Author of the editor’s pick.
`pick_read_time`	18 min read	Reading time of the editor’s pick.
`editor_avatar`	https://assets.ui.sh/avatars/7.jpg	Portrait of the editor.
`editor_name`	Robin Okafor	Name of the editor who signs the note.
`pick_note`	It did not make the top five, and it should have. The best thing we published all month.	Why the editor picked the story.
`editor_role`	Editor in chief	Title of the editor.
`x_url`	https://x.com/example	Link to the X profile.
`assets_url`	/emails/social	Folder that hosts the social icons.
`instagram_url`	https://instagram.com/example	Link to the Instagram profile.
`facebook_url`	https://facebook.com/example	Link to the Facebook page.
`browser_url`	https://example.com/issues/214	Link to the web version of this email.
`preferences_url`	https://example.com/account/email	Link to the email preferences page.
`unsubscribe_url`	https://example.com/unsubscribe?token=8f2c1a	One-click unsubscribe link.
`company_address`	48 Wharf Street, Suite 3, Portland, ME 04101	Postal address required in commercial email.
`rank_1_cover`	https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1485827404703-89b55fcc595e?w=1200&h=640&fit=crop&q=80	Wide photo of the story ranked 1.
`rank_1_readers`	18,240	Readers this week for the story ranked 1.
`rank_2_readers`	13,110	Readers this week for the story ranked 2.
`rank_3_readers`	10,560	Readers this week for the story ranked 3.
`rank_4_readers`	7,480	Readers this week for the story ranked 4.
`rank_5_readers`	6,020	Readers this week for the story ranked 5.