Holiday Gift Guide for the ACN Member

December 9, 2025
By Bill Spiegel, Byline Editor

Over the years, I’ve prided myself on limiting the amount of stuff I carry. I used the same camera bag for three decades, have just one camera body and two lenses, still use a Reporter’s Notebook, and swipe as many BicClic ballpoint pens as possible at trade shows. 

But still, I sometimes want stuff that can either make my life easier or at least give the impression that I know what I’m doing. In the spirit of the season, here’s a list of needs and wants for the ACN Member in this year’s Holiday Gift Guide. 

  1. Apple Air Tags. $99 for 4, Target. If you fly or take public transportation, Air Tags are a good investment. Use one to track your photography kit; another for your luggage. Air Tags are Bluetooth connected; if a device containing an Air Tag is lost, it connects automatically to Apple devices around the world. They work seamlessly if you have an iPhone. If you use Android devices, Wirecutter recommends Motorola’s Moto Tags, 4 for $99 on Amazon. 
  2. Portage Reporter’s Notebooks. $19.50 for 1 dozen, Portage. Talk about a rabbit hole. I inherited a pack of Stationer’s Reporter’s Notebooks from my wife’s uncle, a longtime reporter for the Topeka Capital Journal. They are outstanding – durable, easy to write on, a well-designed coil at the top. Stationer’s was the gold standard of reporter’s notebooks, but shut down in 2021 after owner Tom Edwards died. According to this article, journalist Nic Garcia began to sell notebooks very similar to the iconic Stationer’s: thick goldenrod cover, 60 pages inside. Like film cameras and microcassette recorders, however, the notebook was a thing of the past and Garcia’s company, First Draft, closed after a few years in business. But Portage, thank goodness, still sells a Reporter’s Notebook; you can get them directly from Portage. And even if you don’t use them for vigorous note-taking, you’re missing out if you don’t jot a few notes during each interview – or, just use ‘em for making lists. 
  3. Levenger Luxe Notebook, $49.50, levenger.com. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t want to have a reporter’s notebook half-filled with interview notes in one of about a dozen places in your camera bag/office/vehicle/briefcase, try the Luxe Notebook. It features 192-pages of wood-free paper, a leather cover, sewn-in pages (although there is a version with a ring binder), ribbon bookmark and pockets to store receipts, notes and business cards. The 7.5-inch X 10.5-inch package is a handy size and looks nice. It can be personalized, for an extra charge. Levenger has a ton of different notebooks if the Luxe doesn’t completely scratch your writing itch. 
  4. Zoom H1 Recorder, $99.99, B&H. Last month, I wrote about losing audio files recorded directly to my phone. You can record to Temi, Rev or Otter if you choose, or go the backup route using a dedicated voice recorder. Zoom’s suite of recorders are robust, have long battery life and are intuitive…the H1 is a great option if you’re merely recording a conversation. With a removable mini SD card, you can transfer files easily. If you need audio for podcasts or video, or have multiple sources, opt for the H4essential four track or H6studio six track, for $200 and $400, respectively. 
  5. Pentel Energel ballpoint pens, $15.26 for 5 pens, Pentel.com. For my money, nothing beats a free pen. Trade show, hotel registration desk, restaurant server, church attendance registration book…I’m generally not picky about where I procure my writing apparatus. Bic’s Clic Stic is my gold standard, but if I’m feeling saucy, I may spring for the Pentel Energel, available online or at discount stores like Target and Wal-mart. The Energel comes with either 0.7mm or 0.5 mm tips, with an assortment of ink colors. Plus they have refill cartridges available. They are kind of expensive, but they last a good long while and feel good when you’re taking a lot of notes. Suitable for your paper of choice: reporter’s notebook, journal, calendar or spiral-bound notebook. 
  6. reMarkable Paper Pro move, $449, reMarkable.com. At the 2025 AG Media Summit in Rogers, Arkansas, I happened to sit at the same table with someone who had a reMarkable Paper Pro tablet, instead of taking notes on paper like me. I was intrigued. Essentially, the reMarkable uses a digital pen and interface very similar to a paper notebook, giving the “feel” of paper, but the convenience of a digital interface. It can convert your printed text to a typeface, integrate with productivity tools from Google, Microsoft and more, plus has a host of templates and collaboration tools. At 7.3 inches long, it is small enough to tote easily, and promises “distraction-free notetaking.” On Reddit, reviewers say it works well “…but has a ridiculous price.” I’d love to know if any ACN members are using one. 
  7. Peak Design Slide Lite camera strap, $69.95, peakdesign.com. A fellow ACN member told me a year ago that she waited way too long to buy an ergonomic camera strap. It makes sense: the straps that come with your camera are usually meh, and emblazoned with the brand of camera you shoot. They become a target for thieves. Digital Camera World reviewed camera straps last month, and the Peak Design Slide Lite won best overall, using their criteria of comfort, price, ease of use and durability. Peak has a unique “anchor” system to connect gear with strap. The strap can be used around the neck, as a sling, or shoulder configuration. 
  8. TSA Global Entry, $120, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. If you fly regularly, this is a must. Apply for $120 (non-refundable), and if approved, you get expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers for domestic and international flights. You’ll undergo a background check, but membership lasts five years, assuming you have no major violations. Don’t travel internationally? Enroll in TSA PreCheck for $85. You can start the process online, butyou  will have to complete the application at an Enrollment Center near you. 
  9. Anker Zolo Power Bank, $49.99, Amazon. A good power bank is essential for the on-the-go ag communicator, and this new model from Anker puts out enough energy to power your laptop computer (generally, 30 watts is needed; this cranks out 45 watts). Other features: 20,000 mAh, enough to charge an iPhone 17 3 times or a Samsung S25 Ultra up to 3 times, both with super-fast charging.
  10. Samsung T7 Shield 2 TB Hard Drive, $229.99, Amazon. When shooting copious amounts of photos, you’ll wanna hedge your bets and put those award-winning shots in a safe place. This unit has over 15,000 ratings on Amazon and averages 4.8 stars. With protection against dust, moisture and drops of just over 9-feet, it is durable enough to toss in your camera bag or briefcase, features super fast read and write speeds and is compatible with  PC, Mac, Android devices, gaming consoles and more. There are 1TB and 4TB models available, too. 

-Spiegel writes for JB Spiegel Inc.