diff --git a/.bashrc b/.bashrc
index 744e0a4..a65c9e6 100644
--- a/.bashrc
+++ b/.bashrc
@@ -119,3 +119,5 @@ fi
 # set EDITOR just in case
 export EDITOR=nano
 
+# set TIN_SPOOLDIR so that tin can read from the news spool
+export TIN_SPOOLDIR=/var/spool/news/articles/