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Wednesday, December 20, 2023
 | Everyone gets an AI agent“Today’s dominant online revenue model has consumers trading their attention for free content. This model can’t work if my AI agent’s priority is to defend my time.” By Javaun Moradi. |
 | We’ll build open systems to improve and monetize news“I predict that governments and the broader media development ecosystem will recognize the value in creating open systems to build viable alternatives to BigTech’s advertising, search, and social platforms.” By Ritvvij Parrikh. |
 | Missteps in Gaza coverage spur push for a global code of media ethics“Dehumanizing portrayals have long been a core feature of how the global press presents much of the world, especially communities in crisis and in the Global South.” By Patrick Gathara. |
 | Make journalism awards contingent on treatment of the marginalized“If you can demonstrate that you have actively attempted to address these issues, your applications for awards would receive consideration. If not, no awards for you.” By Letrell Deshan Crittenden. |
 | We navigate deep uncertainty with community“As much as it can feel like very little can be done, we all have agency to shape and define the futures we’d like to see.” By AX Mina. |
 | Journalism grapples with the promise and pitfalls of AI-assisted reporting“It’s the tools plus the perspective, the paradigm, and yes, the power — dangling the carrot of higher productivity alongside a stick woven with issues of ethics and job security.” By Joe Amditis. |
 | Behold, the journarator“So wait — what would we pay for our little bit of personalized journalism?” By Rishad Patel. |
 | Publishers wake up to serving younger audiences“All too often, publishers’ goal with media literacy programs is to train young audiences to like the news products those publishers already make, rather than adapt their products to evolving tastes.” By Jeremy Gilbert. |
 | The fence will be tested“Asking questions, knocking on doors, reporting on local news and newsmakers are all standard journalistic practices. Why, then, would anyone try to criminalize them? Because if the velociraptors taught us anything, it’s to keep throwing yourself at the fence — you never know when the electric grid may be shut off.” By Kirstin McCudden. |
 | A different sort of reckoning“Since Reconstruction, every major advancement this country has made toward justice, equality or equity has been met by virulent efforts to slow, reverse, or obliterate them.” By Keith Woods. |
 | The obsession with “trust” will end“Of course I don’t trust the news media collectively, or automatically. I trust some brands some of the time.” By Charlie Beckett. |
 | Mental health efforts become a globally connected movement“In the era of artificial intelligence, we need to invest in human intelligence, community, and compassion and unite forces to make journalism mentally healthier.” By Mar Cabra. |
 | Journalism investment comes to Los Angeles“If one newspaper is not enough in a county of a few hundred people, a handful of newspapers is unacceptable in a county of almost 10 million.” By Gabe Schneider. |
 | Journalism’s identity crisis intensifies, and decentralization ensues“While the West is lamenting handing over the reins of control of major systems of society to the whims of a few billionaires, countries like India are establishing digital public infrastructure that works at its enormous population scale.” By Kavya Sukumar. |
 | Capturing press releases for local media revenue“Because press releases are the trifecta of reputational, informational, and promotional, brands will pay to publish a press release as paid content.” By Nico Gendron. |
What We’re Reading
NPR / David Folkenflik
New Washington Post CEO accused of Murdoch tabloid hacking cover-up →
“A very different picture of [Will] Lewis emerges from material presented in London courtrooms in recent months and reviewed by NPR. The man picked to lead the Post — a paper with the slogan ‘Democracy Dies in Darkness’ — stands accused of helping to lead a massive cover-up of criminal activity when he was acting outside public view.”
Washington Post / Will Sommer
Former Dallas Morning News reporter alleges “culture of fear” in newsroom →
“The most pressing issue here is not my mistake,” [Miles] Moffeit wrote in an email to editors after his resignation. “It is the fact that The News’ managers succumbed to pressure from Dallas politicians who want to mask a corrupt criminal justice system.”
Local News Initiative / Rick Reger
Churning toward disaster →
Newly collected local news data shows “an ominous drop” in reader retention.
The Baltimore Banner / Liz Bowie
The Baltimore Banner names Bob Cohn as new CEO →
“Cohn, a journalist-turned-media-executive who was president of The Atlantic and now leads The Economist, has been named The Baltimore Banner’s new chief executive officer.”
Intelligencer / John Herrman
What do AI companies want with the media? →
“If OpenAI or its commercial clients have ambitions to automate the news — to, for example, feed an AI tool fresh reporting to contextualize, or wire stories to summarize — this deal [between OpenAI and Axel Springer] probably makes that prospect a little more plausible.”
the Guardian / Hibaq Farah
TikTok moderators are struggling to assess Israel-Gaza content →
“The allegations of the language button disappearing come as TikTok is reportedly preparing to launch a number of initiatives to tackle complaints over coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict on its platform.”
Axios / Kerry Flynn and Eleanor Hawkins
The Washington Post will avoid layoffs after meeting voluntary buyouts goal →
The Post’s union says more people than expected took buyouts. Managers “are attempting to bribe some colleagues to stay,” the Guild told members.
