- The Appeasers
- Bluesky and Twitter
- Trump’s FCC Pick
- The Big Spinoff
- The Promise of IndyMedia
- What AI Can’t Do for Democracy
- Zombie Apocalypse
- You Deserve a Better Browser Than Google Chrome
- A Dismal Time for Political Films
- AI-Driven Job Cuts and Restructuring
By Mary L. Trump
The Good in Us
In the weeks since the election, we’ve begun to see just how far the corporate-owned media will go to appease the man who, on an almost daily basis for nine years, has maligned the profession of journalism and put individual journalists in danger.
By Amanda Silberling, Cody Corrall and Alyssa Stringer
TechCrunch
As of November 2024, Bluesky has surpassed 20 million users. Bluesky saw a big boost following the results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election (which also contributed to an X exodus by Taylor Swift fans). But while the number is promising, the network has a lot of catching up to do to compete with Threads’ 275 million monthly active users.
Brendan Carr, who wrote the chapter on the FCC in the conservative blueprint Project 2025, signaled that it won’t be business-as-usual at the country’s communications regulatory agency. Past chairs of the agency, both Republicans and Democrats, have emphasized broadband internet deployment and wireless spectrum policy. Carr didn’t mention those issues when announcing policy priorities.
By Alex Weprin
The Hollywood Reporter
Comcast will officially move forward with a proposed split, which will see MSNBC, CNBC, E!, Syfy, USA, Oxygen, Golf Channel, Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes spun out into their own company, which will be led by Mark Lazarus. What happens after the split is complete could reshape the channels — and the TV industry as a whole.
By Feven Merid
Columbia Journalism Review
From the start, IndyMedia was a collaborative endeavor. “Don’t hate the media, be the media,” its slogan went. Each local center was scrappy and self-run, which applied to all manner of editorial, staffing, and funding decisions. Early on, the work was done entirely on a volunteer basis; later, through donations and ad sales, some centers found the means to pay contributors.
What AI Can’t Do for Democracy
By Daniel Berliner
Boston Review
For some types of learning, applications of AI can make major contributions to enhance the efficiency and efficacy of information processing. For others, there is no getting around the fundamental needs for human attention and context-specific knowledge in order to adequately make sense of public voices. We need to better understand these differences.
By Rebecca Solnit
The Guardian
A population numbed, dazed, present-but-not-present – had it happened overnight it would be a sci-fi horror movie. And if you looked up from your phone for long enough, you might notice it’s started already…
You Deserve a Better Browser Than Google Chrome
By Adam Clark Estes
Vox
There are a lot of Google services that are hard to quit, especially Google’s ubiquitous search and, if you’re not an iPhone person, Android phones as your default option. But Chrome? It’s historically bad at privacy, and it’s hardly the best browser. So why wait for a judge to decide, when you can quit Chrome now and lessen Google’s stranglehold on your digital life?
A Dismal Time for Political Films
By Eileen Jones
Jacobin
There does seem to be a general sense that the American film industry is more averse to making political films than ever. Many studios fear a MAGA-led backlash to movies perceived as too “woke,” which can include anything from having a diverse cast to the mere mention of the LGBTQ+ community.
AI-Driven Job Cuts and Restructuring
By Brian Buntz
R and D World
OpenAI is pivoting from its nonprofit roots toward a for-profit model valued at $80 billion. Hardware giants like Intel and AMD are slashing traditional roles while pouring billions into AI chip development. Here’s a breakdown of select examples of AI has reshaped different sectors in 2023 and 2024, from biotechnology to media.
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