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While I focus on Technology, Innovation, and Publishing, because I have a platform, I also flag items that I think are important, which you might have missed, and try to include a bunch of resources & opportunities. I’d love to hear what you think of this newsletter.

Important Items

Francis Howell (MO) school board votes to remove Black history, literature classes

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/francis-howell-school-board-votes-to-remove-black-history-literature-classes/article_ffd0d192-a049-11ee-9b41-eb47ef9cd237.html

A week after voting to remove them, Francis Howell School District announces it will keep Black studies electives

The announcement comes after students started a petition to ensure the classes were offered during the 2024–25 school year.

https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/education/francis-howell-school-district-black-history-literature-reinstate/63-001db64e-21bd-4ec3-bc25-99c0b4bca556

Research finds women ‘turn inward’ when they experience ambiguous workplace incidents

MT @amydiehl Why learning to recognize gender bias is crucial: In a study (N=2,000), women were likelier to speak up if they experienced overt discrimination. When the situation was ambiguous, the women turned inward, worked harder, and kept quiet.

https://phys.org/news/2023-12-women-ambiguous-workplace-incidents.html

Ontario accessibility in ‘crisis,’ says report quietly released by Ford government

RT @LauraB7 With a year left until Ontario is supposed to be fully accessible, the state of accessibility in the province is in “crisis,” a new report finds.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-aoda-4th-report-1.7062516

Solar and Wind to Top Coal Power in US for First Time in 2024

Some good news! Electricity generated from US solar and wind systems will surpass power produced by burning coal for the first time next year, driven by surging panel installations.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-12/solar-and-wind-to-top-coal-power-in-us-for-first-time-in-2024

Anyone who tests positive for Covid or flu in the US can get free telehealth + free treatment (including Paxlovid) from this NIH-funded program.

https://www.test2treat.org/s/?language=en_US

Innovation

The road ahead reaches a turning point in 2024

Here’s why I believe 2024 is an opportunity to shape the world’s next chapter for the better. By @billgates

https://www.gatesnotes.com/The-Year-Ahead-2024

Technology

How Publishers Can Navigate the AI Revolution

HT @jafurtado Despite the hype, publishing is still looking at what impact large language models and similar technology may bring. By @ThadMcIlroy

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/93963-how-publishers-can-navigate-the-ai-revolution.html

Media Moments Report 2023: Artificial Intelligence

HT @BoSacks While media companies have been using artificial intelligence to varying degrees for years, the widespread availability of generative AI tools has opened new avenues of opportunity for publishers. Whether it’s rewriting copy for social, using it for research, or even generating entire articles, publishers now have a wider variety of use-cases for AI than ever before. But new concerns – legal and ethical – have arisen with those new opportunities.

https://mediamakersmeet.com/media-moments-report-2023-artificial-intelligence/

2023: The year of niche media, misinformation, podcasts and AI

https://mediamakersmeet.com/2023-the-year-of-niche-media-misinformation-podcasts-and-ai/

Apple Explores A.I. Deals With News Publishers

The company has discussed multiyear deals worth at least $50 million to train its generative A.I. systems on publishers’ news articles.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/22/technology/apple-ai-news-publishers.html

Journalists Had ‘No Idea’ About OpenAI’s Deal to Use Their Stories

WIRED spoke with employees at Business Insider, one of the outlets owned by Axel Springer, which just struck a significant deal with OpenAI.

https://www.wired.com/story/openai-axel-springer-news-licensing-deal-whats-in-it-for-writers/

New Authors Guild AI Survey Reveals That Authors Overwhelmingly Want Consent and Compensation for Use of Their Works

MT @AuthorsGuild THE RESULTS ARE IN: Our latest survey updates and delves deeper into some of the issues queried in our survey last spring on authors’ views around the recent commercial generative AI technologies.

https://authorsguild.org/news/ag-ai-survey-reveals-authors-overwhelmingly-want-consent-and-compensation-for-use-of-their-works/

NYT sues OpenAI, Microsoft for copyright infringement

MT @sarafischer This is a big deal because it could set a precedent for 1. How courts define the value of news content in training large language models and 2. What the damages are for previous use

https://www.axios.com/2023/12/27/nyt-microsoft-openai-lawsuit-copyright-infringement

News publisher files class action antitrust suit against Google, citing AI’s harms to their bottom line

https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/15/news-publisher-files-class-action-antitrust-suit-against-google-citing-ais-harms-to-their-bottom-line/

How publishers are using AI chatbots to boost engagement

HT @BoSacks Forbes has used Google tech to create its own generative AI-based search experience.

https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/digital-journalism/news-chatbots-generative-ai-forbes-search/

The Hollywood Strikes Stopped AI From Taking Your Job. But for How Long?

Hollywood unions resisting AI being used to recreate actors’ performances sets a precedent for future labor movements on how to push back against automation.

https://www.wired.com/story/hollywood-saved-your-job-from-ai-2023-will-it-last/

The Year A.I. Ate the Internet

Call 2023 the year many of us learned to communicate, create, cheat, and collaborate with robots.

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/2023-in-review/the-year-ai-ate-the-internet

What kind of bubble is AI? 

AI is definitely a bubble. So which kind of bubble is AI? When it pops, will something useful be left behind, or will it go away altogether? By @doctorow

https://pluralistic.net/2023/12/19/bubblenomics/

OpenAI’s Ilya Sutskever Has a Plan for Keeping Super-Intelligent AI in Check

The plan is to have an inferior AI model guide the behavior of a much smarter one without making it less smart. The scenario is designed for future when AI systems are more intelligent than us.

https://www.wired.com/story/openai-ilya-sutskever-ai-safety/

Here’s what we know about generative AI’s impact on white-collar work

https://www.ft.com/content/b2928076-5c52-43e9-8872-08fda2aa2fcf

Excuse me, but the industries AI is disrupting are not lucrative

What are AIs of the GPT-4 generation best at? It’s things like: writing essays or short fictions digital art chatting programming assistance

https://www.theintrinsicperspective.com/p/excuse-me-but-the-industries-ai-is

Meta’s Ray-Ban Glasses Added AI That Can See What You’re Seeing

https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/metas-ray-ban-glasses-added-ai-that-can-see-what-youre-seeing/

AI cannot patent inventions, UK Supreme Court confirms

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67772177

Publishing & Media

Goodreads has a ‘review bombing’ problem — and wants its users to help solve it

Amazon-owned Goodreads makes little effort to verify users, and critics say this enables a practice known as review-bombing, in which a book is flooded with negative reviews, often from fake accounts, in an effort to bring down a its rating, sometimes for reasons having nothing to do with the book’s contents. Review-bombing can devastate a book’s prospects, especially when the writer is little known or publishing for the first time.

https://www.npr.org/2023/12/17/1219599404/goodreads-review-bombing-cait-corrain

‘It’s totally unhinged’: is the book world turning against Goodreads?

The influential user review site has suffered a year of controversies, from cancelled book deals to review-bombing, and exposed a dark side to the industry

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/dec/18/goodreads-review-bombing

Let’s Rescue Book Lovers From This Online Hellscape

Opinion | Goodreads Had So Much Potential. Here’s How to Redeem It. – The New York Times ⁦Via @mariskreizman ⁩

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/24/opinion/goodreads-books-reviews.html

Goodreads is Broken

By @KathMSchmidt

https://kathleenschmidt.substack.com/p/goodreads-is-broken

How Do You Even Sell a Book Anymore?

https://thewalrus.ca/how-do-you-even-sell-a-book-anymore/

How to Turn an Essay into a Book Deal

HT @elizabethscraig Via @JaneFriedman.

https://janefriedman.com/how-to-turn-an-essay-into-a-book-deal/

Researching the Right Literary Agents for You

https://janefriedman.com/researching-the-right-literary-agents-for-you/

75 Books By Women of Color to Read in 2024

RT @rokwon hello! I’ve compiled a list of 2024 books I’m anticipating from women of color & here it is, a bonanza of novels, essay collections, memoirs, & more

https://electricliterature.com/75-books-by-women-of-color-to-read-in-2024/

A renaissance for independent bookstores as people continues their love affair with print books

HT @Goodereader

https://goodereader.com/blog/e-book-news/a-renaissance-for-independent-bookstores-as-people-continues-their-love-affair-with-print-books#google_vignette

NYC’s Bluestockings Bookstore Is Facing Eviction for Handing Out Narcan

https://www.curbed.com/2023/12/bluestockings-bookstore-eviction-narcan-overdose-free-food.html

Spotify’s Push Into Audiobooks Sparks Concern Among Authors

With Macmillan, Spotify is aggregating listeners’ consumption for the month + paying once enough mins of listening accounts for the entirety of the book. If an audiobook is 100 mins, this could be either 100 mins or 5 customers listening to 20 mins each

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-19/spotify-s-audiobooks-plan-is-getting-blasted-by-authors-around-the-world

Top 10 Checkouts of 2023

MT @nypl ⭐️ What have New Yorkers been reading this year? Explore the top checkouts of 2023 from NYC libraries. How many have you read?

https://www.nypl.org/spotlight/top-checkouts-2023

Media Industry Closes 2023 with Cliffhangers

Will Shari Redstone sell? Will Fox and Smartmatic settle? Can Mark Thompson save CNN? Will Jeff Zucker take control of the Telegraph?

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023-media-cliffhangers-cnn-fox-news-washington-post

Set Your Anti-Censorship Resolutions

https://bookriot.com/book-censorship-news-december-30-2022/

Fight Banned Books Act Introduced to House

MT @PENamerica “Book bans are a baseless attack on our civil rights and civil liberties under the guise of parental rights,” warned Florida congressman Maxwell Frost, who introduced the Fight Banned Books Act earlier this month.

https://news.yahoo.com/book-bans-parental-rights-cover-170032581.html

Books Save Lives Act Introduced To US Congress

RT @veronikellymars The Books Save Lives Act would ensure trained librarians in every school and classify book bans as federal civil rights violations.

https://bookriot.com/books-save-lives-act-introduced-to-us-congress/

Titles with LGBTQ characters, themes and stories are most likely to be banned

HT @FLFreedomRead Almost half of books challenged at school are returned to shelves, but titles with LGBTQ characters, themes and stories are most likely to be banned, according to a The Post’s analysis of nearly 900 book objections nationwide. “In interviews, librarians across the country said they were heartened by the rate of returns — but cautioned that the success can come at a high cost. Defending books from challenges is equivalent to a “second full-time job,” said Martha Hickson, a New Jersey school librarian.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/12/23/school-book-challenges-shelves-lgbtq-authors/

Censorship and the case for institutional literacy

RT @EveryLibrary The core value of librarianship is to respect the individual reading choices of each family while providing a collection relevant to all students.

https://thehill.com/opinion/4367768-censorship-and-the-case-for-institutional-literacy/

Someone complained about a book in a Great Barrington (MA) classroom. Then the police showed up

RT @veronikellymars If you’re in a blue state and still not bothering to care about book bans, maybe this is a little wakeup call? It is and has been in your backyard, too.

https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/great-barrington-book-gender-queer-maia-kobabe-ban-complaint–du-bois-middle-school–police-complaint-censorship/article_816f1020-9b53-11ee-bf7a-d38cf3bac5ee.html

Alabama library agency launches new book-flagging online portal

RT @veronikellymars The Alabama Public Library Service has launched its new online portal that allows for parents, concerned citizens and organizations to flag specific books they deem inappropriate for children.

https://aldailynews.com/alabama-library-agency-launches-new-bookflagging-online-portal/

Colorado conservatives call for law enforcement action to ban books

RT @EveryLibrary Not once, in all of history, has arresting librarians and teachers led to more liberty and freedom. Conservative leaders in Colorado are urging criminal prosecutions of librarians and school leaders who won’t ban books

https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/next/next-with-kyle-clark/colorado-conservatives-law-enforcement-action-ban-books/73-43e3164b-e750-40e1-bfc5-430b99a2942e

In Florida, you’ll read what the GOP wants you to read, and nothing else

HT @FLFreedomRead In their latest assault on the rights of Floridians, Attorney General Ashley Moody and the Commissioner of Education have declared that public school libraries should promote “government speech.” Books are tolerable only when they tell a government-approved story.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/12/18/in-florida-youll-read-what-the-gop-wants-you-to-read-and-nothing-else/

2800+ Books in Storage in Escambia County (FL)

HT @FLFreedomRead Physical books now in storage: 2800+

Titles of books that may wait years for a proper review: 1400+

Six mths from “completion” deadline and not even 15% through the review.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dwSpSRyR1ejSLC5OBj3qzO8xQRgydTcImmbjNZysEuM/edit#gid=0

Read it Yourself: All 673 Books Removed from Orange Country (FL) Classrooms

RT @pronounced_ing This is really astounding. Orange County thinks that the literary, social, historical, or sociological benefit of all 673 of these books is outweighed by the POSSIBILITY that they MIGHT contain mention of “sexual activity.”

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/12/20/read-it-yourself-all-673-books-removed-from-orange-classrooms/

Judge blocks parts of Iowa law banning school library book, discussion of LGBTQ+ issues

RT @DerekWBlack Anti-LGBTQ & Anti-CRT laws have severely chilled speech & that was ultimately the downfall of Iowa’s law. Judge found its unconstitutional breadth banned books on AP exams & “even books designed to help students avoid being victimized by sexual assault.”

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iowa-law-banned-school-books-lgbtq-issues-blocked/

Kansas school district restricts books that mention nudity, sexual orientation or gender identity

RT @veronikellymars “Leavenworth School District Board of Education voted 4-3 this week to pass revisions to an education policy that bans “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” references in the district’s elementary library books.” It’s an LGBTQ+ book ban.

https://www.kmuw.org/education/2023-12-18/kansas-school-district-restricts-books-that-mention-nudity-sexual-orientation-or-gender-identity

Fighting Book Bans in Kentucky Schools—and Beyond

RT @ALALibrary The Boyle County School District in Kentucky quietly banned more than 100 books, citing anti-trans bill SB 150. But a local campaign by students and their peers successfully pushed back. Great reporting from 19-year-old student journalist Ramona Pierce.

https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/book-bans-kentucky-boyle-county-school-district-sb-150/

Resources & Opportunities

Emerging Voices Fellowship

https://pen.org/emerging-voices-fellowship/

Greywolf Press Nonfiction Prize

MT @WhitingFdn Nonfiction writers: Graywolf Press’s Nonfiction Prize will open for submissions in Feb. 2024!

https://www.graywolfpress.org/about-us/submissions

Scholastic Library Publishing Award

The Scholastic Library Publishing Award is an annual $1,000 award presented to a librarian whose “unusual contribution to the stimulation and guidance of reading by children and young people” exemplifies outstanding achievement in the profession. Deadline 2/1/24.

https://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/awards/69/apply

National Press Club Scholarship Opportunities

MT @NPCInstitute Applications are open for 2024 National Press Club scholarships! Opportunities available for high school, college, and graduate student journalists 🎓 First round of deadlines is Feb. 18.

https://www.pressclubinstitute.org/national-press-club-scholarship-opportunities/

Tech x Religion Feature Reporting Fellowship

MT @VickiTurk 🚨 Journalists! 🚨 Looking for an exciting project for 2024? @restofworld just launched a new fellowship looking for writers with story ideas at the intersection of tech and religion. Really interesting one. All info, including eligibility, here:

https://restofworld.org/about/hiring/tech-x-religion-feature-reporting-fellowship/

#Inclusive100 Quarterly Roundtable

MT @SheRunsItOrg For the first time since its inception in 2017, #Inclusive100 roundtables will be open to the entire She Runs It community twice a year in 2024. The first one is a virtual event that will take place on February 9, and it is free to the entire She Runs It membership, whether you are part of #Inclusive100 or not. Participants walk away with an arsenal of actions, ideas, and an expanded network of allies who are working toward a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce and workplace.

https://sherunsit.org/event/virtual-event-inclusive100-quarterly-roundtables/

UX Study Guides

RT @NNgroup We have free study guides on almost every UX topic, including UX research, UX strategy, and UX design. Each guide is a curated collection of links to our free articles and videos. Check out the study guides here

https://www.nngroup.com/topic/study-guide/

Run for Office to Stop Book Bans

MT @amandalitman If you want to run for office to stop book bans, @runforsomething will help you.

https://wherecanirun.org

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