While I focus on Technology, Innovation, and Publishing, because I have a platform, I also flag items that I think are important. I also try to include some resources & opportunities. This is a double issue! Please let me know what you think.
Important Items
(There’s so much crazy stuff going on. Here’s some you may have missed.)
Paid actors, AI writing: How a new kind of video business cashed in on America’s divided politics
Inside a Conservative Operation to Hijack Your Social-Media Feed
ICE Plans to Pay $5 Million to Create National Voting Database
https://www.wired.com/story/ice-plans-to-pay-5-million-to-create-national-voting-database/
Trump Moves to Strip Tax Exemption From Schools That Aid Minority Students
The Treasury Department released rules that would prevent schools with race-based programs from qualifying for tax-exempt status, a threat to both higher education and other private schools.
HHS Cancels Infant Mortality, Postpartum Grants to Focus on Sperm Counts, ED
HHS’s Office of Minority Health has cancelled 16 grants, several focused on maternal/infant health, telling grantees it’s pivoting to a focus on the root causes of infertility and promoting exercise. In canceling the maternal and infant mortality grants, HHS said those issues were no longer a priority for the office and grants would instead focus on “low sperm count, low testosterone levels and erectile dysfunction.”
Trump’s EPA wants to let data centers hide their air pollution
How the Right Could Actually End Birthright Citizenship
Technology
Trump administration says a New York Times win in OpenAI lawsuit would “threaten national security” and hurt small newsrooms
U.S. Govt Backs OpenAI in Copyright Fight w Publishers
Per Trump administration: Making it more difficult for LLMs to train on copyrighted content would be “inconsistent w basic copyright law principles.”
https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/u-s-government-backs-openai-in-copyright-fight-with-publishers-64a0735b
Seattle Times sues Microsoft and OpenAI, alleging they trained their AI on its journalism
We’re Suing ChatGPT—And Trump Just Got Involved.
Mother Jones is suing ChatGPT for using their work without payment. This week, the administration went to the trouble of filing a brief in the lawsuit, an unusual step for the government to take at such an early stage in the process. The brief supports OpenAI, saying it’s a vital national interest for AI companies not to have to pay for content (with a dig about how that would just be a subsidy for “old mainstream media companies” anyway).
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/were-suing-chatgpt-and-trump-just-got-involved/
Elsevier Launches AI Assistant for Healthcare E-books
Elsevier introduced an in-text AI tool intended to serve as an educational supplement for healthcare students.
The AI ‘Ghosts’ Contaminating Academic Publishing
Elena Vasquez & Marcus Chen appeared as volcano experts, astronauts, book protagonists, podcast hosts, & academic co-authors in hundreds of independently produced AI-generated documents, but aren’t real.
https://www.404media.co/the-ai-ghosts-contaminating-academic-publishing/
Pangram Has Emerged as the Gold Standard of AI Detection. Should You Trust It?
Meet the AI police who can make or break careers—in publishing and beyond.
https://www.wired.com/story/pangram-has-emerged-as-the-gold-standard-of-ai-detection/
Authors Wrangle With Publishers Over $1.5 Billion Anthropic A.I. Settlement
Anthropic Copyright Settlement: Publishers Are Making Incorrect Claims on Authors’ Payouts
Amid legal battles, social media companies are trying harder to know which users are kids
Meta disables cameras on thousands of tampered smart glasses
7 million glasses were sold in 2025, and with this year’s sales so far, that puts the likely number of offenders in the thousands.
Meta addresses ‘pervert glasses’ reputation with a privacy fix and a new marketing campaign
https://www.theverge.com/tech/985851/meta-privacy-loophole-fix-marketing-campaign
Can Evan Spiegel Sell the World on $2,195 Smart Glasses?
As company struggles with profitability, Snap CEO is doubling down on a hardware play that has made some investors wary.
https://www.wsj.com/tech/can-evan-spiegel-sell-the-world-on-2-195-smart-glasses-3fb9b8ca
Hollywood studios have sued over AI. Now Google is courting them to use its tools
Google is quietly courting Disney, Universal, Warner Bros. Discovery & others to license characters & film libraries for its AI tools, but complex legal & union concerns stalled deals
Stability AI Raises $76M to Expand Creative AI Tools
https://www.latimes.com/b2b/entertainment/story/2026-09-01/stability-ai-76m-series-b-funding
Spotify Faces Flak from AI Use at The Ringer
The Ringer founder Bill Simmons is using AI to conjure opinions from the deceased movie critic Roger Ebert.
OpenAI agents hijacked a German wiki for two months, researchers say
https://thenextweb.com/news/openai-agents-german-wiki-breakout
World humanoid robot games show runners breaking records, bursting into flames
Despite impressive running, dancing, & martial arts, robots couldn’t complete the household challenge (cleaning, folding laundry, gardening, hospitality, & elderly care).
NYC public schools to ban AI for teaching students below 9th grade
https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-public-schools-to-ban-ai-for-teaching-students-below-9th-grade
Why IT projects still fail
https://www.cio.com/article/4215089/why-it-projects-still-fail-3.html
The Dead-Internet Theory Is Back
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/09/chatgpt-imessage-ai-texting/688507/
We Are Living in the Fantasy World of 13-Year-Old Boys
Many of the tech billionaires who built our world have taken the wrong lessons from their favorite science fiction.
Major AI Outage
A widespread outage affected thousands of users across OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, X’s Grok, and other AI platforms.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/chatgpt-claude-gemini-and-more-are-all-down-right-now
FTC alleges Amazon illegally made $20 billion by rigging billions of ad auctions
PSA: Amazon’s shopping AI can now tell you if that message is a scam
Amazon is turning to AI to help fight scammers, the company announced on Wednesday. The retailer said some 360,000 customers every year reach out to its customer service department wondering whether a message they received from Amazon is real or a scam. Now, customers will be able to ask Amazon’s consumer AI service, Alexa for Shopping, to help answer that question instead.
Google’s answer to Canva is an AI tool where you prompt instead of design
Powered by Nano Banana model, it can generate posters, social media graphics, and illustrations while also editing objects, translating text, and supporting collaboration.
YouTube Doubles The Monetization Bar For New Creators
YouTube now lets creators tag Amazon products and earn commissions from purchases
Hugging Face is selling a cute $399 open source duck robot, Microduck
Publishing & Media
Almost 100 authors affected by Self-Publishing Partnership collapse
What Do Media Businesses Look Like In 2026 And Beyond
HT @FoSTorg Amidst a rapidly shifting media landscape, traditional newsrooms are struggling, exemplified by disappearing climate desks despite increased public concern. However, a new wave of media businesses is proving that sustainability requires abandoning old models. Success stories like Semafor, Puck, and 404 Media demonstrate profitability by focusing on niche audiences and diversifying revenue through events, memberships, and innovative compensation, rather than relying solely on ads. Robin Thurston of Outside Inc. transformed legacy brands by shifting to recurring SaaS and subscriptions, prioritizing active user engagement. Chip Giller’s Agog nonprofit explores immersive media for deeper engagement on critical issues.
When Brands Become Worldbuilders
Interesting marketing case study: Fanta is creating its own Halloween universe, w original characters, backstories, packaging, content, rewards, & live experiences. Influencers are treated like “performers” inside the narrative.
https://www.contentgrip.com/fanta-haunted-universe/
Hachette’s Raising Readers Campaign Plans U.S., U.K. Storytimes
Bookshop.org Has Given $50 Million to Indie Bookstores
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=6003
Faced With Book Bans and Verbal Harassment, Public Librarians Are Reaching a Breaking Point
https://pen.org/librarians-facing-slew-of-attacks/
Show Support For Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library!
At least 4 states have cut funding for Dolly Parton’s amazing program or attempted to eliminate it.
But here’s what you can do to support it!
https://action.everylibrary.org/show_support_for_dolly_parton_s_imagination_library
Resources & Opportunities
WMG Monday Happy Hour Meetup
9/14 5:30-7:30 Monthly Members Only. NYC.
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6767411
Switching the Shelf: How Rethinking Your Genre Can Land You That Book Deal
9/16 5:30-7:30pm Penguin Random House, 1745 Broadway (btwn 55th & 56th Streets), NYC
$20 for WMG members; $25 for non-members. Includes wine & cheese & networking
Sue Shapiro tried to sell her memoir for 6 years & couldn’t get a book deal. Once she changed it to fiction, she sold it to a publisher. She’s a genius literary matchmaker and wants to help you get a book deal. Come hear from a star panel of Authors, Agents, & Editors she put together to tell their stories!
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6763324
Feminist Journalism Today: Continuing the Crucial Conversation About Women’s Voices in Media
9/22 12:15-2 pm, Bond 45, 221 W. 46th St., $85 for non-members; Member Early Bird $65 thru 8/31
3-course lunch included
This is the one not to miss!! Moderated by Juju Chang, speakers include Journalist Nina Burleigh, Vox Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Swati Sharma, Writer Linda Villarosa, and Ms. Executive Director Jennifer Weiss-Wolf.
WMG is proud to announce the 3rd collaboration with Ms. magazine in our popular and esteemed series exploring the role of women’s leadership, voices, and stories in journalism.
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6789896
WMG Job Seekers Weekly Meetup
Are you unemployed, under-employed, or just thinking about a career change? WMG members join our free virtual weekly support group and come when you can to help each other rise.
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/events
Beyond the Byline: Using PR to Drive Book Sales
9/29 12-1pm ET virtual. Free for WMG members; $15 for non-members
Writing a book is only half the battle; getting it into the hands of paying readers is the real work. Designed specifically for authors at every stage, from aspiring to published, this seminar will focus on how an effective public relations effort can support a robust sales campaign. Author Jennefer Witter will discuss how she works with her clients in the pre-sale stage, launch period, and post-publication.
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6787787
Finding Your Authentic Voice with Genevieve Piturro and Karen Salmansohn
10/1 5-7 p.m. ET WMG members only; FREE (attendees pay for their own food and beverages), NYC
Join WMG Programming Co-Chair Genevieve Piturro and member Karen Salmansohn for a lively evening discovering your most authentic writing voice-or, as Karen says, how to “be you-ier.” Genevieve and Karen, both successful authors, will teach you how to make your writing more relatable, memorable, and successful. Whether your preference is short-form essays, a Substack, or a memoir or memoir-hybrid, your story and personal voice are what will connect with readers.
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6789949
The Responsible Journalist: Practical AI, Ethical Boundaries, and Newsroom Reality
10/7 12-1pm ET via Zoom. Free for WMG members; $15 for non-members
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how journalists report, write, investigate, and engage with audiences, but questions remain about accuracy, transparency, and ethics. This interactive seminar w Yelena Dzhanova explores how journalists and media creators can incorporate AI into their work while maintaining the core values of the profession. Participants will learn practical ways AI can support reporting, discuss the ethical challenges surrounding its use, and examine where human judgment remains indispensable. Through demonstrations, case studies, and group discussion, attendees will leave with practical strategies for using AI responsibly in their own journalistic work.
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6778338
Target Acquired: Creating Custom AI Personas That React Like Your Audience
10/14, 12-1 pm ET via Zoom. Free for WMG members; $15 for non-members
What if you could ask your readers what they think before you publish? In this session w Erin Servais, you’ll learn how to build an “ideal reader assistant,” a custom AI tool trained to respond as your target audience. This allows you to pressure-test story ideas, headlines, and copy while you’re still creating instead of waiting for feedback after launch. Using a simple, repeatable framework, you’ll watch a reader bot come to life from scratch and leave with the tools to build your own, turning audience feedback from slow and reactive into fast, targeted, and available on demand.
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6782788
Memoir Plus: When Personal Stories Contain Multitudes
10/21 5:30-7:30pm NYC $20 for WMG members; $25 for non-members
Join moderator Estelle Erasmus and panelists Regina Brooks, Laura Carney, Hyeseung Song, and Bethany Saltman for a lively conversation about the possibilities of memoir and the power of personal stories that contain multitudes.
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6805899
Podcasting for Journalists: How to Create Audio Stories That Reach Audiences
📅 Dates: Sept. 10 & 17, 2026 🗣️ Instructor: Tamar Charney 💸 Cost: $65.00
Vital Impacts Environmental Photography Fellowships and Mentorships
https://site.picter.com/vital-impacts-environmental-photography-fellowship-2027
PEN America’s Prison Writing Mentorship Program
Mentorship application due 9/15.
https://pen.org/prison-and-justice-writing/mentoring-program/
10,000 Women Online Courses
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women is a free, practical business education program available online to entrepreneurs around the world. Learn at your own pace with 10 courses that cover the essentials of running and growing a business, plus three electives to deepen your skills in key areas.
https://www.goldmansachs.com/community-transformation/10000-women/online-education
Register your event for Fall of Freedom 10/2-10/4
HT Fran McGarry
https://www.falloffreedom.com/register-your-event
DAYBREAKER ALIVE: A FREE Sunrise to Sunset Sober Festival by Daybreaker
https://sweatpals.com/event/daybreaker-alive-nyc-brooklyn-bridge-park
FRAME (Film Readiness & Media Education) Program Application
FRAME (Film Readiness & Media Education) is a no-cost program preparing individuals 18+ in Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester Counties, NJ, for entry-level careers in New Jersey’s rapidly growing film and digital media industry. Deadline 9/15.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdldaDYPnEXfSYnaZZE00oRe58FI6NETGdHAJRLlMk0RYjH1A/viewform
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