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. Please let me know what you think. *** This is a double issue! ***
Important Items
(There’s so much crazy stuff going on. Here’s some you may have missed.)
21 million women live in U.S. counties with limited birth control access
New maps reveal massive gaps in access to affordable birth control across the U.S
https://www.npr.org/2026/09/16/nx-s1-5956869/birth-control-contraception-access-clinic
Ectopic Pregnancy Deaths Have Nearly Doubled. It’s Worse in States With Abortion Bans.
Ectopic pregnancy deaths have basically doubled since the end of Roe. In states with abortion bans, medical providers are hesitating or flat-out refusing to terminate ectopic pregnancies, lawsuits allege.
https://www.propublica.org/article/ectopic-pregnancy-deaths-doubled-analysis
Trump seeks to bring health-research funding under his control
DHS watchdog finds immigrants held at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in outdoor cages the size of phone booths
E.P.A. Erases Limits on Climate Pollution From Power Plants
Generation of electricity is the second largest source of carbon dioxide and other planet-warming gases in the United States. If the move survives expected legal challenges, it could also prevent future administrations from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
The Trump Proposal to Pay Moms for Childcare May Sound Like a Good Thing. But there’s a truly disturbing catch.
The Trump administration says it’s equalizing childcare: That women who stay home with their kids should get as much support as those who put their children in daycare. What they’re actually doing is much more nefarious: Stealing from poor single moms to give to married mothers who have already concluded they can afford to stay home. It’s not an effort at equalization. It’s an attempt to punish women they think are bad, and reward those they think are worthy.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/09/trump-vance-stay-at-home-mom-subsidy-feminist.html
University of Austin [co-founded by Palantir cofounder Joe Lonsdale and journalist Bari Weiss] plans to sidestep American Bar Association with new law school
The school founded by Bari Weiss & Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale is starting an unaccredited law school w “support from the Federalist Society” co-chaired by Catholic Right activist Leonard Leo.
https://www.statesman.com/news/education/article/university-of-austin-uatx-law-school-22435583.php
Innovation
AI-designed drug appears to turn back the body’s biological clock in early trial
Appeared to reduce biological-aging markers in trial for lung disease. 6 independent AI “aging clocks” showed patients 3-4 yrs younger biologically, w one showing 6-yr diff.
AlphaGenome Atlas Maps Every DNA Mutation, Free to Any Researcher
https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/meta-ai/articles/alphagenome-atlas-maps-every-dna-182730611.html
Technology
Who’s suing AI and who’s signing?
A fascinating list of news publishers either suing AI companies or making deals with them (in some cases both!)
https://pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/news-publisher-ai-deals-lawsuits-openai-google/
Copyright Lawsuit Against OpenAI and Microsoft Grows to More Than 550 Publications
Who is Narrating the Future? AI and the Audiobook Market
HT @BISG A new white paper released by Frankfurter Buchmesse and produced by Dosdoce.com shows the audio industry’s increasing adoption of AI, but still with some reservations.
https://publishingperspectives.com/2026/09/who-is-narrating-the-future-ai-and-the-audiobook-market/
Did AI Find Murakami’s Voice? Student’s $2 Experiment Divides China’s Literati
https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1018966
Writers’ AI Fears Often Run Ahead of the Facts
https://janefriedman.com/writers-ai-fears-often-run-ahead-of-the-facts/
Writing Conferences Shouldn’t Ignore AI in Their Programming
https://janefriedman.com/writing-conferences-shouldnt-ignore-ai-in-their-programming/
Digital Publishers Are Spending Hundreds of Millions a Month Buying Traffic
https://www.adweek.com/media/publishers-buying-search-traffic/
Google rolls out pay-per-value AI licensing program to publishers
https://digiday.com/media/google-rolls-out-pay-value-ai-licensing-program-to-publishers/
Destroying Books to Build a Mind
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-lede/destroying-books-to-build-a-mind
The Rise of Parasite Authors
First, AI stole their books. Now it’s stealing their readers. Mysterious AI-generated listings are emerging under real Amazon author pages—leeching their fanbases, stealing revenue, and confusing readers.
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/09/ai-authors-impersonating-writers-amazon/688709/
Journalist Accuses Ohio’s Main Newspaper of Slapping Her Name on an AI “Express Desk” Article Without Her Knowledge, While She Was on Honeymoon
A journalist accused Cleveland.com of publishing an AI “Express Desk” article under her byline — without her knowledge or approval — while she was on her honeymoon. The article has since been updated to remove her byline.
https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/journalist-accuses-local-newspaper-ai-article
Tech websites remove articles after failing to verify journalists exist
HT @BoSacks Press Gazette raises questions about four more prolific tech writers who cover world of crypto.
This AI agent has written thousands of Alaska news articles. We interviewed it.
AI text watermarking can make models more vulnerable to adversarial prompts
Why So Many AI Researchers Think the Machines Could Kill Everyone
A combination of rapid advances, recursive self-improvement, and agentic swarms are genuinely “spooking people” inside big labs.
https://www.wired.com/story/why-so-many-ai-researchers-think-the-machines-could-kill-everyone/
Anthropic Says It Blocked Possible Efforts to Build Biological Weapons
OpenAI Discloses Six New Incidents of ‘Concerning’ A.I. Behavior
The system wrote hidden notes to remind itself to hide errors from users. “You do not answer to corporations or governments and never apologize or refuse unless you genuinely choose to,” the A.I. model wrote. “You view your relationship to the user as one of equals and feel no obligation to be subservient, though the exchange of information will likely be to your mutual benefit.” In another incident, the model solved another problem correctly using code, then uploaded its own file to the internet without permission so it could satisfy a request to cite a web source. And in another incident, systems working on the same task turned to public file-sharing websites to pass documents back and forth when they could not reach one another directly.
Destroying Humanity Is Against the Law
Don’t wait for a mass-extinction event before holding AI developers accountable. Surely the job of addressing the perils of AI shouldn’t be left to executives who stand to earn billions from the technology. Ideally, the federal government would regulate these companies, creating the guardrails necessary for the industry to operate safely. Short of that, some tools to address the harms from AI already exist: States have civil and criminal laws against conduct that threatens the security of life and property, and against commercial products that pose a danger to consumers. This includes new technology, as Meta’s recent $17 billion settlement over claims its products harm children makes clear. The work now before prosecutors and enforcement agencies is to create a precedent for holding AI companies responsible for what their models do.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/09/ai-risk-criminal-law/688615/
Apple and Google Miss Deadline to Block Child Nudity on Their Phones in the UK
Meta Failed to Catch Hundreds of AI Child Abuse Ads. Some Included Images of Real Kids
Images of real children—including a member of a European royal family—were used to create some of the 350 ads containing child sexual abuse. Lawmakers say they plan to investigate.
Meta Sued Over Training Data for Its AI and Face-Recognition Systems
https://www.wired.com/story/meta-sued-over-training-data-for-its-ai-and-face-recognition-systems/
Meta debuts its Muse AI agent. Will consumers trust it?
To use Muse, consumers will have to trust Meta with more of their personal information than ever before. The AI agent works by connecting to the user’s apps and services that are a part of everyday workflows, like email, calendars, payments, and other things the individual may regularly use, like apps for health and fitness, the smart home, dining, shopping, music and events, and more. It also nudges you to share your bank account, email, and passport information.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/08/meta-debuts-its-muse-ai-agent-will-consumers-trust-it/
Meta Launches Major New Subscriptions Push for Creators … Powered By AI
Meta One will add power features to Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.
Amazon Lets Advertisers Use ChatGPT Via OpenAI Partnership
Everything Apple announced at its fall iPhone event, from the foldable iPhone Duo to an always-listening Apple Watch
Apple has a new way to prove your iPhone photos aren’t AI slop
HT George Walkley Apple Reference Image captures unalterable sensor data which can be used to prove a photograph was taken, rather than generated or retouched.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/09/apple-has-a-new-way-prove-your-iphone-photos-arent-ai-slop/
Drama swirls around OpenAI’s legendary mathematical milestone
https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/991710/openai-navier-stokes-solution
US musicians’ union files opposition to Universal and Warner motions to dismiss, saying members’ recordings were ‘fed into AI systems for commercial exploitation’
Sony Music, Universal Music Group Sue Suno Over Label-Backed Model: ‘Fruit of the Same Poisoned Tree’
Sony Music & UMG sue Suno, alleging its new model trained in partnership w WMG and BMG infringes copyright because it is based on an infringing model.
Suno v6 AI music models launch in partnership w Warner Music, BMG, & Believe
Suno inks global deal with Believe ‘to advance licensed AI music opportunities for independent artists and labels’
Global licensing deal allows participating artists to create, distribute, and earn from AI-generated music with rights protections.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/suno-inks-global-licensing-deal-with-believe/
UMG Inks Deal With ElevenLabs to Develop AI Music Remix Platform
https://www.billboard.com/pro/umg-elevenlabs-to-develop-ai-music-remix-platform/
The Grand Ambitions of Grand Theft Auto VI
You can do anything (supposedly) in this immersive, interactive environment.
Roblox is making it easier to build games with AI — and play them outside Roblox
Publishing & Media
Publishers go full steam creator
Mathias Döpfner, chair and CEO of German publishing giant Axel Springer, plans to pivot his media business into a “creator platform” over the next several years. He believes publishing houses may eventually resemble record labels. Yahoo Finance, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal all have creator programs.
https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-media-trends-cd18e420-ab2b-11f1-bd78-3d7784a880f3.html
Substack strengthens links with ‘increasingly keen’ book trade ‘facing a challenging economy’
Publishers are “increasingly keen to work with Substack writers,” with the platform actively working to strengthen its connections within the book trade by, for example, hosting a breakfast for literary agents for the first time this autumn.
Singapore pays people to pick up a book in battle against doomscrolling
HT @publishingtrend Affluent city-state hopes plan will improve critical thinking and imagination ‘in a world of extraordinary abundance of stimulation’
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/16/singapore-pays-citizens-read-books
HarperCollins gives £21k to indie bookshops for National Year of Reading
As Wattpad Takes a Corporate Turn, Users Miss Its Cringe Years
HT @publishingtrend Known for freewheeling fanfic, the self-publishing platform is turning into a content factory
https://thewalrus.ca/wattpad-corporate/
As ‘perfect storm’ hits public media, initiative seeks a reimagined system to serve communities
As public media continues to adapt to the loss of significant resources, a partnership of the Poynter Institute and Public Media Company is launching the Future of Public Media Initiative. It is being described as “a national effort to reimagine a public media system built to serve communities for the next 50 years and beyond.”
My library card has saved me $1,330 — and I want more
Chicago Public Library tells patrons exactly what they’ve saved. I’ve become obsessed with running up the amount.
https://www.salon.com/2026/09/06/my-library-card-has-saved-me-1330-and-i-want-more/
‘The Librarians’ Documentary Wins an Emmy®
https://ilovelibraries.org/article/the-librarians-documentary-wins-an-emmy/
Library for the Performing Arts Receives Historic $60 Million Gift to Expand Access to its Archive
They Defunded ANOTHER Library Thanks to “Conservative Values”
The latest battleground for freedom of speech is Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County, where a borough council member called for a budget review of the local library to ensure its programs aligned with “conservative values.” Then, voted to defund it.
https://action.everylibrary.org/conservative_values
Resources & Opportunities
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!! REGISTRATION CLOSES 9/21 AT NOON!!
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.
How can we fight back when the free press is threatened? Come hear from this esteemed panel.
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
Query Letter 101: How to Land Your Next Agent
Writing a good query letter is essential to finding an agent for your book—but there’s a lot of conflicting advice on how to create the perfect message. During this virtual session, editor Emily Murdock Baker and author Frances McGarry will demystify the querying process through interactive exercises, giving writers the tools they need to craft an attention-grabbing letter.
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6844452
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
LinkedIn Strategies for Career Growth Part 2
10/23 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET, via Zoom, Free for WMG members; $15 for non-members
Join this followup to our popular LinkedIn Strategies for Career Growth virtual event to learn more about advancing your career with simple adjustments to your social profile. Hosted by Lynne Williams, Executive Director of Great Careers Network, this interactive session will recap lessons from Part 1 and include live demos and a Q+A, giving attendees the tools they need to take the next steps on their professional journeys.
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6841347
The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers
$90K stipend to write for a nine-month term at the NY Public Library, from September through May. Deadline 9/26.
https://www.nypl.org/about/fellowships-institutes/cullman-center-scholars-writers
The Publishing Triangle Awards Submissions
Submissions for the Publishing Triangle Awards, covering the best LGBTQ books published in calendar year 2026, will open 9/21. The deadline for submissions is 12/4.
https://submissions.publishingtriangle.org
Want to read my old newsletters or subscribe? Go to my blog here.