Benjamin Mullin

It's easy to think about AI within the context of a CMS. Of using AI to optimize writing, editing, and SEO workflows. The more exciting choice is putting AI in the hands of reporters early on in the process. Over the weekend we published a deep look at how immigration is being portrayed in political ads this election cycle. It's an absorbing read--with editing and reporting from multiple desks across the newsroom. It's also the debut of one of our AI-powered reporting tools: Haystacker. We carved out a lane in our roadmap for "Ambitious Journalism"--this is what it looks like. https://lnkd.in/eTteMFxY

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This Gallup piece is interesting. On the one hand, it's disheartening, though not surprising, to see such a partisan gap in trust in media. Has anyone studied why this is? Can (should?) anything be done about this? On a perhaps separate note, it's encouraging is to see how Rs and Ds both seem to have a lot of trust in local government: https://lnkd.in/gKdePu-M. Maybe if you see government in action, you trust it. Would something similar be true for journalism? Genuine questions.

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Live notepad, research document - Trump Pence January 6th timeline here: https://lnkd.in/eeyTr6ZW This is a living notepad, updated regularly What are the gaps that need filling? Reply here or email [email protected] #PenceJan6Story

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Ask Vivian: The One Question I Always Get (A few thoughts from my Times career advice column; on how to set yourself up for future success in your work.) https://lnkd.in/eVSC2ZFw Q: I joined The Times about a year ago. Although I’m not looking to move up yet, it would be good to know what to do to set myself up for advancement in the newsroom. What would you recommend? A: One of the best things you can do is to be your own advocate. It sounds like a cliché, but it will make an impact in a place like The Times. This is true at any stage of your career, but it’s especially important to get into the habit of doing it early in your time here. We’d all like to believe that our work speaks for itself. But that’s not always going to be the case. If you just published an interesting story or helped put together an incredible graphic, you need to make sure that your best friend isn’t the only person who knows about it. Start by thinking about who you want to showcase your skills to — is it your department head, an editor in another department, or someone on the masthead? Think about who you would want as your advocates and be cognizant about putting yourself forward whenever you interact with people who could have some influence over your career. So, say you’re in a meeting with a higher-level editor you don’t know very well, make sure you participate and contribute something during the meeting — don’t be a wallflower. However you do it, try to do it as organically and as often as you can. This is a numbers game — the more people you know (and who know you and your work), the more likely you’re going to get that next job you want. For many of us, this will feel outside of our comfort zone. I get it, and in fact, I was right there with you when I joined The Times 27 years ago. But I found a way to promote my work in a way that felt authentic and so can you. Here’s how I did it: Whenever I wanted to show my friends something great I’d accomplished, whether it was nailing an interview or getting a story published on A1, I tried to redirect some of that energy and also share it with at least one person beyond my circle. Try it out and see if this approach — which, by the way, works in any part of our organization — makes sense for you. If this still feels out of reach, that’s OK. You can start even smaller. For example, if you run into a manager who you want to connect with, you can approach them with some other topic. Maybe you want to chat about someone else’s story that impressed you that day, or a photograph that you found impactful or a graphic that blew your mind. Regardless of what you want to talk about, find a way to start the conversation. Ask good questions. Show people how you think. Remember, the next time you wrap up something you’re proud of, consider sharing it with someone you want to know, and you’ll be on your way to building a relationship that could pay dividends in the future.

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Learning how to use digital technology in much healthier ways is becoming important now. The way we live and work in this AI-powered digital world needs a new set of skills and habits. #themindfulcommunicator

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Congestion pricing was supposed to start today in New York City. It didn't after Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this month announced an indefinite pause. My latest article in The Wall Street Journal traces the rise and pause of congestion pricing — a tale that involves 17 years and around $700 million. The abrupt reversal, which some attribute to Hochul’s reluctance to impose a new fee in an election year, leaves metro New York grappling with a historic missed opportunity and fiscal mess. There is no relief in sight for the city’s traffic congestion, which is the worst in the world, according to data published last week. The epic collapse in New York shows how a fear of dramatic change can give the status quo stubborn power over those trying to solve some of America’s most intractable challenges. That leaves policymakers nibbling at the edges of deeply rooted problems, even after investing huge sums of money and political capital. Blown up in a New York minute were plans for around $15 billion of planned improvements to the city’s ailing mass-transit system, the largest transportation network in North America. The reversal cast aside around $700 million in meticulous prep work, including a $555-million contract to install tolling cameras—which are already up and ready to go—and $33 million for a customer-service center with 100 employees who have already been brought on, officials said. Planners invested thousands of hours, including going to London and Stockholm to research their congestion-pricing programs, according to people familiar with the travel. What was supposed to be a transformative moment when New York led the way and boldly tackled traffic congestion, air pollution and transit funding, has instead turned into a surprising loss for a broad coalition that includes major employers, real-estate developers and subway riders. Surprised by the reversal were Hochul’s own lieutenants, including Janno Lieber, a fierce champion of congestion pricing and the chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The MTA—which carries around 5.5 million passengers each day in the New York metro area—now faces a $16.5 billion-financial hole from the loss of money from congestion pricing and federal matching funds. Just days after Hochul’s announcement, a beleaguered Lieber joined a conference call with advocates in which he said he was equally shocked and remained committed to the program, three people familiar with the exchange said. “This is devastating,” he said, according to a person on the call. Here's the latest from me and Joseph De Avila —>

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In Georgia, election manipulation has gone beyond mere whispers. With every incident of intimidation, bribery, and manipulation, the cracks in our democratic process are widening. Here are just a few of the reasons why: 1. Exit Poll Discrepancies: Edison Research’s exit polls, historically accurate to within 2%, are now showing unprecedented deviation by multiple percentage points. How is that possible? 2. Selective Accuracy: This “flawed” model somehow accurately represents small parties but dramatically misses the mark with major ones. Suspicious, isn’t it? 3. Exact Shifts: The “missed” 14% is suspiciously even — 7% each from the main opposition parties. And curiously, every polling organization except state-controlled GORBI predicted the same outcome. 4. Demographic Anomalies: Similar, neighboring districts show dramatically different results. Something’s off. 5. Historic Parallels: The ruling party won its fourth term with the same seat count as in the transformative 2012 elections. This time, it’s under proportional representation with four opposition parties clearing the barrier. 6. Red Flags: Bellingcat warned of Russia’s interference and potential vulnerabilities within our election systems, supplied by companies mired in corruption scandals abroad. Shouldn’t that concern us? 7. EU Integration: In a country where 80% of citizens want EU integration, a party championing the opposite has prevailed. How? The reality is clear: our elections are compromised. But we’re still uncertain about the mechanisms behind it, aside from the obvious — intimidation and vote-buying. We may uncover the evidence eventually, but time isn’t on our side.

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What does Trump's victory mean for the Middle East? Here are some initial thoughts I wrote in this blogpost for Hanover Communications the morning after the election.

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After many years in the biz, I can attest everything here is true. Journalism is much more than a career. It's a noble profession and a contact sport that isn't for the faint of heart. And remember that news doesn't happen in newsrooms so get out of the office as much as possible! #journalism #reporters Southern California News Group https://lnkd.in/gzcY4tu5

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The election betting markets are now taking a victory lap after 'predicting' Trump's win. (And yes, you can bet on who will be the next secretary of Health and Human Services, if that's your thing.) Read my latest here (out of gift links! please subscribe!):

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ONE WITH THE WHALE, a doc I worked on at the height of the pandemic, is having its broadcast premiere tonight 4/23 on PBS! Tune in to check it out! You can read more about One With the Whale here: https://lnkd.in/e9ZsVkBX Peter Chelkowski Miki Watanabe Milmore, ACE #documentary #indiedocs #indiefilmmaking #documentaryeditor #doceditor #postproduction #editor #filmeditor

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It's a deal! IATSE, the union representing Hollywood's below-the-line workers, and the AMPTP, which reps the studios, reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year basic contract covering roughly 50,000 people. The tentative deal includes updated terms related to pay, pension and health benefits, work-life balance, job security, subcontracting, streaming residuals and artificial intelligence. It comes at a pivotal time for entertainment industry workers, who are dealing with the economic ramifications of the studios' pullback on spending post-streaming wars. Read more of our coverage to see the basics of what we know about the deal so far. #iatse #hollywood #entertainmentindustry

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My latest New York Post column

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New in The Drum today: With Donald #Trump set to return to the Oval Office in January, leaders at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian US and NPR are bracing for shifts in ad strategy and brand safety challenges. I spoke with ad executives at each publisher about how they plan to navigate political sensitivities, reinforce public trust and protect advertisers amid rising polarization. Read the full analysis here: https://lnkd.in/gChy363b #marketing #politics #media #advertising #USelection #2024presidentialelection

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I am definitely one of these journalists who has considered leaving the industry over the past year - for a variety of reasons. Financial instability, burnout, and cynicism about the nature and impact of the industry are probably the top three. One of the only things that keeps me going is the reality that many of the people at legacy institutions who can afford to keep working in our industry are simply not very good journalists, and their work - particularly on topics like Palestine - is actually harmful to real people in real life. Journalists who are willing to challenge authority and push back against official narratives to hold power accountable are more needed than ever. Being willing to prioritize career advancement over the quality of your work and your/your outlet's adherence to basic ethical principles is often what enables you to be sustainable in this industry, and that is a central paradox to the quality of the journalistic labor force and the product it puts out.

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Update! You can now listen to Claire Davenport and I’s audio story about how protests like the ones at Columbia can spark meaningful social change on Columbia News Service. Click the link below for more ⬇️

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