Todd Bishop

When Americans look for information about politics and elections, one of the first places they turn to is Google. The Associated Press and Google Trends have partnered throughout this year to show what folks are most interested in: crime, healthcare, unemployment, economy and so on. The data updates weekly and you can drill down to see which topics are on the minds of residents in your county. Hope you take a look.

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Journalism job alert and some personal news. Want to lead an excellent team doing impactful enterprise reporting in Washington state? Check out this job opening at Cascade PBS (formerly Crosscut). Isn’t that my job? Yes, it is. I’ve lead the news team at Crosscut for the past five years. I’ve enjoyed a great run and have decided to retire at the end of the year. I’m looking forward to watching the future of this great nonprofit newsroom from the sidelines. Our coverage focuses on government and politics so do not apply if you’ve been hiding in a cave this past year, hoping the election would go away. Do apply if you have a passion for giving the people the information they need to smartly engage in our democracy. A big part of this job: mentoring our journalists to do their best work. My team and our network of freelancers are among the best I’ve ever worked with. We’re going to be picky when hiring their next team leader. Editors who rewrite every story: apply somewhere else. The great journalism at Cascade PBS is the result of thoughtful collaboration, not editors who control the narrative. Ask me anything, including if I have time for some contract editing work. I’m not going to retire to the pickleball courts, but I am going to slow way down and be very picky about any work I take on. https://lnkd.in/g_bFje4z

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My early takeaway from PRSA Oregon #CommCon2024 is that the public is facing a real trust issue when it comes to innovations like AI and other emerging tech (and in general). Which raises the question: how do we address the trust crisis in a way that is both authentic and effective? #communications #publicrelations

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Elia Powers's book "Performing the News" highlights the concept of the "imagined audience" as greatly influencing how broadcast journalists look and sound. Powers' research reveals that journalists often default to envisioning a white, middle-class audience, impacting their appearance and vocal delivery. This default audience perception can shape newsroom dynamics and self-presentation norms significantly. Critical points from Powers' findings include: **Perceptions of Distracting Traits:** Journalists from marginalized backgrounds may face scrutiny over accents, hairstyles, and attire, prompting reflection on who finds these traits distracting. **Conventional Standards:** Despite diversity calls, many still adhere to limited beauty and communication norms that cater to a historically homogeneous audience. **The Power of Feedback:** Audience feedback often prioritizes appearance and vocal delivery over content, influencing change potential. It can either maintain the status quo or drive transformative shifts, making the audience pivotal in journalism's evolution. Powers advocates for exposure to diverse voices and appearances to combat bias and stigma. By normalizing varied self-presentation forms, news outlets can attract previously underserved audiences, fostering inclusivity and representation in journalism. #journalism #broadcastjournalists #broadcastnews #television #radio

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I’m profoundly thankful to Srini, Editor of TheFederal.com (https://thefederal.com/), and the Executive Council of New Generation Media for placing their trust on me to lead the charge in product-driven digital transformation at The Federal. Let’s be honest—building a scalable and sustainable news business isn’t exactly a walk in Cubbon Park. But where’s the fun without a challenge? News might be a public good, but it still has to bring home the bacon (or idli, depending on your palate). For agile, small newsrooms like The Federal, embracing AI tools isn’t a luxury anymore—it’s the new power move. A special shoutout to Srini, who redefined the term "hands-on leadership" by enrolling in Python classes alongside his team. Yes, you read that right—an editor who codes! If that doesn’t scream “newsroom of the future,” I don’t know what does. It’s proof that understanding code is no longer optional; it’s essential for survival and growth in modern journalism. The cherry on top? Witnessing our custom AI model (built to convert video to news stories) in action, complete with a disclaimer proudly displayed at the end of an article. Sure, it’s one small step for AI, but it’s a moonwalk for The Federal. And trust me, this is just the trailer—there’s a blockbuster ahead. As we forge ahead, The Federal is set to adopt a freemium model (because, yes, we know what the cool kids are doing) and explore Generative AI-driven targeted programmatic ads. No clickbait nonsense—just smart, relevant ads that actually make sense. And we’re not stopping there: our expansion into vernacular content (Hindi, Kannada, and Telugu) will get a major boost from our AI allies. Of course, at the heart of it all remains The Federal's unwavering commitment to quality journalism. Let me leave you with this parting thought: AI isn’t replacing humans anytime soon, but humans who know how to harness AI? Now, that’s who’s rewriting the story. 🚀 PS: Oh, and if you’re part of a newsroom and have thoughts to share—whether you’d like to exchange notes, throw a few bricks, or even swear this is plain silly—I’d love to hear from you! Let’s learn and grow together, one AI-powered typo at a time. PPS: The Federal’s disclosure highlights its use of a proprietary AI model alongside a Human-In-The-Loop (HITLO) process, ensuring AI efficiency is paired with human oversight for reliable journalism. In an era where AI tools like GPT and Gemini are widely used in newsrooms, this transparency builds trust and sets a standard for ethical implementation.

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For decades, internet politics has been shaped by a cyberlibertarian perspective that obsessed about government while enabling the corporate dystopia we live in today. If we want a better internet, we must abandon that perspective and reclaim sovereignty over digital technology. #techindustry #brazil #socialmedia #twitter #telegram #digitalsovereignty

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More good digital journalism thoughts via Nieman Journalism Lab, this time from Gina Chua How can we mitigate the affects of AI? She says: True exclusive information — scoops — will be critical.  Smart, unique insights will be hard to replicate.  Voice and personality can attract and retain readers. In-person events can't be carried out by chatbots. Never forget the importance of deep engagement with, and knowledge of, the community you serve https://lnkd.in/eQANtnWy

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Defending Digital Campaigns Michael Kaiser sheds light on the tactics used by bad actors in election interference, emphasizing their goal could be to sow chaos and apathy rather than influence voting. “They’re trying to divide us at another level,” he said. “For some bad actors, the misinformation and disinformation is not about how you vote. It's just that we're divided.” Learn more in Paige Gross’s article in States Newsroom about combating misinformation and disinformation in the upcoming elections. #Misinformation #Disinformation #Election2024 #ArtificialIntelligence #AI https://lnkd.in/eBypvBP6

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Happy to share that Report for America is announcing 100+ newsroom partners and is opening applications for news corps members. Three-quarters of newsrooms are partnering with Report for America as traditional host newsrooms for corps members, and a select group is taking part in a pilot accelerator program to develop sustainable business models through local philanthropy. “Today’s news marks an exciting expansion of our proven model,” said Kim Kleman, executive director of Report for America. “Not only are we recruiting and placing exceptional journalists in communities that need them most, but we’re significantly increasing our efforts to help newsrooms become more financially stable.” https://lnkd.in/e2HXy8XK #newsrooms #localnews #journalism #application #journalist #reporting

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How should the media respond to any falsehoods without amplifying them? What’s the best way to report on anti-democratic rhetoric while maintaining impartiality? And how can newsrooms build trust with an audience that’s increasingly fractured along ideological lines?

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The Wall Street Journal editor Paul Beckett’s account in the Columbia Journalism Review of how the Journal mobilized to free Evan Gershkovich after 16th months as a prisoner in Russia is a tour de force and “a free press triumph” and well worth the read. Some excerpts: A phone call to a senior government official who knows this terrain provided the answer: “There are times to be quiet and there are times to be loud—and this is a time to be loud.” “Yet on days like August 1 (when he was freed), the values that underpin democracy and are the foundation of a free press triumph.” “Few countries that are not democracies could point to such care for their ordinary citizens abroad, let alone noncitizens imprisoned for their political beliefs.” “news organizations must continue to assess and calibrate the risks their reporters face when operating in dangerous terrain. Perhaps they need to make more hard-nosed choices on whether it is necessary to deploy in person to countries that target journalists or whether that terrain can effectively be covered from outside, given advances in technology and communications.” “And they could ensure that press freedom around the world—an issue so fundamental to their existence that it is often taken for granted—is a subject they cover as if their livelihoods and their liberty depended on it.” https://lnkd.in/etZTVCeB

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The October monthly episode of our For Immediate Release podcast explores critical communication trends. Shel Holtz, SCMP, and I discuss six compelling topics, including Reddit's potential for crisis comms, the state of blogging in 2024, ethical concerns in celebrity news coverage, workplace connection challenges, and AI's impact across industries. In a blog post, I've set out some key takeaways that present opportunities for communicators, including leveraging Reddit for stakeholder engagement and preparing to guide organisations through AI adoption. Read more and listen now for valuable perspectives and insights on navigating today's complex communication landscape. https://lnkd.in/e5_CcMR2

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Political donations play a critical role in shaping the landscape of electoral campaigns in the United States. These contributions not only provide essential funding for campaign activities but also reflect the engagement and priorities of different groups of Americans. Using data from AnthologyAI, we explored the nuances of political donations to uncover patterns and strategic insights that could enhance campaign fundraising efforts. https://lnkd.in/ey-J39DQ AnthologyAI

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DOS Won't Hunt -- Recording Schedule through December   Interested panelists, please contact me directly via email, not just with comments on this post: [email protected]   Note to public relations teams: please only pitch panelists you have CONFIRMED will be available on those dates. This is a video podcast recording. Only the panelists will be in the session. Here are the topics I plan to cover on the podcast in the weeks ahead. All recordings will be on video, panel discussions, at 12 pm ET on the recording dates below.   December 6 – What Enterprise IT Predictions Actually Mattered in 2024? Every year sees prognostications about what tech will take off, evolve, and transform the enterprise world. What expectations did your organization start 2024 with and how has that played out? Did anything hold water? Did surprises in tech emerge during the year eclipse the predictions? Is it better for organizations to not chase predictive trends or does that mean giving up a competitive edge? December 13 – The Cloud You Want vs the Cloud You Need: Are enterprises able to tailor their cloud resources to fit their operational needs? How does that compare with ambitions? Cost? Usage? Are more organizations cloud-first? Are we ever going to see an all, cloud-first world where EVERYTHING exists in the cloud? Does that dream no longer seem real?   December 20 – Cyber Threats and the Holidays: Do retailers still face high levels of cyber risk in a world fraught with ransomware attacks year-round? Do bad actors focus their attention more on targets they strike when an opportunity arises, which might not have anything to do with the holiday shopping season? Or are there still Cyber Grinches out there who are making a concerted effort to strike as transactions fly faster than reindeer? December 27 – Infrastructure Resilience: Y2K 25 Years Later. What have we learned about maintaining our infrastructure, a generation after putting in the work to correct the Y2K bug? How has computer infrastructure been rethought? What “rules” and “norms” that were part of legacy tech no longer apply in the time of cloud, edge, and all else beyond we are exploring?

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