Cindi Lash

Baltimore-area readers: SAVE THE DATE! July 6, 2024, from 6:30-8 pm, at Snug Books in Baltimore, author John Maly will read from his debut novel, JURIS EX MACHINA. Audience discussion about the implications of AI will follow. Register today for free tickets at www.snugbooks.com Here's a teaser: With a click, the bread fell into the toaster. One circuit fired the heating coils. Others monitored bread temperature and color. Yet another circuit was quite unlike all the rest- as exotic as it was sinister; when it activated, 368 people would die. In the 22nd century, the justice system is airtight in the domed city of Arcadia. Human error has been removed. Yet somehow, a well-intentioned young kleptomaniac named Rainville falls through the cracks and is wrongfully convicted of mass murder. He is exiled to Wychwood Prison, a crumbling necropolis beyond the dome where the dead outnumber the living, where the inmates are also the guards. News of the crime follows him, and he becomes a marked man. Rainville's only hope for survival is becoming the first inmate in history to escape Wychwood. Can he do it? The fate of Arcadia depends on it. Can't make the event? You can grab your copy today at https://lnkd.in/ewRP8SP4, which also benefits Snug Books, an independent, woman-owned bookstore. #whattoread #ai #artificialintelligence #scifinovel #cyberpunk

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Rare good news and so vital:

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The December/January issue of C&B News is now at the printer. That's the 10th and final issue of 2024. Hmm. Better find something else to do now! #magazine #communitynews #localnews

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The 2024 ASAJ Conference, aka #ASJACOn24, kicked off yesterday with a keynote by Krishnan Trotman about the importance of taking the uncommon path, and not being afraid to be wrong. Check out the recap to learn more about the day's sessions and join us for day 2. https://lnkd.in/emhKdjME

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Misinformation wrapped in the form of news affects the world in different forms and leads to long-term consequences. If you are in Bangalore, please join me for this panel discussion on a growing issue which affects all of us in many different ways. If you have any specific questions you would like to ask us, you can do so during the event, or you can send your question in the comments section of this post and we will try to include it in our discussion. #Journalism #EnvironmentalJournalism #GreenLitFest Green Literature Festival #Misinformation

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The topic of corrections comes up a lot in comms. There’s some new research on this that is kind of interesting. Here is an excerpt from an article summarizing the findings: “…people generally trust journalists when they confirm claims to be true but are more distrusting when journalists correct false claims. Some linguistics and social science theories suggest that people intuitively understand social expectations not to be negative. Being disagreeable, like when pointing out someone else’s lie or error, carries with it a risk of backlash. We reasoned that it follows that corrections are held to a different, more critical standard than confirmations. Attempts to debunk can trigger doubts about journalists’ honesty and motives. In other words, if you’re providing a correction, you’re being a bit of a spoilsport, and that could negatively affect how you are viewed.” #mediarelations #psychology #sociology #PR

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We lead today’s Connecting with the viewpoint of Columbia Journalism Review on the plans announced by the AP to create a new sister organization to fundraise for and support state and local journalism.   Governed by an independent board of directors, the 501(c)3 charitable organization will help AP sustain, augment and grow journalism and services for the industry, as well as help fund other entities that share a commitment to state and local news.   We also deliver more of your stories of working in your first AP bureau – continuing an ongoing theme that’s proven highly popular.   Our colleague Norm Abelson observes: “Of all the compelling, humorous, moving and enlightening pieces I have read on Connecting, the recent stories on first AP assignments rank near the top.   “Often they're as interesting as a novel, as educating as a J-school grad course, as personal as a memoir. The stories are told with honesty and openness, recalling both the successes as well as the miscues and bumps along the way.   “Both for those who opted for a career with the news service, as well as those of us who moved on to other interests, I'd argue there is no better foundation for a meaningful and fulfilling career than time spent at The AP.”   Here’s to a great day – be safe, stay healthy, live it to your fullest. https://conta.cc/4ciWKsA

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Springfield, Ohio, is where I grew up. This E&P story highlights the importance of local journalism. A key takeaway: When asked about advice for other local newsrooms potentially facing a similar situation, Sweigart stressed the importance of maintaining journalistic integrity. “You have to recognize that social media rumors will often spread faster than you can report,” he said. “But your responsibility is to be accurate and deliberate in your coverage. The community relies on you to provide the facts, even when national outlets are pushing a different narrative.” #journalismmatters #localnews #nationalnews #Springfield

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This upcoming webinar from The Association of Health Care Journalists promises to be informative and helpful for anyone looking to learn more about health care costs

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As we wait to hear who won the election, one thing is already clear: election disinformation has reached alarming levels. In the latest episode of Anti-Defamation League's extremely podcast, two experts in the field of disinformation, Dr. Claire Wardle of Cornell University and Scripps News National Correspondent Elizabeth Landers join extremely hosts Oren Segal and Jessica Reaves to break it down. Among the topics they discuss: ·     How the disinformation onslaught of 2024 differs from disinformation waves of past presidential elections ·     The latest AI tools being used to create fake images, video and audio aimed at swaying voters ·     The liar’s dividend—the phenomenon whereby, because disinformation and misinformation are so widespread and more people are unsure about what is and isn’t true, a liar can simply deny that something is real ·     The role of pre-bunking in reducing the spread of election falsehoods and deterring election denialism ·     What social media platforms should be doing to curb disinformation and why they’ve pulled back from doing so Check out the episode here.

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So true. “All too often internal communications and press releases are boring because of flaws in reporting: missing facts, neglected details and emotionless quotes. Fixing those flaws comes down to observation and interviewing.” A lesson in the art of comms writing below.

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The assassination attempt on the former president reminds us that all journalists must be prepared to cover public gun attacks and trauma. Has your newsroom discussed ethical approaches and tips for trauma-informed reporting? Check out my article this week in Nieman Reports (Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard) on best practices for covering mass shootings, developed from the experiences of survivors. #journalism #journalismethics #gunviolence https://lnkd.in/eaw_9nGM

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The good-old news release remains a valuable part of the suite of communication tools. Delivery has expanded over the years, but the news release has many benefits, as noted in this article from CommPro: #corporatecommunicatin #publicrelations #businessstrategy https://lnkd.in/grMD7jPX

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Following up on this Part 1, these eight things can help you understand what “transparency” is – and isn’t #corpgov #transparency https://lnkd.in/eBUjnF8S

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An article written by Robert Nemeth documenting our Media and Journalism Research Center experience in funding media outlets in autocracies has now appeared The Fix Media. More on this topic to come soon. #capture #mediacapture #journalism #funding #support https://lnkd.in/dVNFm7Za

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