George M.

NewsBreak helps get States Newsroom's work to hundreds of thousands of readers each week. This blog post quotes my colleague, Lara Weber, on how we're helping to fill the gap left by local news outlets shutting down. “NewsBreak plays an important role in getting our stories out by making them available to readers for free, localized for wherever they are," Weber said.

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It's time for America to embrace Digital Government and Electronic Governance. This is the only way to modernize the way we interact with our elected representatives and other members of our community to create a more responsive and accountable Government that puts the people first. Let's work together to make this a reality. Watch the video for a full demo... #DigitalGovernment #ElectronicGovernance #AccountableGovernment #PeopleFirst

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NEW from U.S. News & World Report Ideas & Opinions~ Democracy Dies Without Local Newspapers Beware of misinformation and deepfakes trying to sway your vote, writes Josh Stearns of Democracy Fund #USNews #opinion #pressfreedom #localnews

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Here's my story looking at nuances of #GenAIvendors -- including @OpenAI, Stability AI, Google, Mistral AI, Anthropic and others -- signing on with Thorn and All Tech Is Human to #SafetybyDesign principles for #generativeAI systems to prevent and reduce #childsexualabuse https://lnkd.in/ejjxCbTb

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Late on Friday, July 12th, Rev3 of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) dropped and went under silence procedure. In UN lingo this means that, unless one or more member states “break” silence, the GDC would be adopted as a consensus document. The deadline for anyone to “break” silence was Tuesday, July 18th at 3pm EST. Silence was broken just prior to the deadline. With silence now "broken", states are back at the negotiations' table. Following the trend with the zero draft, here is my "Good, Bad and Ugly" thoughts about Rev3 of the GDC. https://lnkd.in/e2w52NsQ #GDC #internet #multistakeholder #governance #AI #data #humanrights

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Hey news friends in North America, We've just announced a new lab for publishers who want to improve their engagement and retention of audiences that spike around major news events. Yes, that means elections, but there are so many other stories that lead to similar behaviors: influx of audiences around a story or topic who then leave when that thing is over. This Lab will focus on middle- and bottom-of-the-funnel strategies with the full Blue Engine experience: audits, workshops, a dedicated coach, sharing outcomes and learnings as a group, and lots of GIFs. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gJJR7RtN

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🎙️ Seeking Funding for Our Exciting New Podcast! At News with Navya, our mission has always been to spotlight solutions, spread hope, and drive action. This journey began when I left my full-time job to dive into climate action journalism. With a dedicated team, we launched a platform focused on creating hope for a cleaner, brighter future 🌿 One of our most beloved series is The Good News Show – a weekly celebration of positive stories about our planet. With over 80 episodes and other engaging series, we’ve tackled a wide range of topics, interviewed changemakers, and highlighted solutions that inspire and educate our audience 💡 Now, we’re excited to take the next big step with our new podcast. This podcast will feature inspiring founders and explore thrilling career paths in the green sector 🎙️ The green sector is buzzing with exciting innovation. Startups are changing how we live while protecting the planet. For example, as traditional farming careers lose their appeal, groundbreaking climate solutions are inspiring a new generation to explore sustainable agriculture. From carbon-negative buildings and plant-based leather to turning waste into valuable resources, now is the perfect time to celebrate climate-friendly innovations and choose green careers 🌱 Our goal is to showcase the incredible potential of green careers, debunk myths, emphasize the importance of sustainability, and spark real action. It’s a thrilling opportunity, and I’m super excited about it! 🚀 To make this vision a reality, we’re seeking funding and sponsorship. If you know of any corporate partners, individuals, or organizations who can support this project, please tag them or connect us. You can also reach me on [email protected] 📧 Let’s make something amazing happen together! ✨ #ClimateAction #GreenCareers #Sustainability #GreenJobs #Podcast #Sponsors #CallForSponsors #Funding

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Today on my Substack I'm giving you a peek into my producer's kit! Specifically at ten items I invested in that I definitely don't regret buying! It's important for a producer to be prepared, always prepared, much like a boy scout, and a good kit is paramount to making sure you're ready for whatever comes your way. My Substack is growing and I post articles, reviews, reflections and more several times a week all centered around working in film production so come say hi and become a free (or paid) subscriber! 😘 #filmmaking #film #womeninfilm #scadgrad #indiefilm #independentfilm #filmmaker #substack #protip #advice #review #reviews #filmproducer #producer #producing

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What does it take to turn a YouTube channel into a next-generation Hollywood? Meet Kinigra Deon—a visionary creator who’s redefining storytelling and building a creator-led media company from Alabama. You may have already heard about Kinigra from her interview a few months ago with Colin and Samir or you saw her speak in person at VidCon or VidSummit this year. I met Kinigra during my time at Spotter, where she was part of our funded creator community. From our first conversation, it was clear she wasn’t just building a channel—she was building a legacy. Her vision? 🎥 Create high-value, cinematic stories that showcase Black talent. ✨ Mentor young creators and empower her community. 🏡 Balance it all as a working mom. Fast forward to today, and Kinigra’s impact is undeniable: ➡️ 8.3M subscribers ➡️ 500M+ monthly views ➡️ 100+ hours of daily watch time But here’s where it gets exciting: Over 70% of Kinigra’s watch time comes from connected TVs, where viewers treat her content like their favorite shows. Last week, YouTube shared tips for creators to thrive on TV screens (link in comments). Here’s how Kinigra is already leading the way: ✔️ Hooking Viewers: Gripping opening scenes pull audiences in instantly. ✔️ Storytelling Focus: Scripted episodes rival premium TV in quality and depth. ✔️ Optimized for TV: Cinematic, long-form content feels at home on the big screen. ✔️ Shorts as Bridges: Bite-sized videos funnel viewers to full episodes. ✔️ Larger Vision: Mentoring local talent to build a next-gen creator-led media company. Kinigra’s secret? “The watch time comes because of the effort you put into the story.” Her journey hasn’t been easy, however. She started with low-budget sketches, learned to scale production, and built a team. Now, she’s tackling representation head-on while staying deeply rooted in her community. Inspired by Tyler Perry, Kinigra’s next step is to build her own studio. She’s creating professional sets and launching a content house to mentor new creators for free—removing barriers for the next generation. Her vision is bigger than YouTube: To prove creators aren’t just entertainers—they’re the future of storytelling. If you or the creators you support are ready to future-proof your content for TV screens, check out YouTube’s tips and let’s discuss: What are YOU doing to make your content big-screen worthy? #YouTubeTV #Creators #Storytelling #RepresentationMatters #WorkingMoms

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Been having so much fun writing with Glitter Magazine, Soeurs Media Group about everything in the pop culture world, and even better to cover major moments in the 2024 Election Cycle! Check out my Article about some of the key moments of Vice President Kamala Harris's Interview with Alex Cooper! https://lnkd.in/gi6eswge

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When the American Journalism Project launched five years ago, our mandate was to create the conditions for community-led nonprofit news organizations to sustainably provide the journalism our democracy requires. Today, I’m pleased to share our 2024 Impact Report, a look at the progress we’ve made since our inception. In the five years since our launch, we’ve raised $175 million from national and local philanthropy, and built a portfolio of 44 nonprofit local news organizations —  diverse in size, scope, reach and leadership. Some highlights from the report: -In the last year alone, our portfolio of 44 grantee organizations generated $86 million in revenue — a 36% increase over their 2022 revenue. -Year over year, the organizations in our portfolio are seeing a 58% median growth. -And this growth is leading to more journalism – last year, our portfolio of grantees employed 568 editorial and newsroom staff – an 18% increase over 2022. Organizations are growing, diversifying their revenue, adding journalists, and strengthening their communities. I’m proud of the progress the portfolio has made, and remain clear-eyed about the future. This report sheds light on how far we’ve come and sets the stage for what’s ahead. I hope you'll take a moment to read it. https://lnkd.in/eipwwhxN

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Thanks, Delano Massey, for writing this comprehensive piece that looks at the state of the local news ecosystem right now. I am in WILD agreement about several key things you wrote: "Rather than wait and see and react to the technological changes coming at us, the industry must redefine its relationship with technology and take some control. Some news organizations have come to terms with this, and others see the value in creating new revenue streams. Diversifying revenue sources is key. But beyond that, the industry has to be more entrepreneurial and less traditional. Doubling down on the old models is simply not enough." I love that you also suggested the ways that local news and journalism can bring people together - not just through stories as the atomic unit of journalism - but through experiences like live events, office hours and panel discussions. Members of Tiny News Collective like Cara Kuhlman are getting creative with things like local tours to help extend the content and provide other pathways for community engagement. We love to see these kinds of experiments and ways of reaching people that are not so highly dependent upon other platforms. If you haven't read this yet, please do! There's lots to learn about where we are, what we need to do to change and ways to dream for the future of local news. https://lnkd.in/eAm8YWpW #localnews #entrepreneurship

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Part of our role as journalists is to identify disinformation. Here's a simple way to get started: F - Find the source: Check where the news is coming from. A - Assess credibility: Look at whether the source is reliable. C - Cross-check: Verify the information with other trustworthy sources. T - Trust evidence: Rely on facts and evidence, not just opinions or rumors.

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For tomorrow's AI in News Media newsletter, I had a great chat with Andrew Dowdeswell, who explained how RADAR AI is creating stories at scale for local news. You can sign up for free here to get it first: https://lnkd.in/eydKXsTp and read the previous four issues here: https://lnkd.in/eb2APmdT

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This week the local paper had a generally interesting story on place names and boundaries. The specifics are local, but the nature is national: https://lnkd.in/gYfzESEN. In the case of Calumet, the community would not have existed in this remote location if the world’s most abundant supply of native copper wasn’t found here. Speculators and mining companies purchased the arbitrary squares platted in the arbitrary US Public Land Survey, and then overlaid small mining locations suited to the business of mineral extraction. People came to do the work; a community flourished under a system of corporate paternalism; it lasted for some time, and then the mining operation ceased, leaving behind a disinvested fragmentation of places and properties. That fragmentation was inherited as reality and carried into the future that is today. One of my mantra questions with Regrid is “how does new life grow though an old land grid?” The United States is young in the grand scheme, but it’s important to note that it is now also old: its communities have largely outlived their original economic and geographic purposes. Land parcels and community boundaries often have absurdly arbitrary origins, and then they stay that way into the future, even when they don’t make sense. Noting the local confusion, the Calumet Village Manager is quoted as saying, “People don’t see your boundaries.” Step one for moving into the future is seeing your boundaries so you can start to think about them more clearly. Sometimes you’ll want to better adapt what you do to them. Sometimes you’ll want to better adapt them to what you do.

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Penny Riordan: Articulating the value of your journalism takes more than just sharing links. It’s about showing the impact of your work so far, describing your relationship with your community, and putting together a proposal that allows you to execute on this work. Included in the story below: a pitch deck template you can customize to develop your pitch. Local Media Association

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Almost 100 speaking proposals for SXSW 2025 have already been entered in the PanelPicker interface. The total will increase significantly over the next three weeks -- final submission deadline is 11:59 pm Pacific Time on the evening of Sunday, July 21. panelpicker.sxsw.com/about Are you interested in entering a speaking proposal for next year's edition of March Magic, but not quite sure how the application process works? Then please watch the video of the hour-long PanelPicker Best Practices / Ask Me Anything online session that happened earlier this week. https://lnkd.in/gYMK8fSK Get more advice on how to craft a winning PanelPicker speaking proposal by attending one of the upcoming Office Hours. These occur July 9, 11, 15, 17, and 19. See the link below for more details and for sign-up information on these Office Hour sessions. https://lnkd.in/g6W2_pAU #sxsw, #sxsw2025, #panelpicker, #sxswpanelpicker, #innovation, #creativity, #speakingopportunity, #speakingopportunities, #opportunity, #thoughtleadership, #leadership, #Austin, #ATX, #AustinTexas, #newideas, #AMA, #askmeanything, #bestpractices, #MarchMagic, #future, #emergingideas, #startups, #technology

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Semi regular rant from a veteran multi-media journalist in the age of misinformation (or see it as free advice from a pro): I implore my journalism colleagues who are trained primarily in text/print to use extreme caution and thought when turning to other mediums like video, audio and visuals. Many think of using video and audio as a way to grab attention for an important piece of text/print journalism to bring attention to the 'real reporting'. I get it - you need eyeballs and audience - readers and people are leaning more and more toward visual/audio - but this thinking is shortsighted and potentially dangerous journalistically. To be successful in gaining trust from the people you are trying to reach you cannot feed them garbage. You have to feed them smart, compelling, accurate visuals and audio that services the thrust your reporting in its totality, including its complexities. If you just feed them marketing material that doesn't contain the nuance and depth of your reporting - know this - the video/audio product is most likely the only thing many are going to engage with, and it is what people are more likely share most broadly. Therefore you'll be doing a disservice to your reporting. Here's the free advice: if you have a journalistic point you are making - don't hide it in your text piece. IT MUST BE THE PRIMARY POINT OF YOUR VIDEO & AUDIO piece as well. If you are afraid you are giving away your reporting (ie, 'now there's no reason to read the piece') you may be right - but if you don't do it this way you are absolutely: - not producing journalism - likely to have your video/audio work misconstrued, or worse, used for disinformation purposes - creating distrust bc you look foolish Ultimately, if you don't understand the full opportunity and ETHICS of video and audio journalism - hire someone who does. Otherwise you will create not just subpar work, but you can, and will most likely, create problematic journalism. # End of rant.

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