Emily Bell
@emilybell.bsky.social
Prof Columbia J School. Director Tow Center . Writes Guardian + elsewhere. Lives in airports…views are my own, thank goodness
Reposted by Emily Bell
Here is the Newsweek magazine article that led to the song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," marked up to show key passages that Lightfoot borrowed. Short thread at quoted post. Thanks to @bikeguy.bsky.social for reminding me about this. #EdmundFitzgerald50
November 9, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Here is the Newsweek magazine article that led to the song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," marked up to show key passages that Lightfoot borrowed. Short thread at quoted post. Thanks to @bikeguy.bsky.social for reminding me about this. #EdmundFitzgerald50
Picture of the day
November 11, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Picture of the day
Reposted by Emily Bell
there is no separation at all between trump admin governance & donald trump's personal/family greed & ambitions. this is in part why all discussion of admin "policy" that neglects this baseline fact is so hollow & naive, & mystifying that ppl still write about policy without this framing.
November 10, 2025 at 10:59 PM
there is no separation at all between trump admin governance & donald trump's personal/family greed & ambitions. this is in part why all discussion of admin "policy" that neglects this baseline fact is so hollow & naive, & mystifying that ppl still write about policy without this framing.
Compelling as ever from @jburnmurdoch.ft.com . I might disagree with the conclusion that one shared source is *the* key democratic pre-condition - autocracies usually have 1 shared source. The US is moving closer towards that with unprecedented mergers and capture. What *type* of source is key
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Compelling as ever from @jburnmurdoch.ft.com . I might disagree with the conclusion that one shared source is *the* key democratic pre-condition - autocracies usually have 1 shared source. The US is moving closer towards that with unprecedented mergers and capture. What *type* of source is key
This is as good a summation as you will get on the levers behind the BBC changes. A set of editorial judgments and errors that should have been swiftly corrected or addressed and blatant political interference amounting to an unnecessary crisis : observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...
The Observer view: political interference at the BBC | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:56 AM
This is as good a summation as you will get on the levers behind the BBC changes. A set of editorial judgments and errors that should have been swiftly corrected or addressed and blatant political interference amounting to an unnecessary crisis : observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...
If you are astonished by what is happening at the BBC today, you might want to read this seemingly unrelated by highly relevant piece
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
In Trump 2.0, MAGA-aligned influencers and media emerge as the new mainstream
How right‑wing influencers and Trump officials work in lockstep — targeting perceived adversaries, amplifying false claims and reshaping US media.
www.reuters.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:20 PM
If you are astonished by what is happening at the BBC today, you might want to read this seemingly unrelated by highly relevant piece
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Emily Bell
While also saying that maybe SpaceX should go public
Musk is still talking at the Tesla shareholder meeting and he just criticized "the parasitic load of being a public company" which has "grown over time."
This from a man who was just awarded a $1 trillion pay package from more than 75% of his public company shareholders.
This from a man who was just awarded a $1 trillion pay package from more than 75% of his public company shareholders.
November 6, 2025 at 11:11 PM
While also saying that maybe SpaceX should go public
Send in the Troops…..
I am sure women ruined the workplace for some appalling men - but never received the recognition we deserved
I am sure women ruined the workplace for some appalling men - but never received the recognition we deserved
November 6, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Send in the Troops…..
I am sure women ruined the workplace for some appalling men - but never received the recognition we deserved
I am sure women ruined the workplace for some appalling men - but never received the recognition we deserved
Reposted by Emily Bell
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Reposted by Emily Bell
This from @craigsilverman.bsky.social's story nails it. The companies generally do not like spam ads or need the revenue from them. They simply can't fight the spam effectively without adding friction that will result in “too much good revenue flushed out”. So they make it OUR problem.
#Regulation
#Regulation
Rob Leathern and Rob Goldman, who both worked at Meta, are launching a new nonprofit that aims to bring transparency to an increasingly opaque, scam-filled social media ecosystem. www.wired.com/story/scam-a...
Scam Ads Are Flooding Social Media. These Former Meta Staffers Have a Plan
Rob Leathern and Rob Goldman, who both worked at Meta, are launching a new nonprofit that aims to bring transparency to an increasingly opaque, scam-filled social media ecosystem.
www.wired.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:55 AM
This from @craigsilverman.bsky.social's story nails it. The companies generally do not like spam ads or need the revenue from them. They simply can't fight the spam effectively without adding friction that will result in “too much good revenue flushed out”. So they make it OUR problem.
#Regulation
#Regulation
Reposted by Emily Bell
November 6, 2025 at 11:23 AM
WTAF is this? I guess podcasters have to hustle, but you are Britain’s biggest politics podcast and you are doing sponcon for Google’s ‘efficiency tools’ in government !!
November 6, 2025 at 11:03 AM
WTAF is this? I guess podcasters have to hustle, but you are Britain’s biggest politics podcast and you are doing sponcon for Google’s ‘efficiency tools’ in government !!
Reposted by Emily Bell
When you book a flight through major travel sites, a data broker owned by U.S. airlines will sell details about your flight—your name, credit card used, and where you’re flying to the government.
We found out how to opt-out of ARC selling your travel data. A guide:
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
We found out how to opt-out of ARC selling your travel data. A guide:
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
How to Opt-Out of Airlines Selling Your Travel Data to the Government
The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), owned by major U.S. airlines, collects billions of ticketing records and sells them to the government to be searched without a warrant. I managed to opt-out…
www.404media.co
November 4, 2025 at 2:48 PM
When you book a flight through major travel sites, a data broker owned by U.S. airlines will sell details about your flight—your name, credit card used, and where you’re flying to the government.
We found out how to opt-out of ARC selling your travel data. A guide:
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
We found out how to opt-out of ARC selling your travel data. A guide:
www.404media.co/how-to-opt-o...
Reposted by Emily Bell
Zohran Mamdani: "So Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up."
November 5, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Zohran Mamdani: "So Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up."
1-0 to the Arsenal
November 5, 2025 at 2:47 AM
1-0 to the Arsenal
Reposted by Emily Bell
Rainy day walk in Portland’s NW Hills #Photography #Portland 📷
November 4, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Rainy day walk in Portland’s NW Hills #Photography #Portland 📷
‘If we have a passenger named Antony Scaramucci on board will he please make himself known to the cabin crew…’ 👀
November 4, 2025 at 4:06 AM
‘If we have a passenger named Antony Scaramucci on board will he please make himself known to the cabin crew…’ 👀
Vive la France 🇫🇷
November 4, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Vive la France 🇫🇷
💯
if there was a rich person with the will, you could build the most incredible news organization that has ever existed just from the wreckage of this year alone.
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 4, 2025 at 3:12 AM
💯
Reposted by Emily Bell
The @us.theguardian.com has a number of open positions, including two reporter roles focusing on organizing and movement building.
Jobs are 12 month contract, full-time, union, flexible location
workwithus.theguardian.com/job-search/e...
workwithus.theguardian.com/job-search/e...
Jobs are 12 month contract, full-time, union, flexible location
workwithus.theguardian.com/job-search/e...
workwithus.theguardian.com/job-search/e...
November 3, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The @us.theguardian.com has a number of open positions, including two reporter roles focusing on organizing and movement building.
Jobs are 12 month contract, full-time, union, flexible location
workwithus.theguardian.com/job-search/e...
workwithus.theguardian.com/job-search/e...
Jobs are 12 month contract, full-time, union, flexible location
workwithus.theguardian.com/job-search/e...
workwithus.theguardian.com/job-search/e...
Nothing is harder to watch than the evisceration of new and successful forms of journalism . I sincerely hope the staffers laid off reassemble under their own brand on an independent platform
Condé Nast finally achieved its dream of wrecking Teen Vogue and killing its politics section.
www.thecut.com/article/teen...
www.thecut.com/article/teen...
Teen Vogue Is Folding Into Vogue.com
According to Condé Nast’s announcement, the outlet will keep its “unique editorial identity and mission.”
www.thecut.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Nothing is harder to watch than the evisceration of new and successful forms of journalism . I sincerely hope the staffers laid off reassemble under their own brand on an independent platform
Aloof Wives assemble 🥷
November 4, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Aloof Wives assemble 🥷
Flying out of jfk I go to my Global Entry interview. ‘You work at Columbia??’ ‘I do’ ‘As a professor??!’ (Laughs out loud in sympathy) ‘Yes ma’am’ ‘Oh lord! …what do you teach?’ ‘It gets better , I teach …journalism’ . Actual guffaws. Then we have a nice chat about the suboptimal nature of TikTok
November 4, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Flying out of jfk I go to my Global Entry interview. ‘You work at Columbia??’ ‘I do’ ‘As a professor??!’ (Laughs out loud in sympathy) ‘Yes ma’am’ ‘Oh lord! …what do you teach?’ ‘It gets better , I teach …journalism’ . Actual guffaws. Then we have a nice chat about the suboptimal nature of TikTok
Reposted by Emily Bell
This is most literally the LOWEST HANGING FRUIT of AI detection: read (or maintain) the already-available metadata. Alexios' investigation shows that most of the platforms can't even do that.
Today on @indicator.media: A first-of-its-kind audit of AI labels on major social platforms.
Tech platforms promised to label AI content. They're not delivering.
An Indicator audit of hundreds of synthetic images and videos reveals that platforms frequently fail to label AI content
indicator.media
October 24, 2025 at 12:27 AM
This is most literally the LOWEST HANGING FRUIT of AI detection: read (or maintain) the already-available metadata. Alexios' investigation shows that most of the platforms can't even do that.
I chose this post season to become overly invested in baseball, as opposed to just normal levels of passing interest once the Yankees were inevitably eliminated . And that was an incredible game among many other incredible games. (Just a shame ahem somebody had to win….)
November 2, 2025 at 5:38 AM
I chose this post season to become overly invested in baseball, as opposed to just normal levels of passing interest once the Yankees were inevitably eliminated . And that was an incredible game among many other incredible games. (Just a shame ahem somebody had to win….)