erika owens
@erikaowens.com
tech, journalism, music, TV, wandering, biking, and laughing way too loudly.
newly based in sheffield, previously philadelphia
banner image is by https://www.instagram.com/harshadisfree/ via atlas obscura
newly based in sheffield, previously philadelphia
banner image is by https://www.instagram.com/harshadisfree/ via atlas obscura
exciting chance to support neighborhood based journalism in philly!
We need to raise $20,000 to start the new year strong and fully staffed.
Every dollar fuels trusted, independent news that centers accountability, solutions, neighborhood voices, joy and resilience, and resources.
Considering donating to our campaign:
www.kensingtonvoice.com/kensington-j...
Every dollar fuels trusted, independent news that centers accountability, solutions, neighborhood voices, joy and resilience, and resources.
Considering donating to our campaign:
www.kensingtonvoice.com/kensington-j...
Help Kensington Voice start 2026 at full strength. Local news doesn't fund itself.
Every dollar donated supports an act of journalism.
www.kensingtonvoice.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:24 PM
exciting chance to support neighborhood based journalism in philly!
world's tiniest violin, but it's annoying how i set up my email accounts before i knew i would constantly be reading them out to people over the phone.
December 18, 2025 at 11:55 AM
world's tiniest violin, but it's annoying how i set up my email accounts before i knew i would constantly be reading them out to people over the phone.
Reposted by erika owens
New @propublica.org:
@emsimani.bsky.social analyzed nonprofit tax filings and found that more than 1,000 charities have stripped DEI-related language from their mission statements this year.
www.propublica.org/article/dele...
@emsimani.bsky.social analyzed nonprofit tax filings and found that more than 1,000 charities have stripped DEI-related language from their mission statements this year.
www.propublica.org/article/dele...
December 17, 2025 at 11:43 AM
New @propublica.org:
@emsimani.bsky.social analyzed nonprofit tax filings and found that more than 1,000 charities have stripped DEI-related language from their mission statements this year.
www.propublica.org/article/dele...
@emsimani.bsky.social analyzed nonprofit tax filings and found that more than 1,000 charities have stripped DEI-related language from their mission statements this year.
www.propublica.org/article/dele...
love this! i feel like class culture shown in this chart continues to influence salaries in the UK to this day.
Happy birthday to Jane Austen, and to this very on-brand Economist chart
www.economist.com/christmas-sp...
www.economist.com/christmas-sp...
December 16, 2025 at 2:25 PM
love this! i feel like class culture shown in this chart continues to influence salaries in the UK to this day.
Reposted by erika owens
There’s more attention today on the childhood vaccine schedule. Here’s what you need to know: 19thnews.org/2025/10/chil...
The childhood vaccine schedule: What is it and why do we need one?
A series of recommended shots that health providers administer to children as they age has been a recent target of President Donald Trump and his administration.
19thnews.org
December 5, 2025 at 5:19 PM
There’s more attention today on the childhood vaccine schedule. Here’s what you need to know: 19thnews.org/2025/10/chil...
holy craaaaaaaap definitely almost just fell for an email scam.
old neighbor who writes in a very _particular_ style, so the wording being weird was actually believable. appeared to come from his email address but reply-to of an address he never used before. asked to buy gift cards (he would!)
old neighbor who writes in a very _particular_ style, so the wording being weird was actually believable. appeared to come from his email address but reply-to of an address he never used before. asked to buy gift cards (he would!)
December 4, 2025 at 9:10 PM
holy craaaaaaaap definitely almost just fell for an email scam.
old neighbor who writes in a very _particular_ style, so the wording being weird was actually believable. appeared to come from his email address but reply-to of an address he never used before. asked to buy gift cards (he would!)
old neighbor who writes in a very _particular_ style, so the wording being weird was actually believable. appeared to come from his email address but reply-to of an address he never used before. asked to buy gift cards (he would!)
Reposted by erika owens
Yes, and, ICE is holding more than 60,000 people in detention each day, and more than 20 people have died in ICE custody this year.
www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...
December 4, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Yes, and, ICE is holding more than 60,000 people in detention each day, and more than 20 people have died in ICE custody this year.
www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...
oh wow, this is even worse than i thought! the _shelf prices_ at these places are often more expensive than at a "regular" store. gotta see if after reading this my mom will finally believe me and stop shopping there!
It’s a long article but worth reading. Shocking but not surprising. Seems like it amounts to electronic pickpocketing.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
How the dollar-store industry overcharges cash-strapped customers while promising low prices
A Guardian investigation reveals Dollar General and Family Dollar stores often fail to honor their shelf prices – charging more at checkout for everything from frying pans to Frosted Flakes
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:24 PM
oh wow, this is even worse than i thought! the _shelf prices_ at these places are often more expensive than at a "regular" store. gotta see if after reading this my mom will finally believe me and stop shopping there!
speaking of 20 years ago. "bowling alone" was all the rage when i was in college. it's so annoying every time it hits the zeitgeist again. people are so fixated on the title: oh no, no one has friends anymore! lonely. how sad.
but that's so not the freakin point
but that's so not the freakin point
December 4, 2025 at 2:14 AM
speaking of 20 years ago. "bowling alone" was all the rage when i was in college. it's so annoying every time it hits the zeitgeist again. people are so fixated on the title: oh no, no one has friends anymore! lonely. how sad.
but that's so not the freakin point
but that's so not the freakin point
just finished laying out my first PRINT publication in about 20 years, whewwwww.
i love open source software (scribus) but omg excavating how to do simple tasks in the midst of a million super customizeable options is a JOURNEY.
i love open source software (scribus) but omg excavating how to do simple tasks in the midst of a million super customizeable options is a JOURNEY.
December 4, 2025 at 1:03 AM
just finished laying out my first PRINT publication in about 20 years, whewwwww.
i love open source software (scribus) but omg excavating how to do simple tasks in the midst of a million super customizeable options is a JOURNEY.
i love open source software (scribus) but omg excavating how to do simple tasks in the midst of a million super customizeable options is a JOURNEY.
Reposted by erika owens
If you know me, you know I donated a ton of time and energy to building this org from 2023-2024. I’m grateful that led to hiring full-time staff in 2025. I hope we can keep building.
Will you help?
bit.ly/tja_pride
Will you help?
bit.ly/tja_pride
The Trans Journalists Association is building a future of journalism where stories about trans people are just, ethical, and informed by our leadership.
This #GivingTuesday, we’re asking you to support our movement: bit.ly/tja_pride. 🧵
This #GivingTuesday, we’re asking you to support our movement: bit.ly/tja_pride. 🧵
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 PM
If you know me, you know I donated a ton of time and energy to building this org from 2023-2024. I’m grateful that led to hiring full-time staff in 2025. I hope we can keep building.
Will you help?
bit.ly/tja_pride
Will you help?
bit.ly/tja_pride
Reposted by erika owens
my work contracts have mostly wrapped for the year, and I'm taking this extra downtime to reset/rethink what I want to be doing professionally next year (which is to say, I'm job-hunting).
some combination of: FE engineering, design, data, media, and mission-driven advocacy
some combination of: FE engineering, design, data, media, and mission-driven advocacy
December 1, 2025 at 10:40 PM
my work contracts have mostly wrapped for the year, and I'm taking this extra downtime to reset/rethink what I want to be doing professionally next year (which is to say, I'm job-hunting).
some combination of: FE engineering, design, data, media, and mission-driven advocacy
some combination of: FE engineering, design, data, media, and mission-driven advocacy
platonic is such a satisfying show in so many ways, and i think it is (weirdly!) giving me hope about work too.
erikaowens.com/blog/kicking...
erikaowens.com/blog/kicking...
Kicking robots, or how 'Platonic' gives me hope
erikaowens.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:23 PM
platonic is such a satisfying show in so many ways, and i think it is (weirdly!) giving me hope about work too.
erikaowens.com/blog/kicking...
erikaowens.com/blog/kicking...
for some frivolity, finally published a post i wrote a year ago about taking a boat across the ocean to move to the UK: erikaowens.com/blog/moving-...
Moving from the US to the UK via a transatlantic boat crossing
erikaowens.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
for some frivolity, finally published a post i wrote a year ago about taking a boat across the ocean to move to the UK: erikaowens.com/blog/moving-...
Reposted by erika owens
NEW — With Border Patrol Cmdr Greg Bovino gone for now, Chicago immigration advocates and community organizers are taking this moment to reflect and strategize for future federal immigration enforcement actions.
“The violence is very real and it’s affected all of us.”
thetriibe.com/2025/11/chic...
“The violence is very real and it’s affected all of us.”
thetriibe.com/2025/11/chic...
Chicago is a model of resistance for cities battling federal immigration enforcement operations • The TRiiBE
Chicago has been resisting ICE and Border Patrol by building rapid response and mutual aid networks, and providing legal defense funding.
thetriibe.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
NEW — With Border Patrol Cmdr Greg Bovino gone for now, Chicago immigration advocates and community organizers are taking this moment to reflect and strategize for future federal immigration enforcement actions.
“The violence is very real and it’s affected all of us.”
thetriibe.com/2025/11/chic...
“The violence is very real and it’s affected all of us.”
thetriibe.com/2025/11/chic...
excited about @sheffieldtransformed.org this weekend! i'm volunteering at this event! you can checkout the full schedule: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
November 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
excited about @sheffieldtransformed.org this weekend! i'm volunteering at this event! you can checkout the full schedule: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by erika owens
There was no way to know how many people died in Missouri prisons — until now.
Emerging on Bsky to share this latest installment in @themarshallproject.org's death-in-custody coverage + a few thoughts from my reporting on MO's flawed records system 🧵👇🏾
www.themarshallproject.org/2025/11/18/s...
Emerging on Bsky to share this latest installment in @themarshallproject.org's death-in-custody coverage + a few thoughts from my reporting on MO's flawed records system 🧵👇🏾
www.themarshallproject.org/2025/11/18/s...
There Was No Way to Know How Many People Died in Missouri Prisons — Until Now
For years, the state’s Department of Corrections cobbled together death records from multiple sources. New data reveals annual totals for the first time.
www.themarshallproject.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:13 PM
There was no way to know how many people died in Missouri prisons — until now.
Emerging on Bsky to share this latest installment in @themarshallproject.org's death-in-custody coverage + a few thoughts from my reporting on MO's flawed records system 🧵👇🏾
www.themarshallproject.org/2025/11/18/s...
Emerging on Bsky to share this latest installment in @themarshallproject.org's death-in-custody coverage + a few thoughts from my reporting on MO's flawed records system 🧵👇🏾
www.themarshallproject.org/2025/11/18/s...
the cruel, unsettling, harmful US/UK similarities show up in so many places.
grateful for the release of the trans news initiative this week to help make sense of journalism's role in how we got here transnewsinitiative.org
grateful for the release of the trans news initiative this week to help make sense of journalism's role in how we got here transnewsinitiative.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:20 PM
the cruel, unsettling, harmful US/UK similarities show up in so many places.
grateful for the release of the trans news initiative this week to help make sense of journalism's role in how we got here transnewsinitiative.org
grateful for the release of the trans news initiative this week to help make sense of journalism's role in how we got here transnewsinitiative.org
it's hard to put into words the heartbreak of what is happening in regards to immigration in both the US and the UK.
the just immense _cruelty_ being unleashed on people, families, communities.
the form of it differs, but the underlying heartlessness is the same. the willingness to scapegoat.
the just immense _cruelty_ being unleashed on people, families, communities.
the form of it differs, but the underlying heartlessness is the same. the willingness to scapegoat.
November 20, 2025 at 3:17 PM
it's hard to put into words the heartbreak of what is happening in regards to immigration in both the US and the UK.
the just immense _cruelty_ being unleashed on people, families, communities.
the form of it differs, but the underlying heartlessness is the same. the willingness to scapegoat.
the just immense _cruelty_ being unleashed on people, families, communities.
the form of it differs, but the underlying heartlessness is the same. the willingness to scapegoat.
Reposted by erika owens
Essential reporting from a @theflytrapmedia.com worker-owner at @prismreports.org (a great news org you should be supporting if you aren't already)!
NEW: As immigration enforcement continues across North Carolina, communities are mobilizing--inside and outside formal organizing networks--to protect their neighbors:
North Carolina immigration raids expected to escalate
As the impacts of the raids quickly ripple outward from Charlotte, North Carolinians are mobilizing to stem enforcement operations in their communities
prismreports.org
November 19, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Essential reporting from a @theflytrapmedia.com worker-owner at @prismreports.org (a great news org you should be supporting if you aren't already)!
another year, another must-read annual report from @defector.com. come for the small, cooperative org insights (omg the whole feedback section!), stay for the ideas about business for the whole industry (yes, please, distributing fractional support).
defector.com/defector-ann...
defector.com/defector-ann...
Defector Annual Report, September 2024 – August 2025 | Defector
Published on November 19, 2025 Purpose of this report Defector celebrated our fifth birthday in September 2025. It is a great honor, and something of a burden, to be publishing a fifth Annual Report. ...
defector.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:47 AM
another year, another must-read annual report from @defector.com. come for the small, cooperative org insights (omg the whole feedback section!), stay for the ideas about business for the whole industry (yes, please, distributing fractional support).
defector.com/defector-ann...
defector.com/defector-ann...
Reposted by erika owens
Our team at @tinynewscollective.bsky.social is hiring for an important and special role as we move forward into the next phase of our development. I'm super excited to welcome a new person to our dream team. ❤️
📣 We're hiring! We are seeking our first-ever development director to help us sustain and grow the work we do to support early-stage news founders. It's a really exciting and important role for us. Please share widely!
www.tinynewsco.org/tiny-news-co...
www.tinynewsco.org/tiny-news-co...
Tiny News Collective to expand with the hire of a development director
TNC is hiring its first Development Director to build and sustain support for our mission- and member-driven work.
www.tinynewsco.org
November 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Our team at @tinynewscollective.bsky.social is hiring for an important and special role as we move forward into the next phase of our development. I'm super excited to welcome a new person to our dream team. ❤️
Reposted by erika owens
It was announced on October 16, 2025 that VIBE was "joining forces" with Rolling Stone. As a result, the majority of VIBE employees were laid off. If you have the means to give, this team could use the support! www.gofundme.com/f/support-vi...
Donate to Support VIBE Staff After Sudden Layoffs, organized by Mya Abraham
It was announced on October 16, 2025 that VIBE was "joining forces" with Rolling S… Mya Abraham needs your support for Support VIBE Staff After Sudden Layoffs
www.gofundme.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:02 PM
It was announced on October 16, 2025 that VIBE was "joining forces" with Rolling Stone. As a result, the majority of VIBE employees were laid off. If you have the means to give, this team could use the support! www.gofundme.com/f/support-vi...
are news organizations going to continue daily updates on the number of people who have lost health insurance when the ACA subsidies expire, like we've heard about every canceled flight?
November 10, 2025 at 12:05 PM
are news organizations going to continue daily updates on the number of people who have lost health insurance when the ACA subsidies expire, like we've heard about every canceled flight?
jessica was one of those people always making connections between ideas and people, and who was extraordinarily generous in sharing her network and resources.
a tremendous loss. an inspiring legacy to honor.
www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-j...
a tremendous loss. an inspiring legacy to honor.
www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-j...
Donate to Honoring Jessica Clark, organized by Jennifer Brandel
Jessica Clark was an extraordinary innovator who passed away unexpectedly in late October. Her… Jennifer Brandel needs your support for Honoring Jessica Clark
www.gofundme.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:51 AM
jessica was one of those people always making connections between ideas and people, and who was extraordinarily generous in sharing her network and resources.
a tremendous loss. an inspiring legacy to honor.
www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-j...
a tremendous loss. an inspiring legacy to honor.
www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-j...