Jess Awtry
awtry.bsky.social
Jess Awtry
@awtry.bsky.social
VP/digital strategy+comms at Pew Research Center. Formerly led audience efforts at Newsweek, The Hill, USA Today Network. Journalist, data devourer, friend of strong local journalism. Weird thing for karaoke.
I posted this triple-meta nerd joke 6 years ago today and nobody got it and I'm clearly still salty about it.
November 22, 2025 at 3:51 PM
So we're gonna just escalate right to "Not only are you somewhere you shouldn't be, but you're clearly not you — you're not even doing a good job of being a person pretending to be you."
November 17, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Breaking out a classic costume for trick or treaters. Happy Halloween! #ghostbusters
November 1, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Also at the end of the trail today: free bike tune-ups by Friends of the W&OD.

Me, ashamed of riding this thing too hard without proper care: “I know it’s been too long since I’ve had a tune up. How bad am I?”

Him, after 4 seconds of silence: “… beautiful day, isn’t it.”
October 4, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Word on the street is that you’re doing awesome.
(Spotted at the end of the W&OD trail after a morning ride)
October 4, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Perceptions of journalism — and who is a journalist — keep shifting.

• Good news for journalists: 8 in 10 agree that you deserve that title if you write for a paper/website.

• Bad news: About half say influence is on the decline.

@pewresearch.org report: www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2...
How Americans View Journalists in the Digital Age
U.S. adults largely value journalists’ role in society but see their influence declining – and they differ over what a journalist is, according to Pew Research Center.
www.pewresearch.org
August 20, 2025 at 2:07 PM
People who occasionally play Scrabble (maybe 3-4x per year), help me settle an argument in my house:

You just "know" how letter values … right? D=2, J=8, K=5, M=3, Q=10, etc.?

I rattled them off to prove it's common knowledge. My wife says this is NOT neurotypical human behavior.
August 20, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Someone complimented the reference on my shirt with the subtlety of a drug deal at the grocery store. "Nice shirt," he said from behind his oncoming cart. "Yeah, a deep cut," I replied as we passed. "Hey, if you know, you know," he said, and we were gone. #neverfadeaway #cyberpunk2077
August 3, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Power is out, which means an excuse to dig in the Halloween storage bins.

Pros: Can do dishes
Cons: Think I summoned something
June 27, 2025 at 2:11 AM
'Transfer to a toll booth?' C'mon, scammer — what does that even mean? Do *I* get transferred to a toll booth? Is it like a workplace relocation, or more of a quantum state phenomenon?
June 3, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I sure am glad Apple has kept the ability for me to add my friends' ICQ usernames in Contacts
May 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Me after coming home from a night of karaoke
love that the diet section of "eastern gray squirrel" has this extensive image gallery
May 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Discovered #Pantheon a few weeks ago — why am I the only one in the world watching it?? SO. GOOD. The first two eps are slow burns, but the show is otherwise devoid of filler and full of unseen twists. Dramatic, cerebral, prescient, moving, beautiful. On Netflix now and worth a watch!
May 25, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I'm not always one for gimmicky t-shirts, but I love the subtle ones that wouldn't get a second glance from most and mean the world to fans.

… I guess that means I am one for gimmicky t-shirts.
rewindera.com/products/cla...
Darmok Jalad Star Trek Classic Unisex T-Shirt
Buy Darmok Jalad Star Trek Classic Unisex T-Shirt is designed & sold by RewindEra and listed on Dec 31, 2024. Most ship worldwide within 6-10 business days.
rewindera.com
May 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Reposted by Jess Awtry
Making news pay in 2025: Newsweek's SVP audience development @awtry.bsky.social says: "News publishers looking for a single huge revenue opportunity are setting themselves up for disappointment" and "The future lies where AI algorithms can’t follow: human connection"
Diversify or die? 23 media leaders reveal how to make news pay in 2025
News revenue trends for 2025: 23 senior media leaders in the UK and US share their insights into how to make news pay,
buff.ly
December 23, 2024 at 12:26 PM
What's cooler than retro synthwave dappled with colors of Japanese fusion? Having a son who just published his first EP, all in that style. Torn between being a proud dad and a fan, so I'mma go with both.

Favorite track below — if you dig it, spread the love: open.spotify.com/track/62QzNW...
WAVE GOODBYE
Drew Awtry · TESTRUN · Song · 2024
open.spotify.com
December 31, 2024 at 4:20 PM
Convinced @newsweek.com has the greatest newsroom break room view in all of breakroomdom. As a native Nebraskan, this never gets old:
December 3, 2024 at 3:20 PM
Hey, fellow Bluesky pioneers! You're already on the cutting edge just by being here — make even more of it by connecting and chatting with @newsweek.com's growing list of reporters and editors. Starter pack: go.bsky.app/67A9aNk
December 3, 2024 at 3:13 PM
Hey, news friends: @newsweek.com is live, posting and engaging on Bluesky!
November 18, 2024 at 1:02 PM
Reposted by Jess Awtry
The recent re-election of Donald Trump has ignited discussions about his ambitious proposal to establish a national strategic Bitcoin reserve—but what would it look like? Is it even feasible?

www.newsweek.com/what-donald-...
What Donald Trump's strategic Bitcoin reserve could look like
President-elect Trump's promise to establish a national Bitcoin reserve has sparked debate among experts about its feasibility and economic implications.
www.newsweek.com
November 18, 2024 at 11:52 AM
Reposted by Jess Awtry
Y'ALL

The postal service (the actual government entity, not the band) is doing DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS stamps for 2024!!!
U.S. Postal Service Reveals Additional Stamps for 2024 - Newsroom - About.usps.com
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the U.S. Postal Service announced four new stamp subjects for 2024. This group, along with the stamps announced in October, make up only a partial list, with more to be revea...
about.usps.com
December 9, 2023 at 12:07 AM
I kind of can't look away from the livestream of the Microsoft Excel World Championship. youtu.be/UDGdPE_C9u8
Microsoft Excel World Championship 2023 - Finals
Microsoft Excel World Championship is an esports tournament that is based in Microsoft Excel. The tournament has a series of Qualification Rounds followed by...
youtu.be
December 10, 2023 at 3:57 AM
Want to see the current user base of Bluesky homogenized in one thread? Got your jam:
What are the best TV theme songs of all time? Not the best shows — but the opening songs that immediately get you pumped when you hear the first few notes?

My top 5 (not in order)

Game of Thrones
The Office (US)
Poirot
Narcos
Law & Order

What did I miss?
November 9, 2023 at 7:29 PM
Reposted by Jess Awtry
What are the best TV theme songs of all time? Not the best shows — but the opening songs that immediately get you pumped when you hear the first few notes?

My top 5 (not in order)

Game of Thrones
The Office (US)
Poirot
Narcos
Law & Order

What did I miss?
November 8, 2023 at 11:51 PM
My favorite post of the evening: What do you dress up for on Halloween when you're already dressed as an astronaut?
Halloween on the International Space Station - NASA
Although no ghouls or goblins or trick-or-treaters come knocking at the International Space Station’s front hatch, crew members aboard the orbiting facility
www.nasa.gov
November 1, 2023 at 2:00 AM