James Mae
jamesmae.bsky.social
James Mae
@jamesmae.bsky.social
Hi y'all, I'm James. I am a freelance journalist and member of SPJ Freelance.
@spjfreelance.bsky.social Good Morning, Freelancers!! It's Friday brag post time! What have you accomplished lately? What are you proud of? Or, is there any advice or wisdom you'd like to share? Sound off in this thread 👇
June 20, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by James Mae
@nppa.org has joined again w/several of our 1st Amendment & free press allies in a letter to the LAPD & LASD remind them of journalist’s rights. See below.

We remain steadfast in our mission to make sure 1st Amendment rights are upheld across the United States of America. 🇺🇸
The deployment of federal agencies to LA may be getting the headlines, but many of the most serious abuses have come from local police.

We helped lead a letter to the LAPD and LASD reminding them of journalists' rights and the liability they're risking: media.freedom.press/media/docume...
June 11, 2025 at 9:39 PM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JIU...

In case you missed it live!
Is AI the Cure for FOIA Frustration?
YouTube video by SPJ DC
www.youtube.com
May 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM
@spjdc.bsky.social @spjfreelance.bsky.social

TODAY is the day! Join us at 6 p.m. EDT on Zoom for a convo with Axel Ebermann and Irvin McCullough on FOIA and AI.

We will cover:
Using AI in requesting.
AI and FOIA fulfillment.
Answer your FOIA and AI ?s

us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Video Conferencing, Web Conferencing, Webinars, Screen Sharing
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom ...
us06web.zoom.us
May 19, 2025 at 12:08 PM
apnews.com/article/trum... Trump signs executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS and NPR

(Hey yeah so this was something Congress was still debating)
Trump signs executive order directing federal funding cuts to PBS and NPR
President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order aiming to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR as he alleged “bias” in the broadcasters’ reporting.
apnews.com
May 2, 2025 at 12:44 PM
I'm taking a class about using AI as a journalist, and I decided to play around with ChatGPT and plug the Ohio Budget bill into it to summarize it and compare it to previous budgets. It spit this out. This could be a helpful jumping-off point for further research. Thoughts?
April 16, 2025 at 2:25 PM
2 Ohio senators introduced Ohio's own 'Save Act'. S.B. 96 would change zoning laws and regulations around voter rolls and require 'proof of citizenship' when registering to vote. This comes amid the Ohio primary voting season.
April 16, 2025 at 1:57 PM
www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-most-r...

This 👏. As a Gen Z-er I can confirm all this. I get so many rejection emails ( if I even get an email) I don’t even open them anymore. It’s good to know I’m not alone but I hate this is how it is. We are working yet struggling so hard! 😣
'I thought I was going to be someone': how Gen Z became a generation of rejects
Whether it's LinkedIn or Tinder, Gen Zers are constantly being told "no." It's sending their anxiety and loneliness into overdrive.
www.businessinsider.com
April 11, 2025 at 11:17 PM
See this is how records requesting should be. I submitted it yesterday, it was filled today 🤩
April 8, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Made a public records request today... will probably make a public records request tomorrow 🤠
April 7, 2025 at 7:57 PM
www.newyorker.com/culture/open...

I'm seeing more and more discussion surrounding AI.

Ever since Sunshine Fest I have been looking into the AI and FOIA debate and the questions 'should journalists and local govts. use this tech to make the records requesting process more efficient?'
Are We Taking A.I. Seriously Enough?
There’s no longer any scenario in which A.I. fades into irrelevance. We urgently need voices from outside the industry to help shape its future.
www.newyorker.com
April 2, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I'm working on growing my career and finding a full-time journalism job. So, I need to put Starlight Stories on hold as I can't put my all into that work at the moment. Idk where my path is headed but I'm excited for the journey and grateful for all the help along the way!
April 1, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Had a great time at @nationalpress.bsky.social career day today! Got to network, connect w/ employers and learn more about how to be successful in the job search. Hopefully, this will help me transition from freelancing to a full time journalism job. Thanks for hosting!
March 28, 2025 at 8:58 PM
11 U.S. organizations just asked the Open Government Partnership to put the U.S. under review for open government and transparency violations. americalabs.org/2025/03/21/u...
US Orgs Ask Open Government Partnership to Place US Government Under Review
Eleven Civil Society Organizations request the Open Government Partnership place the United States Government under review for actions contrary to the principles and policies of the partnership.
americalabs.org
March 21, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I had a great time at the @sunshineweek.bsky.social FOIA conference yesterday! I got to meet some amazing people across sectors and learn about the state of FOIA and current issues regarding government transparency and accountability. I took some photos so I got your pic tag this post!
March 21, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Shutting down VOA and its affialtes was explicitly outlined in Project 2025. Now we are seeing this conservative promise come to reality.
March 18, 2025 at 3:50 PM
@spj-posts.bsky.social Done! A free and open press is a non-partisan issue and a cornerstone of our Democracy. I'm proud to be in this industry and will always support my fellow journalists.
March 15, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Just pitched a book review @publicbooks.bsky.social!
March 11, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Sorry folks I won't be publishing my weekly newsletter today. I just got really busy really fast. Instead I'll be working on a pitch, doing some SPJ work and working on some other exciting endeavor's 🤭. Happy Freelance Friday! Hope you have a great day!
March 7, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Now this is what innovative journalism looks like! As journalists I feel like we get so enshrined in our beats we forget to see just how connected everything is. But we can really do great work when we dig deep and make the connections. @wired.com Keep up the great work!

apnews.com/article/elon...
Not known for political coverage, Wired takes a leading role in tracking Elon Musk's team
The tech outlet Wired set up a new politics team in time for the presidential election — but its most impactful work is coming after the election is over.
apnews.com
March 3, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Howdy folks! Happy Sunday! I started a new newsletter on my Starlight Stories Substack.

This week's post focuses on the growing threats to press freedom, one of the topics I'm passionate about.

open.substack.com/pub/starligh...
The Nameless Newsletter
The growing threat to press freedom
open.substack.com
March 2, 2025 at 8:46 PM