Lance Knobel
@lknobel.bsky.social
CEO and co-founder, Cityside Journalism Initiative. Berkeleyan.
There's a philosophical gap between nonprofit and for-profit news organizations. It's not just the pursuit of dollars – nonprofits need to make a surplus, too. It's the root motivation for what we do and who we think we're serving. My Nieman Lab prediction for 2026: www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/the-...
The gap between nonprofit and for-profit local news will widen
"The harsh truth is that taken in isolation, there is likely no viable economic model for decent news provision in economically struggling cities or rural areas."
www.niemanlab.org
December 16, 2025 at 11:50 PM
There's a philosophical gap between nonprofit and for-profit news organizations. It's not just the pursuit of dollars – nonprofits need to make a surplus, too. It's the root motivation for what we do and who we think we're serving. My Nieman Lab prediction for 2026: www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/the-...
Reposted by Lance Knobel
Like many of you, I eagerly await the many future long-form articles in the Times, Atlantic, etc, that will solemnly “reveal” these facts to us, knowingly inform us they were an “open secret” amongst “insiders”, and chin-strokingly reflect on the “challenges” of “grasping” various “contradictions”.
During Trump 1, there were stories about "sane-washing" where they'd show how some crazy thing he'd garbled got paraphrased as "Trump expresses displeasure about X" and we were all like "damn, nailed it." Now he just spouts spaghetti-crazy facebook uncle shit all the time, and t's not news.
you'd think that the fact the president of the united states is completely fucking insane would be a bigger news story
December 11, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Like many of you, I eagerly await the many future long-form articles in the Times, Atlantic, etc, that will solemnly “reveal” these facts to us, knowingly inform us they were an “open secret” amongst “insiders”, and chin-strokingly reflect on the “challenges” of “grasping” various “contradictions”.
Reposted by Lance Knobel
If you think your job is not to tell the truth but to "challenge your audience's assumptions" if the latter is in tension with the former then you're going to end up lying. bsky.app/profile/larr...
For my part, I would say that questioning the framing of some Times stories—for example, the highlighting of Trump’s putative emotions or the foregrounding of what he says (even when, as is often the case, what he says is false)—is not an indication that I want my “views validated.”
December 2, 2025 at 4:03 PM
If you think your job is not to tell the truth but to "challenge your audience's assumptions" if the latter is in tension with the former then you're going to end up lying. bsky.app/profile/larr...
Reposted by Lance Knobel
The president is a political cartoon of corruption come to life, a gaudy grifter who is selling off pardons and lining his pockets, building a golden ballroom and protecting his fellow sex predator elites, all the while regular Americans are suffering and struggling to make ends meet.
Run on *that*
Run on *that*
November 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The president is a political cartoon of corruption come to life, a gaudy grifter who is selling off pardons and lining his pockets, building a golden ballroom and protecting his fellow sex predator elites, all the while regular Americans are suffering and struggling to make ends meet.
Run on *that*
Run on *that*
Reposted by Lance Knobel
Kendrick, Joyce Carol Oates, Menswear Guy, and Isaac Chotiner are the Voltron of People You Don't Want Focusing on You
November 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Kendrick, Joyce Carol Oates, Menswear Guy, and Isaac Chotiner are the Voltron of People You Don't Want Focusing on You
Reposted by Lance Knobel
Today I learned that the total amount of philanthropic funding for journalism in the US since 2009 equals approximately 8.6% of OpenAI’s funding to date. Really useful #kleincamp session from @ninasachdev.bsky.social and Vince Stehle of @mediaimpactfunders.bsky.social.
November 8, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Today I learned that the total amount of philanthropic funding for journalism in the US since 2009 equals approximately 8.6% of OpenAI’s funding to date. Really useful #kleincamp session from @ninasachdev.bsky.social and Vince Stehle of @mediaimpactfunders.bsky.social.
Reposted by Lance Knobel
One of my underlying working models for non-profit news is that nobody is in competition with each other. We should all be co-operative. We should be open sourcing code, sharing wins and losses, and doing as much as possible to lift each other up - out in the open so newcomers can benefit too.
November 6, 2025 at 2:31 PM
One of my underlying working models for non-profit news is that nobody is in competition with each other. We should all be co-operative. We should be open sourcing code, sharing wins and losses, and doing as much as possible to lift each other up - out in the open so newcomers can benefit too.
Reposted by Lance Knobel
I, for one, definitely think this revenue boost will be used to help ESPN aggressively and independently cover the waterfall of sports betting scandals plaguing our pro and college sports.
ESPN names DraftKings official odds provider
In a deal starting Dec. 1, ESPN has named DraftKings its Official Sportsbook and Odds Provider, it was announced Thursday.
www.espn.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I, for one, definitely think this revenue boost will be used to help ESPN aggressively and independently cover the waterfall of sports betting scandals plaguing our pro and college sports.
Reposted by Lance Knobel
Belatedly watched 60 minutes Trump interview. OMFG. This isn't journalism.
November 4, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Belatedly watched 60 minutes Trump interview. OMFG. This isn't journalism.
Reposted by Lance Knobel
In 1941, thinking about acquiescence to Hitler, FDR quoted Ben Franklin: “Those, who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” It’s a message for the billionaires & others capitulating to Trump.
www.americaamerica.news/p/have-you-t...
www.americaamerica.news/p/have-you-t...
Have You Taken Freedom for Granted?
A Saturday Prompt
www.americaamerica.news
November 1, 2025 at 4:07 PM
In 1941, thinking about acquiescence to Hitler, FDR quoted Ben Franklin: “Those, who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” It’s a message for the billionaires & others capitulating to Trump.
www.americaamerica.news/p/have-you-t...
www.americaamerica.news/p/have-you-t...
Reposted by Lance Knobel
How the Berkeley economy works: we will not tolerate a gap of 400 meters between coffee shops.
October 21, 2025 at 7:56 PM
How the Berkeley economy works: we will not tolerate a gap of 400 meters between coffee shops.
Reposted by Lance Knobel
after millions of views and shares of my Portland Frog art. (thank you all🙏🏾) I got requests to highlight priests, and chickens, and Chicagoans, and T-Rexes, and more… all of us who refuse to bend the knee. so this is for US.
𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚕.
𝚆𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚆𝚒𝚗.
𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚕.
𝚆𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚆𝚒𝚗.
October 10, 2025 at 9:11 PM
after millions of views and shares of my Portland Frog art. (thank you all🙏🏾) I got requests to highlight priests, and chickens, and Chicagoans, and T-Rexes, and more… all of us who refuse to bend the knee. so this is for US.
𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚕.
𝚆𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚆𝚒𝚗.
𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚕.
𝚆𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚆𝚒𝚗.
Reposted by Lance Knobel
early voting starts today in TX and the @houstonchronicle.com has the paywall up on their voter guide. please be serious
October 20, 2025 at 12:48 PM
early voting starts today in TX and the @houstonchronicle.com has the paywall up on their voter guide. please be serious
Reposted by Lance Knobel
"If we want different results, we have to abandon standard practice."
YES.
Finally, someone put together what I and many other critics have been saying about political coverage — then took it further. reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/harm-reducti...
Author Michael Hauser Tov is 28 years old.
YES.
Finally, someone put together what I and many other critics have been saying about political coverage — then took it further. reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/harm-reducti...
Author Michael Hauser Tov is 28 years old.
October 2, 2025 at 5:18 PM
"If we want different results, we have to abandon standard practice."
YES.
Finally, someone put together what I and many other critics have been saying about political coverage — then took it further. reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/harm-reducti...
Author Michael Hauser Tov is 28 years old.
YES.
Finally, someone put together what I and many other critics have been saying about political coverage — then took it further. reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/harm-reducti...
Author Michael Hauser Tov is 28 years old.
Reposted by Lance Knobel
ed the president of the united states just announced he plans to use the U.S. military to kill U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, i think we should probably be prioritizing attention to that right now
Here’s what Trump’s shutdown is really about: gutting health care.
The ACA. Medicaid. Vaccines.
Driving up costs, cutting off care, and putting millions at risk. Health care is a right.
The ACA. Medicaid. Vaccines.
Driving up costs, cutting off care, and putting millions at risk. Health care is a right.
September 30, 2025 at 2:56 PM
ed the president of the united states just announced he plans to use the U.S. military to kill U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, i think we should probably be prioritizing attention to that right now
Reposted by Lance Knobel
If we still had anything resembling a functioning Constitution, he would be impeached by lunchtime & convicted & removed from office by the close of business today.
September 30, 2025 at 2:59 PM
If we still had anything resembling a functioning Constitution, he would be impeached by lunchtime & convicted & removed from office by the close of business today.
Reposted by Lance Knobel
Time to report the Marin Independent Journal to a California regulator. They arbitrarily, on no notice, charge my credit card random amounts of $, fail to give promised credits, and cut off paid access.
I'd like to support local journalism. But subscribing to the MarinIJ is just supporting fraud.
I'd like to support local journalism. But subscribing to the MarinIJ is just supporting fraud.
September 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Time to report the Marin Independent Journal to a California regulator. They arbitrarily, on no notice, charge my credit card random amounts of $, fail to give promised credits, and cut off paid access.
I'd like to support local journalism. But subscribing to the MarinIJ is just supporting fraud.
I'd like to support local journalism. But subscribing to the MarinIJ is just supporting fraud.
Reposted by Lance Knobel
the president of the united states wants to use the american military to kill american citizens on american soil. that's the whole story!
September 30, 2025 at 2:43 PM
the president of the united states wants to use the american military to kill american citizens on american soil. that's the whole story!
Reposted by Lance Knobel
trump’s numbers are tanking and there is a palpable desire in the electorate for a real alternative and yet the only money in democratic politics is for doing starmerism
September 17, 2025 at 3:20 PM
trump’s numbers are tanking and there is a palpable desire in the electorate for a real alternative and yet the only money in democratic politics is for doing starmerism
Reposted by Lance Knobel
Frankly I’m surprised more comparativists aren’t saying, “Aw that’s so cute. America’s having its first little premature rumor and speculation frenzy about the autocrat’s death after his public absence for a brief period” (common in authoritarian regimes)
August 30, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Frankly I’m surprised more comparativists aren’t saying, “Aw that’s so cute. America’s having its first little premature rumor and speculation frenzy about the autocrat’s death after his public absence for a brief period” (common in authoritarian regimes)
Reposted by Lance Knobel
Daniel Ekonde, Sara Martin and Skylla Mumana are getting valuable newsroom experience covering news and feature stories in Berkeley.
3 reporting interns join Berkeleyside for the summer
Daniel Ekonde, Sara Martin and Skylla Mumana are getting valuable newsroom experience covering news and feature stories in Berkeley.
www.berkeleyside.org
June 25, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Daniel Ekonde, Sara Martin and Skylla Mumana are getting valuable newsroom experience covering news and feature stories in Berkeley.
Reposted by Lance Knobel
Ahead of Berkeley's historic Middle Housing vote on Thursday I wrote a whole ass series in 2021 on the history of Berkeley's zoning codes and why the housing crisis sprung up warranting middle housing to begin with. Kinda forgotten but it explains everything
darrellowens.substack.com/p/the-histor...
darrellowens.substack.com/p/the-histor...
The History of Gentrification in Berkeley: Part I
I use Census data from 1940 to 2020 and historical research to tell the history of Black people in Berkeley, California and the origins of zoning, housing and displacement in the city.
darrellowens.substack.com
June 25, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Ahead of Berkeley's historic Middle Housing vote on Thursday I wrote a whole ass series in 2021 on the history of Berkeley's zoning codes and why the housing crisis sprung up warranting middle housing to begin with. Kinda forgotten but it explains everything
darrellowens.substack.com/p/the-histor...
darrellowens.substack.com/p/the-histor...
Reposted by Lance Knobel
Brad Lander told NY1 at Mamdani’s party that what Democrats need to decide right now is whether to be “fighters or folders” and yes he should immediately mount a primary challenge to Chuck Schumer
June 25, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Brad Lander told NY1 at Mamdani’s party that what Democrats need to decide right now is whether to be “fighters or folders” and yes he should immediately mount a primary challenge to Chuck Schumer
Reposted by Lance Knobel
Imagine if the Democratic Party actually helped Zohran instead of trying to kneecap him at every step. A better party is immediately possible if they stop shoving money into the anti-trans combination Racism Dial/Money Toilet and instead get behind candidates people actually want.
June 25, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Imagine if the Democratic Party actually helped Zohran instead of trying to kneecap him at every step. A better party is immediately possible if they stop shoving money into the anti-trans combination Racism Dial/Money Toilet and instead get behind candidates people actually want.