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Tong Li

@tongli.bsky.social

23 followers 19 following 450 posts

Digital Media & Brand Strategy Expert | Former Journalist & Skilled Storyteller | Data & Business Analytics Enthusiast

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Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 18h

“Presence is power.”

Incredible #MediaFest25 session with @demetriusfreeman.bsky.social and @JabinBotsford from @washingtonpost.com — on how political photojournalism means showing up early, taking risks, and seeing what others miss.

#VisualStorytelling #Photojournalism #SPJ

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 18h

“Comics journalism isn’t about simplifying—it’s about amplifying truth.”

Loved hearing @hannahgood.bsky.social from @washingtonpost.com at #MediaFest25 on how illustrated reporting can build empathy, transparency, and accountability.

#Journalism #Comics #VisualStorytelling

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 1d

“Sometimes presenting something on social is doing the journalism.”

Loved the #MediaFest25 session with Brandon Carter and Emma Grazado from @washingtonpost.com — powerful insights on trust, community, and authentic storytelling across platforms.

#Journalism #SocialMedia

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 1d

“News product is the intersection of journalism, user needs, business, and tech.”

Loved hearing Becky Bowers from @PhillyInquirer at #MediaFest25 share how design thinking and agile teamwork are reshaping storytelling and audience trust.

#NewsProduct #MediaInnovation #Journalism

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 1d

“Great visual stories aren’t built — they’re composed.”

Loved hearing Courtney Kan from @washingtonpost.com at #MediaFest25 discuss how visuals, words, and pacing shape immersive storytelling.

Collaboration isn’t optional — it’s the craft.

#VisualStorytelling #Journalism #SPJ

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 1d

“Digital security isn’t about paranoia — it’s about awareness.”

Loved hearing @huertanix.bsky.social from @FreedomOfThePress at #MediaFest25 share practical, human-centered lessons on staying safe online.

Security = habit, not luxury.

#CyberSafety #Journalism

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 1d

“Why now? Why you? Why does it matter?”

Loved hearing Liz Alesse from @ABCNews at #MediaFest25 share how authenticity and intention drive great podcasts.

Her advice: audio storytelling is intimacy — not production.

#Podcasting #Journalism #SPJ

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 2d

“There’s no single source of truth in U.S. elections — so journalists have to build it.”

At #MediaFest25, Robert Yoon from @AP shared how reporters verify results, call races, and fight misinformation on election night.

Transparency = trust.

#Journalism #Elections #SPJ

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 2d

“Journalists aren’t just storytellers anymore — we’re verifiers of truth.”

Incredible session with Dan Petty from @ProPublica at #MediaFest25 on using Google tools to fact-check photos, videos, and claims in seconds.

Digital safety = press freedom.

#FactChecking #GoogleNewsInitiative #SPJ

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 2d

Margaret Talev’s keynote at #MediaFest25 hit home:

“The point of journalism isn’t to make people agree with you — it’s to help them learn.”

She urged young reporters to stay courageous amid polarization, tech disruption, and censorship pressures.

#SPJ #Democracy #AIandJournalism

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 2d

Loved hearing Vix Reitano at #MediaFest25 walk us through how tools like Google Pinpoint and Trends can help reporters uncover stories hidden in massive data sets.

“AI can’t replace journalists — but it can make us better at finding truth.”

#GoogleNewsInitiative #SPJ #AIandJournalism

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 2d

AI bots are reanimating old domains to spread “news” that’s plagiarized or outright fake — and Google’s algorithms are helping it trend.
Journalism can’t compete with ghost machines built for clicks. We need stronger platform responsibility and digital hygiene.
#AIethics #MediaTrust

AI-generated news sites spout viral slop from forgotten URLs

A new generation of content farms are harnessing AI to spin out clickbait — and they’re getting help from Google.

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 2d

Italian publishers have filed a complaint—claiming Google’s AI Overviews are “traffic killers” that steal clicks and visibility.
If AI becomes the gatekeeper of knowledge, journalism’s role is endangered.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
#MediaTrust #AIOverviews #PressFreedom

Italian news publishers demand investigation into Google’s AI Overviews

Newspaper federation says ‘traffic killer’ feature violates legislation and threatens to destroy media diversity

www.theguardian.com

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 2d

91% of people think BBC’s independence from government is “important” — yet less than half believe it achieves that.
Trust is fragile, especially for public broadcasters. Strong institutions don’t survive on goodwill alone.
deadline.com/2025/10/bbc-...

#MediaTrust #PublicMedia #PressFreedom

Major BBC Study Finds Viewers Have Doubts About Broadcaster’s Independence From Government

The BBC has an independence perception problem, according to a major study of 872,701 viewers.

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 3d

Vix Reitano’s session at #MediaFest25 showed what it means to work with AI, not against it.
From Pinpoint’s ability to search, tag, and transcribe thousands of docs to her insight that “AI is a supportive partner,” this was one of the most balanced takes I’ve heard on journalism tech.

#SPJ

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 3d

Dan Petty from @propublica.org just gave one of the most practical talks I’ve heard in a while.
Password managers, passkeys, VPNs, and “DeleteMe” — tools every journalist should use but often don’t until it’s too late.
His line hit hard: “The worst AI you’ll experience is today.”
#MediaFest25 #SPJ

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 3d

Great start to #MediaFest25 with Dr. Jordan Wirfs-Brock from Whitman College.
Her session on Google tools reminded me how much data journalism depends on curiosity — not just coding.
Advanced search, Trends, Maps — all powerful when used with a journalist’s eye for truth.
#SPJ #GoogleNewsInitiative

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 3d

Japan just sent a strong message: OpenAI’s Sora 2 must stop infringing on manga and anime. These aren’t “just drawings”—they’re national treasures. If AI is going to build new media worlds, it must learn the ethics of culture.

www.ign.com/articles/jap...

#AIethics #CreativeRights #CulturalJustice

Japanese Government Calls on Sora 2 Maker OpenAI to Refrain From Copyright Infringement, Says Characters From Manga and Anime Are 'Irreplaceable Treasures' That Japan Boasts to the World - IGN

The Japanese government has made a formal request asking OpenAI to refrain from copyright infringement. This comes as a response to Sora 2’s ability to generate videos featuring the likenesses of copy...

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 3d

Netflix is moving into video podcasts with Spotify: starting 2026, they’ll host series like Bill Simmons, Rewatchables, Conspiracy Theories, etc. This is a fascinating shift.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/b...

#MediaJustice #CreatorRights

Netflix Jumps Into Podcasts With Spotify Deal

www.nytimes.com

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 3d

1440 is doing something bold: moving from “just a newsletter you read” to a full explainer platform. Their “Topics” pages now cover everything from science to world history.

digiday.com/media/why-14...

#MediaTrust #Explainership

Why 1440 is evolving from a newsletter company to a destination of explainers

Newsletter company 1440 is expanding beyond email by building an online library of explainers, amid the rise of AI-driven search.

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 4d

Google is letting you collapse sponsored ads in Search—and giving AI-powered previews and a “What’s New” feed.
That sounds user-friendly, but it also gives Google more control over what you see first. For newsrooms, that’s both opportunity and threat.
techcrunch.com/2025/10/14/g...

#MediaTrust

Google updates Search and Discover with collapsible ads, AI features, and more | TechCrunch

Google is rolling out updates to Search and Discover that introduce AI-powered features, improved navigation, and a new option to collapse ads. While users can now hide sponsored results, the “Sponsor...

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 4d

I loved reading the NiemanLab piece about the Engaged Journalism Exchange—it reframes journalism not as a broadcast but as a relationship.
Some lines stuck: “We don’t see the news business as a connection business or an experience business.

www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/how-...

#MediaJustice

“How can we help?” The Engaged Journalism Exchange aims to create belonging through media

"We don't see the news business as a connection business or an experience business. There's a ton of opportunity there."

www.niemanlab.org

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 10d

Nonprofit news is growing—not just modestly, but strongly. And local nonprofit outlets are leading the charge: 83% of them have grown revenue ≥10% over the past three years.
That’s inspiring.

www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/nonp...

#MediaTrust #LocalJournalism #NonprofitMedia #NewsJustice

Nonprofit news is growing strong — especially local nonprofit news, a new report shows

Nonprofit news outlets of all types are enjoying revenue growth — but those that focus specifically on local news, rather than state, national, or global news, are doing especially well, according to ...

www.niemanlab.org

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 10d

Usage of ChatGPT is up ~2× in the past year, yet people remain just as wary of AI in news.
Nieman Lab
That tells me: convenience is winning; trust is still on trial. Because if we lose trust, what’s left?

www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/peop...

#MediaTrust #AIEthics #NewsInTheAgeOfAI

People are using ChatGPT twice as much as they were last year. They’re still just as skeptical of AI in news.

"For news organizations, our findings are in some ways bitter medicine."

www.niemanlab.org

Tong Li @tongli.bsky.social · 10d

The Economist is laying down a blueprint for journalism beyond search. They’re investing in video, audio, interactivity—and refusing to hand over their core journalism to AI platforms.

digiday.com/media/inside...

#MediaTrust #AIEthics #ResilientJournalism #ProgressiveValues

Inside The Economist’s plan to grow revenues in a post-search, AI-driven future

The Economist is investing in formats harder for machines to mimic, like video and audio, while holding a hard line against AI licensing.