Tony Elkins
@tonyelkins.com
Poynter Faculty. Poynter Leadership Academy coach, AI ethics, lots of other things. News Product Alliance founding member. Comanche citizen / Kiowa. Asheville
I watch a lot of woodworking videos on YouTube on Saturday morning and OH MY GOD THESE ARE THE NEW VERSIONS OF NETWORK FISHING SHOWS.
January 10, 2026 at 2:41 PM
I watch a lot of woodworking videos on YouTube on Saturday morning and OH MY GOD THESE ARE THE NEW VERSIONS OF NETWORK FISHING SHOWS.
Reposted by Tony Elkins
As someone who works in news, it is 100% okay to turn off the news and have something else on in the background.
As someone who is chronically online and scrolls, it's also a reminder to turn off auto-play on videos.
As someone who is chronically online and scrolls, it's also a reminder to turn off auto-play on videos.
January 7, 2026 at 7:21 PM
As someone who works in news, it is 100% okay to turn off the news and have something else on in the background.
As someone who is chronically online and scrolls, it's also a reminder to turn off auto-play on videos.
As someone who is chronically online and scrolls, it's also a reminder to turn off auto-play on videos.
Reposted by Tony Elkins
if you do not want to watch the video, go to settings > content and media and uncheck the "autoplay videos and gifs" box right now
January 7, 2026 at 6:02 PM
if you do not want to watch the video, go to settings > content and media and uncheck the "autoplay videos and gifs" box right now
Reposted by Tony Elkins
X basically industrialized the creation of fake porn of women who don't consent. Others did it first, but Grok made it normalized and centralized: publicly visible, instantly creatable by anyone, regardless of who's being targeted and dehumanized. Only question now is will X suffer any consequences
January 7, 2026 at 12:45 PM
X basically industrialized the creation of fake porn of women who don't consent. Others did it first, but Grok made it normalized and centralized: publicly visible, instantly creatable by anyone, regardless of who's being targeted and dehumanized. Only question now is will X suffer any consequences
I've tried to dial back my AI-Doomer persona, but this technology is not worth the human toll it is taking.
Many are just waking up to the Grok-nonconsensual images story as these pictures began flooding X over the holidays, but here’s our piece from Jan 2 featuring a victim, Julie Yukari, who was brave enough to speak on the record and on camera:
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
Elon Musk's Grok AI floods X with sexualized photos of women and minors
When contacted by Reuters for comment by email, xAI replied with the message "Legacy Media Lies."
www.reuters.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:23 PM
I've tried to dial back my AI-Doomer persona, but this technology is not worth the human toll it is taking.
I didn't write a Nieman Lap prediction, but I have a can't lose prognostication that will absolutely come true, bet money on it.
Orgs will continue to ask their people to do "More With Less" and that is 100% unsustainable and will lead to burnout, loss of morale and, ultimately, people will leave.
Orgs will continue to ask their people to do "More With Less" and that is 100% unsustainable and will lead to burnout, loss of morale and, ultimately, people will leave.
December 9, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I didn't write a Nieman Lap prediction, but I have a can't lose prognostication that will absolutely come true, bet money on it.
Orgs will continue to ask their people to do "More With Less" and that is 100% unsustainable and will lead to burnout, loss of morale and, ultimately, people will leave.
Orgs will continue to ask their people to do "More With Less" and that is 100% unsustainable and will lead to burnout, loss of morale and, ultimately, people will leave.
New from me at @poynterinstitute.bsky.social
You might be covering Federal Indian Law without even knowing it and @indigenousja.bsky.social and UC Berkeley Law are hosting a webinar tomorrow to better equip your coverage.
www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...
You might be covering Federal Indian Law without even knowing it and @indigenousja.bsky.social and UC Berkeley Law are hosting a webinar tomorrow to better equip your coverage.
www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...
Federal Indian law is shaping some of the biggest stories in America. Most journalists don’t know they’re covering it. - Poynter
A webinar from UC Berkeley and the Indigenous Journalists Association offers reporters essential grounding in federal Indian law
www.poynter.org
November 17, 2025 at 8:58 PM
New from me at @poynterinstitute.bsky.social
You might be covering Federal Indian Law without even knowing it and @indigenousja.bsky.social and UC Berkeley Law are hosting a webinar tomorrow to better equip your coverage.
www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...
You might be covering Federal Indian Law without even knowing it and @indigenousja.bsky.social and UC Berkeley Law are hosting a webinar tomorrow to better equip your coverage.
www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...
Reposted by Tony Elkins
Jaw dropped. Trump Administration Removes Report on Missing and Murdered Native Americans, Calling It DEI Content
Trump Administration Removes Report on Missing and Murdered Native Americans, Calling It DEI Content - Oklahoma Watch
The Trump administration removed a congressionally mandated report on missing and murdered Native Americans from the DOJ website, citing compliance with an executive order against DEI. Senators who ch...
oklahomawatch.org
November 17, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Jaw dropped. Trump Administration Removes Report on Missing and Murdered Native Americans, Calling It DEI Content
Reposted by Tony Elkins
a heinous news cycle in every sense of the word
November 13, 2025 at 7:27 PM
a heinous news cycle in every sense of the word
Hot take: Buc-ee’s is Redneck Tokyo.
November 8, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Hot take: Buc-ee’s is Redneck Tokyo.
What’s it’s like to work on the @poynterinstitute.bsky.social AI team with me and @alexmahadevan.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:42 PM
What’s it’s like to work on the @poynterinstitute.bsky.social AI team with me and @alexmahadevan.com
I actually live in a cabin in the woods and it is not cheap. Propane is outrageous, gas costs to drive into town, constantly fighting back nature from reclaiming us . . . it's a heavy cost. Literally no sarcasm.
October 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I actually live in a cabin in the woods and it is not cheap. Propane is outrageous, gas costs to drive into town, constantly fighting back nature from reclaiming us . . . it's a heavy cost. Literally no sarcasm.
Living in Florida for nearly 12 years must have prepared me for Singapore, because the weather is not as bad as the Internet made it out to be. It’s also one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited.
October 8, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Living in Florida for nearly 12 years must have prepared me for Singapore, because the weather is not as bad as the Internet made it out to be. It’s also one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited.
Reposted by Tony Elkins
The Amanda Shires breakup album is truly one of the most personal breakup records I've ever heard. It's raw and emotional, and this is how a breakup album SHOULD sound.
WOW.
WOW.
September 26, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The Amanda Shires breakup album is truly one of the most personal breakup records I've ever heard. It's raw and emotional, and this is how a breakup album SHOULD sound.
WOW.
WOW.
Happy Neko Case record release day to all who celebrate.
September 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Happy Neko Case record release day to all who celebrate.
If you do any AI work at all, you should be following @koltai.bsky.social.
I spoke to Adriana Stephan for New America's report on AI deepfake pornography being used against women in politics.
This is a serious problem that disproportionately affects women in politics, and I'm glad to see research go towards addressing it.
www.newamerica.org/future-secur...
This is a serious problem that disproportionately affects women in politics, and I'm glad to see research go towards addressing it.
www.newamerica.org/future-secur...
A Weapon Against Women in Politics: Reining in Nonconsensual Synthetic Intimate Imagery
Nonconsensual intimate imagery often targets and harms women in political life. How does it spread, and what are the solutions?
www.newamerica.org
September 23, 2025 at 12:56 PM
If you do any AI work at all, you should be following @koltai.bsky.social.
This is the second animal video from @alexmahadevan.com and @poynterinstitute.bsky.social.
I am declaring Pivot To Farm the next big journalism trend.
youtube.com/shorts/5SbKQ...
I am declaring Pivot To Farm the next big journalism trend.
youtube.com/shorts/5SbKQ...
How to spot AI slop online with Poynter's AI expert (and Felicia) #ai #journalism #poynter
YouTube video by The Poynter Institute
youtube.com
September 18, 2025 at 7:05 PM
This is the second animal video from @alexmahadevan.com and @poynterinstitute.bsky.social.
I am declaring Pivot To Farm the next big journalism trend.
youtube.com/shorts/5SbKQ...
I am declaring Pivot To Farm the next big journalism trend.
youtube.com/shorts/5SbKQ...
I did not log on today to be perceived in such a manner.
September 16, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I did not log on today to be perceived in such a manner.
Reposted by Tony Elkins
Understanding federal Indian law means better reporting under the Trump administration. We want to know what issue(s) you're most interested in. Click here: mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#in...
September 12, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Understanding federal Indian law means better reporting under the Trump administration. We want to know what issue(s) you're most interested in. Click here: mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#in...
Reposted by Tony Elkins
There’s an alarming trend: newsrooms are stepping back on DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion). The Nieman Lab article shows fewer DEI trainings, many diversity roles disappearing, and less staff exhibiting at NABJ/NAHJ conferences. 
www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/from...
#MediaTrust #DEI
www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/from...
#MediaTrust #DEI
From reckoning to retreat: Journalism’s DEI efforts are in decline
Diversity-related newsroom jobs haven't totally disappeared — but they also haven't stuck.
www.niemanlab.org
September 12, 2025 at 12:36 AM
There’s an alarming trend: newsrooms are stepping back on DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion). The Nieman Lab article shows fewer DEI trainings, many diversity roles disappearing, and less staff exhibiting at NABJ/NAHJ conferences. 
www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/from...
#MediaTrust #DEI
www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/from...
#MediaTrust #DEI
🚨🚨🚨
Last chance! Let me know what's burning you out ahead of time #ONA25. Hit the link in the repost below. And come see me during the session for a cool button.
Last chance! Let me know what's burning you out ahead of time #ONA25. Hit the link in the repost below. And come see me during the session for a cool button.
I might have the coolest buttons at #ONA25 waiting for you, if you attend and participate at my session on Burnout with Kristen Hare. @journalists.org @poynterinstitute.bsky.social
Also, don't forget to let us know the cause of your burnout here >>>> forms.gle/22CHXRrtsa97...
Also, don't forget to let us know the cause of your burnout here >>>> forms.gle/22CHXRrtsa97...
September 8, 2025 at 5:04 PM
🚨🚨🚨
Last chance! Let me know what's burning you out ahead of time #ONA25. Hit the link in the repost below. And come see me during the session for a cool button.
Last chance! Let me know what's burning you out ahead of time #ONA25. Hit the link in the repost below. And come see me during the session for a cool button.
Reposted by Tony Elkins
It’s me!!!
And @webjournalist.bsky.social wins the Rich Jaroslovsky Founder Award from ONA! Good day for good people. awards.journalists.org/entries/robe...
Robert Hernandez - Online Journalism Awards
Read More
awards.journalists.org
September 4, 2025 at 10:02 PM
It’s me!!!
I might have the coolest buttons at #ONA25 waiting for you, if you attend and participate at my session on Burnout with Kristen Hare. @journalists.org @poynterinstitute.bsky.social
Also, don't forget to let us know the cause of your burnout here >>>> forms.gle/22CHXRrtsa97...
Also, don't forget to let us know the cause of your burnout here >>>> forms.gle/22CHXRrtsa97...
August 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I might have the coolest buttons at #ONA25 waiting for you, if you attend and participate at my session on Burnout with Kristen Hare. @journalists.org @poynterinstitute.bsky.social
Also, don't forget to let us know the cause of your burnout here >>>> forms.gle/22CHXRrtsa97...
Also, don't forget to let us know the cause of your burnout here >>>> forms.gle/22CHXRrtsa97...
Leading with GWAR. Magical choice. Love it.
What do rats, heavy metal, athletics and community service have in common? They’re just a few of the things that bring joy to people's lives across Central Virginia!
Finding Joy, our summer series, is exploring some of those people, places and activities now through Sept. 5.
☀️A THREAD:
Finding Joy, our summer series, is exploring some of those people, places and activities now through Sept. 5.
☀️A THREAD:
VPM News presents: Finding Joy
A summer 2025 special series exploring the people, places and activities bringing joy in Central Virginia
www.vpm.org
August 28, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Leading with GWAR. Magical choice. Love it.
This Belichick story is so wrong. The Trail of Tears was one of the worst acts of terror inflicted on Native people. I wonder what UNC has to say about this.
I am so mad about this.
bleacherreport.com/articles/252...
I am so mad about this.
bleacherreport.com/articles/252...
Bill Belichick, Jordon Hudson File for 'Gold Digger' Trademark on Jewelry, Key Chains
University of North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick and his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, are looking to spin critics of their relationship into a successful business venture.
bleacherreport.com
August 27, 2025 at 6:03 PM
This Belichick story is so wrong. The Trail of Tears was one of the worst acts of terror inflicted on Native people. I wonder what UNC has to say about this.
I am so mad about this.
bleacherreport.com/articles/252...
I am so mad about this.
bleacherreport.com/articles/252...