Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 5h

Friends of New_ Public Deborah Tien and Josh Nesbit talk about why bringing agency, consent, purpose to our digital relationships — and leaning into the weird — can deepen our connections with people around us.

Another inspiring conversation from Sam Pressler in Connective Tissue 💜

Building tech that's relational, place-based, participatory, and ~weird~

A Q&A with Josh Nesbit and Deborah Tien, co-founders of the Relational Tech Project

connectivetissue.substack.com

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 1d

Have five minutes? Our own @joshpkramer.bsky.social has a lightning talk on Public Spaces Incubator and reconnecting public media to the public:

“When you give up on hosting the conversation, and you cede it to these companies, what happens when they go crazy?”

Open Technology Institute Lightning Talks: “Reconnecting Public Media to the Public”

YouTube video by New America

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 1d

Social media changed the game, and we’re seeing parallels in generative AI's potential to disrupt and transform.

In this excerpt of their new book, Bruce Schneier and Nathan E. Sanders make some predictions about AI's impact on our democracy and remind us we still have agency to shape the outcome.

🏛️🧨🪛 Will AI break democracy or fix it? Yes.

An excerpt from Bruce Schneier and Nathan E. Sanders' new book

newpublic.substack.com

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 2d

Calling all digital storytellers! New_ Public is looking for a Social Media Fellow starting as soon as November.

As our work picks up steam, we need your help to spread the word about the movement to reconnect our communities and build a better social media.

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 7d

How will technology continue to shape how we talk to each other? We’re seeking a researcher to help tackle big questions like this.

Working with Co-Director @eli.bsky.social, this is a chance to engage with experts, dive into the research, and contribute directly to the field and our strategy.

Job posting graphic with coral orange background featuring white text that reads "NOW HIRING Research Fellow - AI & The Future of Social Conversation" with an abstract geometric illustration of a door or archway. Details include 20-25 hours per week, $40/hour, remote position for U.S. or Canada, working through 2/28/26.

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Eli Pariser @eli.bsky.social · 8d

When I wrote the Filter Bubble in 2011, I portrayed an algorithmic tug of war between your impulsive, present-tense self and your more forward-thinking, aspirational self.

Now a big showdown between your long-term and short-term self is here. The question is, which side will your chatbot be on?

The era of hyperpersonalized content is here

Everyone needs to pay attention to the most recent AI products rolled out by OpenAI, Meta, and Google, because they tell us something important about the future of digital media. In the last week… Ope...

www.linkedin.com

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 8d

Are you based in or around the Bay Area? Come meet us in person at the Public Interest Technology Career Summit on October 10!

Kaisana McLenaghan will be there, ready to talk about our work at New_ Public and building a career in public interest tech.

Public Interest Technology (PIT) Career Summit

events.stanford.edu

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 9d

There’s a bold future possible for media organizations that prioritize real conversation online.

As @kqedforum.bsky.social's experiment shows, building a digital space where people can actually discuss news and culture in a healthy way can help bolster trust, understanding, and support for the org.

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 12d

Are you passionate about making the internet a better place?

Join New_ Public as our Social Media Fellow! Help us amplify our mission through engaging, strategic content and reimagine what’s possible in the future of social media.

Social Media Fellow - NewPublic.org - Career Page

Apply to Social Media Fellow at NewPublic.org in Remote.

newpublicorg.applytojob.com

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 13d

There’s a lot of lessons to learn from @kqedforum.bsky.social’s Discord on how media orgs can successfully build a prosocial digital community.

Two key ingredients:

🤝 Stewardship shared by both staff and community members.

💬 Norms encouraging people to engage respectfully, even on tough topics.

Screenshot of a server rules agreement page with dark blue background. The page is titled 'One last step! Read & Agree to Server Rules' and contains 6 numbered rules: Rule #1 Be respectful and kind - no harassment, hate speech, or discrimination; Rule #2 Keep it clean - limit excessive profanity and explicit content; Rule #3 Focus on the facts - commitment to accurate information as a journalistic program; Rule #4 Stay calm and discourse on - assume good intentions in difficult conversations; Rule #5 Promoting community, not advertising - no commercial promotion; Rule #6 Make yourself at home - encourages participation and sharing. At the bottom are 'Back' and 'Finish' buttons, with text stating that clicking 'Finish' indicates agreement to the server rules.

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 13d

“Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.” Wayne Gretzky 🏒 (also New_ Public)

We’re looking for a short-term Research Fellow to help us identify emerging trends and explore how the growth of AI is impacting digital public spaces.

Research Fellow, AI & The Future of Social Conversation - NewPublic.org - Career Page

Apply to Research Fellow, AI & The Future of Social Conversation at NewPublic.org in Remote.

newpublicorg.applytojob.com

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 14d

Interested in working with us but not seeing an open role that fits your skills and experience?

Submit your resume to our Talent Pool to get notified first about new opportunities at New_ Public.

🤫 (hint hint, you'll hear from us very soon!)

Talent Pool - NewPublic.org - Career Page

Apply to Talent Pool at NewPublic.org in Remote.

newpublicorg.applytojob.com

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

Juan Escalante @juansaaa.com · 15d

BIG DEAL for @cammiecroft.bsky.social!

"Cammie Croft, a Democrat on her first run for elected office, has quickly established herself as a real contender in the still-hypothetical special election for Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair)’s congressional seat."

Croft raises $153k in first 24 hours of NJ-11 campaign - New Jersey Globe

Cammie Croft, a Democrat on her first run for elected office, has quickly established herself as a real contender in the still-hypothetical special

newjerseyglobe.com

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 15d

📅 TOMORROW

New_ Public Co-Director @deeptidoshi.bsky.social goes through the research driving our work, and breaks down how to design healthy, community-centered digital spaces with @frontporchforum.bsky.social’s Jason Van Driesche.

RSVP here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 16d

In this moment of crisis for local and public media, how can community-focused orgs reclaim space and not only inform, but also build trust and civic engagement?

In the Bay Area, public radio station @kqedforum.bsky.social started a Discord community and they’re sharing their playbook for success.

📻🎙️🛜 As public broadcasting faces cuts, KQED leans into digital community building

A Bay Area radio station cracks the code on digital conversation (and shares their playbook)

newpublic.substack.com

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Eli Pariser @eli.bsky.social · 16d

Cammie's one of the best, a fighter and a winner. So glad she's running for Congress. Take a look at her video.

Cammie Croft @cammiecroft.bsky.social · 16d

One day, my kids will ask me what I did to fight for our country at this moment. I want to tell them I fought like heck for their future. That’s why I’m running for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th district. Join me. cammieforcongress.com

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 16d

TODAY: 1pm EST / 10am PST, Kasiana McLenaghan explains how her career went from energy efficiency startups to outlets like The New York Times and now to New_ Public.

We’ll be chatting about the intersections of tech and journalism and how to build a career making social media better for all.

New_ Public Career Chat with Kasiana · Zoom · Luma

Are you committed to making the internet healthy and flourishing? Interested in navigating a career in social media? We’re here for you: Sign up here to join a…

luma.com

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 20d

Nepal offers a case study of how digital spaces can help foster participatory democracy.

ICYMI; After youth-led protests against government corruption and a ban on social media, the PM stepped down and movement leaders used Discord to elevate an interim Prime Minister.

‘More egalitarian’: How Nepal’s Gen Z used gaming app Discord to pick PM

It was a first for an electoral democracy. Backers say it’s more transparent than what politicians do. But it has risks.

www.aljazeera.com

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 21d

🚨 We’re seeking a Staff UX Researcher to join the Local Lab team.

Can you…

👉 lead tactical studies to refine and evaluate our approach?
✍️ develop and facilitate workshops with design peers?
🤝 collaborate closely with your product colleagues?

More details below

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 22d

RESEARCH: Participating in local conversations can strengthen your connection to your community, online & off.

A study found active, long-term participants in their local subreddit were more likely to be civically involved & report a higher sense of belonging.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

Two side-by-side charts comparing outcomes between random subreddits (blue) and city subreddits (orange) based on subscription tenure. Chart (a) shows "Sense of Local Belonging by Subreddit Tenure" with y-axis from 3.8 to 4.15. For subscriptions of 7 days or less, both subreddit types show similar scores around 3.95-3.97 with overlapping confidence intervals. For subscriptions longer than 7 days, city subreddits increase to about 4.13 while random subreddits decrease to about 3.92, creating a clear separation. Chart (b) shows "Political Participation by Subreddit Tenure" with y-axis from 2.3 to 2.8. The pattern reverses here: for short tenure (≤7 days), both types score similarly around 2.5-2.65. For longer tenure (>7 days), city subreddits increase to about 2.8 while random subreddits decrease to about 2.4. The caption explains that differences between city and random subreddits become more pronounced with longer subscription periods for both local belonging and political participation measures.

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 23d

There are many ways to have a career in social media that embraces interdisciplinary skills and a human-centered design ethos.

Join us for a career chat on 9/22 ft Kasiana McLenaghan, PSI Product Director, whose career path brought her to the intersection between journalism and tech at New_ Public.

New_ Public Career Chat with Kasiana · Zoom · Luma

Are you committed to making the internet healthy and flourishing? Interested in navigating a career in social media? We’re here for you: Sign up here to join a…

luma.com

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 27d

Doomscrolling get you down? The indie web is the way out.

Here you’ll find sites that aren’t built for views or profits, by creators who are embracing what made the world wide web beautiful and exciting in the first place.

@chezpanique.bsky.social has a list of her favorites to get you started.

Screenshot of a pink-toned website (anhvn.com) with text overlay reading 'A Tour of the Indie Web.' Below it lists where to start: 'Ava's Space: An excellent explainer guide to the indie web' and 'ANHVN: A beautifully designed site that reads like a noir comic.' The page shows 'New_ Public' branding

Graphic showing alternatives to mainstream social media, listing 'Sublime and Are.na, both kind of like indie Pinterest for ideas.' Below is a view of the Are.na platform showing a 'hypertext club' channel with various content blocks including 'Coral Journalist Bronze' and other hypertext-related posts arranged in a grid layout.

Screenshot of eieio.games website by nolan royalty, featuring navigation menu items like 'media & speaking', 'blog & all work', and 'what's my deal'. An overlay highlights 'Some funky, niche sites and spaces' listing: Sonnet, GReg TeChnoLogY, Corru Observer, and EIEIO Games. The background shows someone playing what appears to be Pac-Man.

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 28d

WE'RE HIRING: Staff UX researcher, Local Lab

Bring your user research experience, strategic thinking, and passion to help us create more engaging, inclusive, and impactful online communities.

Learn more and apply 💌

newpublicorg.applytojob.com/apply/YYMn0m...

Staff UX Researcher, Local Lab - NewPublic.org - Career Page

Apply to Staff UX Researcher, Local Lab at NewPublic.org in Remote.

newpublicorg.applytojob.com

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · Sep 4

The way we get local news and information is rapidly evolving.

Our friends at Press Forward suggest that investing in “information stewards” — including local news — can help communities stay informed and engaged.

A healthier community info ecosystem could look something like this👇

Table titled 'Attributes of information stewardship' comparing three types: Local news providers (newsrooms, independent journalists) must verify all information, are motivated by enabling citizen participation in self-governance, and are held to professional journalism standards. Civic promoters (government agencies, libraries, community organizations, businesses, elected officials, educational institutions, faith-based organizations) may verify information, are motivated by sharing expertise/values to advance institutional work, and represent their affiliated institutions professionally. Community catalysts (motivated residents, volunteers, independent advocates) may verify information, are motivated by catalyzing change and building personal relationships/networks for mutual support, and share information for personal interests rather than institutional ones.

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Reposted by Eli Pariser

New_ Public @newpublic.org · Sep 3

RESEARCH: Could LLMs help us be more prosocial online?

In one study, participants rated AI-written and AI-assisted comments as more constructive than ones humans wrote alone, in part because they prioritized politeness, relevance, and use of logic over emotional appeals.

arxiv.org/pdf/2411.03295

Screenshot of an AI-powered comment interface with three sections. Left section titled 'User Input' shows a text box containing a comment about comparing religions, stating that religions are alike in fundamental ways when you look past surface differences. Middle section titled 'AI Interface' shows options for making comments constructive, including 'Balance contrasting views,' 'Use logic and facts,' 'Present solutions,' 'Use polite tone,' and 'Make comment relevant,' with a cursor hovering over 'Make my comment Constructive' button. Right section titled 'AI's Suggestion' contains a text box with revised comment text emphasizing respectful acknowledgment of religious differences and commonalities, with a dropdown menu for 'Select Action' and red 'Take Action' button below.

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