Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · 6d

What a dreadful day. I’m not Jewish but my husband is. I felt glad to be standing alongside him for the end of Yom Kippur and it was moving to hear a deeply felt message of condolence and solidarity from the local imam at synagogue tonight.

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 6d

On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day.

As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time.

At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.

To everyone in Britain's Jewish Community: you are not alone.

We will not let hate or those who spread it win.

We stand with you.

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you Sunder - we’ve not met but I have benefited from your ideas and research across my career. And I’m an exiled Evertonian. And I’m
married to a Jew. So you are my best online person today and often.

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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 17d

the requirements to succeed on new media platforms are almost precisely the opposite of what successful experts… have trained themselves to do: maintain an institutional tone of formal detachment & stay ruthlessly on-message at all times.’ @noupside.bsky.social
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

For Expertise to Matter, Nonpartisan Institutions Need New Communications Strategies

To avoid irrelevance when they are needed most, experts and nonpartisan analysts must rethink not just their channels of communication but also their theory of influence.

carnegieendowment.org

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 22d

my favorite robert redford story is that mike nichols considered him for dustin hoffman's part in THE GRADUATE. during their conversation nichols asked redford something like, "have you ever struck out with a girl?" and redford's response was basically, "i don't understand the question"

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · 24d

There was nothing unifying about the “Unite the Kingdom rally”. Solidarity with anyone non-white who felt threatened in London yesterday. The vast majority of Brits think and feel differently (see evidence from data superhero Sunder Katwala below) and good if we can find ways to demonstrate this.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 24d

There is v solid evidence that while Tommy Robinson has activated within the 4% who strongly support him (& 1/10 who approve) but has no significant broadening of his general public appeal (1/10) over the 10-15 years he has been around

His 2025, 2019 and 2011 reputation

bsky.app/profile/sund...

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 25d

Approval of Tommy Robinson tends to be 1/10 people who have heard of him, with half of the population critical.

Reform voters a third for & against. Conservatives 6-1 against

His reputation has been pretty stable with mild fluctuations when this has been asked across for the last fifteen years.

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Naomi Alderman @naomialderman.bsky.social · Aug 2

so. remember how in the past people got enough exercise just from doing their job & daily tasks? & now all jobs are screens & we have to *deliberately exercise* to stay healthy?

from now we will have to *deliberately write* and *engage with art made for a wide audience* to keep our brains healthy.

Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · Jul 31

It was only a matter of time.

Amazon is investing in Showrunner, an AI-generated streaming service.

• Viewers type in prompts to generate scenes or full episodes for new ideas or existing IPs.

• Disney and other studios are in talks to license IP for the service.

Amazon Invests in ‘Netflix of AI’ Start-Up Fable, Which Launches Showrunner: A Tool for User-Directed TV Shows

Amazon has invested in Fable, a start-up whose 'Netflix of AI' Showunner gen-AI tool lets users create scenes or entire episodes of a TV show.

variety.com

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · Aug 9

Inspo for all of us who love 21s.

Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · Aug 9

My latest: I made a conscious decision to stop being skinny and get big and strong AF.

Here's some reflections on what life has been like since putting on nearly 20 pounds of muscle.

wapo.st/3J9sLty

Opinion | I gained 20 pounds of muscle. Here’s what I learned.

Three years and 20 pounds of muscle later, I’ve learned that everything — and nothing — changes.

wapo.st

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · Jul 25

A splendid read. I’d love more (social) policy and less Westminster intrigue in our journalism. And yes somewhat arch - policy can be chewy, but policy writing can inspire all the feels from rage to joy, when it captures the human impact.

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Jul 25

‘Dare to be dull!’ A man after my own heart - lovely obit of Malcolm Dean who edited Guardian Society for over 20 years. (The piece reminds us that in its heyday it was over 200 pages long due to the jobs pages!)
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/j...

Malcolm Dean obituary

Founder of the Guardian’s Society section who stood for the SDP/Liberal Alliance in the 1983 and 1987 general elections

www.theguardian.com

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Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · Jul 13

In 2020 @moreincommonuk.bsky.social launched the British 7 Segments. After a pandemic, major global conflicts, political upheaval, cost of living crisis, changes in work/social/information habits it’s time to update them for 2025. Here’s an intro to our new tribes of Britain (Quiz link next)

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · Jul 12

James Plunkett offers practical inspiration here to anyone trying to be a bit less hierarchy and a bit more network.

James Plunkett @jamestplunkett.bsky.social · Jul 11

How do we save bureaucracy from itself? A new long-read from me with seven practical examples of techniques we can use to make big institutions less sclerotic.
medium.com/@jamestplunk...

How to save bureaucracy from itself

Seven ways to make big institutions less sclerotic

medium.com

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · Jun 6

Really enjoyed this thank you. For me novels are first, last but not everything.

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · Jun 5

Money doesn’t grow on trees but ideas do. ACE chief exec @henleydarren.bsky.social arguing in The Stage that cultural sector innovation is a source of growth, drawing inspiration from Daniel Susskind’s excellent book Growth: A Reckoning.

The Stage @thestage.co.uk · Jun 4

"Ideas are infinite and so is their power to drive growth.” Darren Henley from Arts Council England urges investment in the arts as smart economic strategy ahead of the spending review 👇

ACE's Darren Henley on the value of ideas to the economy

Theatre often steers away from talking about growth and economics. But, says ACE chief executive Darren Henley, the value of ideas is not to be overlooked

www.thestage.co.uk

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · May 17

Read if you have ever been ensconced in a Parisian Brasserie. As a young’un I was intimidated by Lipp - that association with lunching French presidents - but the theatrics at Bofinger, near the Bastille, made my Dad’s 70th a cherished memory.

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · May 16

Interview with Arts Council England Chair Nick Serota in The Guardian highlighting the vital role of public investment in attracting other sources of revenue for the cultural sector. www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

Arts Council England chair says sector at ‘tipping point’ amid funding fears

Sir Nicholas Serota says continued public investment is vital to draw in private funding to maintain cultural centres

www.theguardian.com

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · May 14

This is a brilliant, moving report capturing life and the absurdity of the system for most prisoners and prison officers. If only more media outlets could do this, instead of frothing at the mouth about prison reform. Congrats to Preston Prison for opening its doors too.

Sophy Ridge @sophyridge.bsky.social · May 14

I rarely do this but please watch our report from Preston Prison

I was blown away by the amazing work of the officers. But I was also blown away by the fact prison isn’t working. Will politicians be brave enough to change it?

Video by @lucymarleey

m.youtube.com/watch?v=cszg...

Inside one of Britain's most overcrowded prisons

YouTube video by Sky News

m.youtube.com

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Dr Duncan Robertson @duncanrobertson.bsky.social · Apr 25

Wooah. 18.5% reduction in sick leave reported.

(And this was pre-Covid:
"Our sample periods for the LEZ and ULEZ analyses are 2005–2009 and 2016–2019, respectively.")

Dave Vetter @davidrvetter.bsky.social · Apr 24

📢A new study from @uniofbath.bsky.social shows London's low emissions zones have had major benefits for human health and the economy, with a 10.2% decrease in respiratory issues following LEZ implementation, an **18.5%** reduction in sick leave, and annual public health savings of over £37 million.

“And Breathe Normally”: Impacts of low emission zones on sick leave and mental well-being

Air pollution poses a global concern due to its detrimental effects on climate, healthcare, and human capital accumulation. However, there is limited …

www.sciencedirect.com

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Arts Council England @artscouncilengland.bsky.social · Apr 22

Creativity means business! 🏦🔑

And public investment in arts and culture helps make it happen. New CEBR report finds #ACEsupported orgs added £1.35 billion to the economy in 2023 📖🎉👇
#LetsCreate

buff.ly/WGf1vVO

Image credit: Jerome Whittingham

A fireworks display with crowds of people watching. Text reads “£1.35 billion: the economic contribution of Arts Council funded organisations in 2023 #LetsCreate”

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · Apr 18

Sorry for paywall, but for those who can, our Arts Council Chair in the hot orange seat on freedom of expression, the value of public investment in culture and the importance of listening. on.ft.com/4czH310 Axing arts quangos risks ‘liberty of thought’ says Nicholas Serota

Axing arts quangos risks ‘liberty of thought’ says Nicholas Serota

Chair of Arts Council England says arm’s-length funding of theatre, music and museums helps prevent politicisation

on.ft.com

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · Apr 18

It’s not the purpose of Arts Council investment, but the way public money for art and culture drives growth in the wider economy should be factored in by government. www.thestage.co.uk/news/ace-bac...

ACE-backed companies contributed £1.35bn to economy in 2023 – report

Organisations funded by Arts Council England contributed £1.35 billion in gross value added in 2023, topping pre-pandemic levels

www.thestage.co.uk

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · Apr 8

Important statement on value of public investment in culture from Arts Council England’s governing bodies.

Arts Council England @artscouncilengland.bsky.social · Apr 8

We’re sharing an open letter from our Chair Sir Nicholas Serota and his National and Area Council colleagues in response to Wigmore Hall’s successful fundraising campaign, the subsequent debate about public funding of arts and culture and #LetsCreate.

Read the key points below 🧵

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · Apr 6

This sounds terrific and a fruitful way forward for thinking about EDI. Can’t think of anything our world needs more right now than deep thinking about compassion.

Daryl Cameron @dcameron.bsky.social · Apr 6

If you're at Penn State, I encourage you to check out the annual PRC Compassion lecture this Tuesday from 4:30-5:30pm with Jason Okonofua. Details below, come learn about the importance of compassion in today's world.
@prcpennstate.bsky.social
@psuliberalarts.bsky.social
@rockethics.bsky.social

2025 Lecture on Compassion: "Sidelining Bias: How Compassion Can Protect Key Relationships From Conflict"

In recent years, much research has conceptualized bias as an [...]

prevention.psu.edu

Reposted by Mags Patten

Arts Professional @artsprofessional.co.uk · Apr 3

Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley has responded to renewed criticism that the funding body prioritises community engagement over artistic excellence, calling the characterisation “skewed” and “exclusive”.

ACE chief Henley rejects ‘ugly’ criticism of community engagement efforts - Arts Professional

Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley has responded to renewed criticism that the funding body prioritises community engagement over artistic excellence, calling the characterisation “skewed”...

buff.ly

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · Mar 29

Theory is a kind word for it. Good to see you here Mark.

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Mags Patten @magspatten.bsky.social · Mar 29

It’s not quite clear to me what communities are at the bottom of here - just below humdrum - John Tusa? www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

Arts Council England defends support of classical music amid loss of trust

Arts funding body responds to criticism as Wigmore Hall in London says it will operate independently from 2026

www.theguardian.com

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