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Mark Armstrong

@markarms.bsky.social

1.2K followers 1.3K following 390 posts

Producer, writer, singer. Editor, @niemanstoryboard.org Podcasts @ursastory.bsky.social Music: https://www.instagram.com/markarmsmusic Founder (emeritus) of Longreads markarms.com

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Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · Jan 16

If it hadn't been for the community on TikTok, I probably wouldn't have started releasing music again after 15 years.

I hope it doesn't go away, but if it does, here's one more song.

markarms.com/2025/01/16/w...

What would you tell your younger self?

A new song: “Don’t Get Too Comfortable.”

markarms.com

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Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 2d

CHICAGO (AP) — Storming an apartment complex by helicopter as families slept. Deploying chemical agents near a public school. Handcuffing a Chicago City Council member at a hospital.

apnews.com/article/chic...

Using helicopters and chemical agents, immigration agents become increasingly aggressive in Chicago

Activists, residents and elected leaders say increasingly combative tactics used by federal immigration agents are sparking violence and fueling neighborhood tensions in the nation’s third-largest cit...

apnews.com

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Ana Marie Cox @anamariecox.bsky.social · 2d

I need more “late bloomer” stories! Tell me about the things that you did at 50+ that you never thought you’d do or finally got to do!

And if you have examples that aren’t you, bring ‘em!

Elliot Blake @elliotblake.bsky.social · 3d

I’m over 50, and my first TV show came out on Friday. My first book, a novella, will come out next year. I’m a late bloomer.

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Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · 2d

Okay, it was 48, but I put out my first single as a solo artist: oldster.substack.com/p/rediscover...

Rediscovering My Voice in Midlife

Mark Armstrong re-embraces music after a long hiatus. PLUS: An Oldster Magazine Friday open thread on revisiting old creative passions later in life.

oldster.substack.com

Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · 5d

"Armed federal agents in military fatigues busted down their doors overnight, pulling men, women and children from their apartments, some of them naked, residents and witnesses said."

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Massive immigration raid on Chicago apartment building leaves residents reeling: 'I feel defeated'

The Department of Homeland Security said federal agents with Border Patrol, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested 37 people in the raid.

chicago.suntimes.com

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Karen Palmer @karenpalmer.bsky.social · 5d

I wasn't aware of Mark's Storyboard newsletter (a pub of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism @ Harvard) but the links are so good, especially a piece by Lauren Kessler on reporting and writing scenes. Honored to have a shoutout from Carly Stern about my craft essay for Lit Hub.
tinyurl.com/bdef6mh2

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Hanaa’ Tameez @hanaatameez.bsky.social · 5d

Coverage of Mario's case needs to give the context of *where* he's being deported to.

At least 40 journos have fled El Salvador in 2025.
There were 789 attacks against the press in 2024.
@elfaro.net moved its offices to Costa Rica in 2023.

We don't know what will happen to Mario in ES.

Committee to Protect Journalists @pressfreedom.bsky.social · 6d

“Mario Guevara’s deportation is a troubling sign of the deteriorating freedom of the press under the Trump administration,” said CPJ U.S., Canada, and Caribbean Program Coordinator Katherine Jacobsen. “Make no mistake, this is not a simple immigration case."

cpj.org/2025/10/jour...

Journalist Mario Guevara to be deported from US in unprecedented case - Committee to Protect Journalists

Washington, D.C., October 2, 2025—In response to news that journalist Mario Guevara will be deported on Friday from the United States back to his native El Salvador, the Committee to Protect Journalis...

cpj.org

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Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · 5d

You and Justin had me watching 2011 World Series highlights on YouTube!

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Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · 5d

My Friday newsletter for @niemanstoryboard.org: Featuring @kerryhowley.bsky.social @nymag.com, Kari Howard, @miasato.bsky.social, @karenpalmer.bsky.social, @brendanomeara.bsky.social, Justin Heckert.

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/10/03/s...

#journalism #longreads #storytelling #booksky

Scenes from a hacker house - Nieman Storyboard

The San Francisco AI gold rush. Plus: Kari Howard Fund for Narrative Journalism, Justin Heckert's one that got away.

niemanstoryboard.org

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Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · 6d

Outstanding! 👏

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Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard @niemanfoundation.bsky.social · 12d

The International Women’s Media Foundation has announced the 2025 Kari Howard Fund for Narrative Journalism grantees.

Howard, former @niemanstoryboard.org editor, championed ambitious storytelling — and this year’s winners carry that legacy forward. Read more about the grantees:

Kari Howard Fund for Narrative Journalism Awards 2025 Grants - IWMF

Journalists from U.S. and Poland to cover immigration crises [WASHINGTON, DC – September 25, 2025] – The Kari Howard Fund for Narrative Journalism, a program of the International Women’s Media Foundat...

www.iwmf.org

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Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · 12d

My Friday newsletter for @niemanstoryboard.org: @michaelkruse.bsky.social and Bill Duryea on a 16-year partnership, plus @lillydancyger.bsky.social, @danwilsonmusic.bsky.social, @hco96.bsky.social, and Alice Driver.

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/09/26/e...

#longreads #journalism #booksky

Everybody needs an editor - Nieman Storyboard

Michael Kruse and Bill Duryea reflect on a 16-year partnership. Plus: Telling a family's story, without everyone's participation.

niemanstoryboard.org

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 13d

Did @markarms.bsky.social's @niemanstoryboard.org podcast with Bill.

Michael Kruse & Bill Duryea: Lessons from a 16-year reporter-editor partnership - Nieman Storyboard

The journalists share how they supported and learned from each other at the Tampa Bay Times and Politico.

niemanstoryboard.org

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Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · 13d

This week on the @niemanstoryboard.org podcast, I was thrilled to talk with @michaelkruse.bsky.social and his longtime editor, Bill Duryea, about editor-reporter relationships and their 16-year collaboration at the @tampabaytimes.bsky.social and @politico.com.

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/09/25/m...

Michael Kruse & Bill Duryea: Lessons from a 16-year reporter-editor partnership - Nieman Storyboard

The journalists share how they supported and learned from each other at the Tampa Bay Times and Politico.

niemanstoryboard.org

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Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · 15d

Happy birthday!

Reposted by Mark Armstrong

Will James @willjames.bsky.social · 15d

Many Cascade PBS journalists I admire are losing their jobs. Seattle is also losing a valuable piece of its news ecosystem. I think of the many journalists scattered throughout local newsrooms who passed through Cascade PBS/Crosscut at some point, freelanced there, or got their start there.

Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 16d

BREAKING: Cascade PBS, which operates the website Crosscut, is laying off 19 people, reportedly including its entire news staff. In an email to staff, CEO Rob Dunlop blamed federal cuts, saying the nonprofit is "winding down our longform, written journalism."

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Megan Greenwell @greenwell.bsky.social · 19d

A lot of people have seized on how much work it took to find my four BAD COMPANY protagonists, so it was fun to talk to @niemanstoryboard.org about it. imo narrative work absolutely requires putting in the effort/time to find the right characters. niemanstoryboard.org/2025/09/19/m...

I knew I needed people who readers were going to want to spend a lot of time with. I had three characters in the proposal but four in the book. One from the proposal ended up in the book.
I did so much grunt work to find them.
A lot of Linkedin searching for people who had previously worked at various companies. A ton of scouring Facebook groups and Reddit, and talking to nonprofit groups to see who they recommended. I was trying to plumb every possible avenue. I talked to a little over 300 people for the book as a whole, and almost 150 of those were potential protagonists.

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Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · 19d

My Friday @niemanstoryboard.org newsletter: @greenwell.bsky.social on finding your book's main characters + @mdbell79.bsky.social on dialogue, @skyepillsbury.com talks to @kalilaholt.bsky.social about "Heavyweight"'s return.

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/09/19/f...

#booksky #longreads #podcasts

Finding your book's main characters - Nieman Storyboard

Megan Greenwell's “Bad Company,” annotated. Plus: What makes dialogue work on the page?

niemanstoryboard.org

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Megan Greenwell @greenwell.bsky.social · 19d

This @niemanstoryboard.org interview/annotation was one of the most fun I've done. The Q&A is mostly nuts and bolts about how I actually wrote a book, while the annotation is for the craft nerds. 🤩 I think there's a lot in here for aspiring narrative nonfiction writers!

Megan Greenwell on holding out for the once-in-a-lifetime book idea - Nieman Storyboard

The author of “Bad Company” reflects on the merits of waiting until she was seized by an obsession and couldn’t let go

niemanstoryboard.org

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Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · 19d

Such a great Q&A and annotation. Thank you for sharing this, Megan and Carly!

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shawn @mulchy.bsky.social · 19d

moments ago, ice agents again came out of the broadview detention/“professing” facility to escort a silver suv out of the lot.

one of the agents picked up and threw congressional candidate kat abughazaleh to the ground.

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Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · 19d

At @niemanstoryboard.org, thrilled to feature a conversation + annotated book chapter from @greenwell.bsky.social's “Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream.” By Carly Stern.

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/09/19/m...

#booksky #longreads

Megan Greenwell on holding out for the once-in-a-lifetime book idea - Nieman Storyboard

The author of “Bad Company” reflects on the merits of waiting until she was seized by an obsession and couldn’t let go

niemanstoryboard.org

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Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · 26d

My Friday newsletter for @niemanstoryboard.org: Interactive storytelling with @newyorker.com's Sam Wolson, plus @phillymag.com on 50 years of "Fresh Air," @tommytomlinson.bsky.social, @columjournreview.bsky.social, @transom.bsky.social

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/09/12/t...

#longreads #journalism

Technology still demands a story - Nieman Storyboard

Sam Wolson on finding the right medium for the right story. Plus: Terry Gross on 50 years of ‘Fresh Air’ and using narrative structure in interviews

niemanstoryboard.org

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Jessica Lussenhop @jlussenhop.bsky.social · 27d

🚨... and we've got JOBS.🚨 We're hiring a senior producer and producers for this as-yet unnamed podcast. Come help me invent this thing! job-boards.greenhouse.io/propublica

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Mark Armstrong @markarms.bsky.social · 27d

Having trouble expressing the excitement I'm feeling, seeing a new Hanif Abdurraqib essay series at @longreads.com.

Longreads @longreads.com · 27d

"'The Minstrel Show' is an album made by three people who knew how good they were, yet found themselves in the sometimes unbearable position of being deeply respected but not beloved." The great Hanif Abdurraqib on a great album. longreads.com/2025/09/11/l...

20 Years Later: Little Brother, “The Minstrel Show” - Longreads

Like minstrelsy, Little Brother’s album shows you one hand, convinces you of one thing, while something else works behind the scenes.

longreads.com

Reposted by Mark Armstrong

Hanaa’ Tameez @hanaatameez.bsky.social · 27d

This story — which asks what happened to all of those newsroom DEI jobs, committees, and promises from 2020 — is the hardest one I've ever worked on. I hope you'll spend some time with it today.

www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/from...

From reckoning to retreat: Journalism’s DEI efforts are in decline

www.niemanlab.org

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