Becky Little
@msbeckylittle.bsky.social
Writer in DC (she/her)😷| Bylines: History Channel, National Geographic, Smithsonian, Time, Washington City Paper, DCist (RIP) | Member: @nwu.org @fspnwu.bsky.social | https://msbeckylittle.tumblr.com/
"Although the U.S. certainly still has gradations of belonging, the Fourteenth Amendment’s birthright citizenship clause’s broad inclusivity is well-established and indisputable, and it should be a point of national pride, which represents Americans’ commitment to a multi-racial democracy."
Here's a short piece I wrote to explain to smart laypersons what the birthright citizenship clause is for and why it's in the Fourteenth Amendment. Excerpted from my forthcoming book. Ungated:
History Shows Why Birthright Citizenship is so Important
The 14th Amendment aimed to overturn restrictive state laws while making the Constitution more inclusive.
time.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:23 PM
"Although the U.S. certainly still has gradations of belonging, the Fourteenth Amendment’s birthright citizenship clause’s broad inclusivity is well-established and indisputable, and it should be a point of national pride, which represents Americans’ commitment to a multi-racial democracy."
Reposted by Becky Little
Read and share the Caucus of Nonprofit Newsroom Unions' position statement, which FSP-NWU endorses to represent our members who freelance for these companies, and sign the NewsGuild-CWA’s petition on AI. And if you are a freelance worker, join NWU in the fight for #NewsNotSlop!
CNNU
December 5, 2026
cnnu.org
December 5, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Read and share the Caucus of Nonprofit Newsroom Unions' position statement, which FSP-NWU endorses to represent our members who freelance for these companies, and sign the NewsGuild-CWA’s petition on AI. And if you are a freelance worker, join NWU in the fight for #NewsNotSlop!
Reposted by Becky Little
FSP-NWU has developing AI contract language for freelancers and fighting for fair legislation that regulates the use of our work by AI companies. Now, our NewsGuild-CWA siblings are fighting to ensure that AI is regulated in their newsrooms. Sign the petition here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
Stand with NewsGuild-CWA journalists and demand news, not slop!
Unionized journalists across North America have come together to sound the alarm: Media companies are implementing artificial intelligence in ways that damage the credibility of the journalism on…
actionnetwork.org
December 5, 2025 at 6:15 PM
FSP-NWU has developing AI contract language for freelancers and fighting for fair legislation that regulates the use of our work by AI companies. Now, our NewsGuild-CWA siblings are fighting to ensure that AI is regulated in their newsrooms. Sign the petition here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
Reposted by Becky Little
For-profit media companies have already haphazardly rolled out deeply flawed AI tools that publish inaccurate articles and are used as an excuse for executives to slash freelance budgets and lay off our peers in the industry. Nonprofit outlets can and must do better to preserve trust in news.
December 5, 2025 at 6:15 PM
For-profit media companies have already haphazardly rolled out deeply flawed AI tools that publish inaccurate articles and are used as an excuse for executives to slash freelance budgets and lay off our peers in the industry. Nonprofit outlets can and must do better to preserve trust in news.
Reposted by Becky Little
Today, we join unionized nonprofit newsrooms across the country as they stand shoulder-to-shoulder to demand that news industry leaders agree to common-sense guardrails around the implementation of artificial intelligence to protect the integrity, quality, and accuracy of our journalism.
December 5, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Today, we join unionized nonprofit newsrooms across the country as they stand shoulder-to-shoulder to demand that news industry leaders agree to common-sense guardrails around the implementation of artificial intelligence to protect the integrity, quality, and accuracy of our journalism.
Reposted by Becky Little
This is tonight!
JOIN US THURSDAY: Sign up now us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... #NewsNotSlop
December 4, 2025 at 7:52 PM
This is tonight!
Reposted by Becky Little
TODAY alone, Reuters Guild and @insiderunion.bsky.social are fighting for say in AI, IRL at their NYC offices.
TONIGHT, NewsGuild is hosting a town hall all about how we are FIGHTING and WINNING on AI. Register here! 6 p.m. ET us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
TONIGHT, NewsGuild is hosting a town hall all about how we are FIGHTING and WINNING on AI. Register here! 6 p.m. ET us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
December 4, 2025 at 5:07 PM
TODAY alone, Reuters Guild and @insiderunion.bsky.social are fighting for say in AI, IRL at their NYC offices.
TONIGHT, NewsGuild is hosting a town hall all about how we are FIGHTING and WINNING on AI. Register here! 6 p.m. ET us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
TONIGHT, NewsGuild is hosting a town hall all about how we are FIGHTING and WINNING on AI. Register here! 6 p.m. ET us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Becky Little
For @motherjones.com, I wrote about what's at stake for chronically ill contractors and freelancers as Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits expire.
When you're already sick, the possibility of not being able to afford health insurance at all is terrifying. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
When you're already sick, the possibility of not being able to afford health insurance at all is terrifying. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
For many contractors, losing ACA subsidies means losing health care
The GOP's unprecedented premium hikes put chronically ill workers—especially freelancers—in peril.
www.motherjones.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:22 PM
For @motherjones.com, I wrote about what's at stake for chronically ill contractors and freelancers as Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits expire.
When you're already sick, the possibility of not being able to afford health insurance at all is terrifying. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
When you're already sick, the possibility of not being able to afford health insurance at all is terrifying. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Becky Little
friends! @coyotemedia.org is dropping our paywall for December so you can see what we’ve been up to even if you have none dollars. All of our posts are currently free to read.
Come check us out & spread the word? www.coyotemedia.org
Come check us out & spread the word? www.coyotemedia.org
COYOTE
Independent journalism with a bite!
www.coyotemedia.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:46 PM
friends! @coyotemedia.org is dropping our paywall for December so you can see what we’ve been up to even if you have none dollars. All of our posts are currently free to read.
Come check us out & spread the word? www.coyotemedia.org
Come check us out & spread the word? www.coyotemedia.org
Reposted by Becky Little
“'Librarians out in our branches are seeing a lot of young people who are really excited by these collections,' Langlais told 404 Media. 'Folks who are coming in just for the games are picking up program flyers and coming back for something like that.'"
The Last Video Rental Store Is Your Public Library
Audio-visual librarians are quietly amassing large physical media collections amid the IP disputes threatening select availability.
www.404media.co
December 3, 2025 at 2:49 PM
“'Librarians out in our branches are seeing a lot of young people who are really excited by these collections,' Langlais told 404 Media. 'Folks who are coming in just for the games are picking up program flyers and coming back for something like that.'"
Reposted by Becky Little
But he sent us back to the table to bargain with POLITICO over an appropriate remedy.
Help us show POLITICO--and news executives everywhere--that our readers demand ethical journalism and sign The News Guild petition. #newsnotslop
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
Help us show POLITICO--and news executives everywhere--that our readers demand ethical journalism and sign The News Guild petition. #newsnotslop
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
Stand with NewsGuild-CWA journalists and demand news, not slop!
Unionized journalists across North America have come together to sound the alarm: Media companies are implementing artificial intelligence in ways that damage the credibility of the journalism on whic...
actionnetwork.org
December 2, 2025 at 5:08 PM
But he sent us back to the table to bargain with POLITICO over an appropriate remedy.
Help us show POLITICO--and news executives everywhere--that our readers demand ethical journalism and sign The News Guild petition. #newsnotslop
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
Help us show POLITICO--and news executives everywhere--that our readers demand ethical journalism and sign The News Guild petition. #newsnotslop
actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
Reposted by Becky Little
We WON that case. The neutral arbiter said AI may generate content more quickly than a human can write, but that's no substitute for critical safeguards like fact-checking. 7/
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/poli...
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/poli...
Politico management violated key AI adoption safeguards, arbitrator finds
The ruling marks one of the first major tests of an AI clause in a newsroom union contract.
www.niemanlab.org
December 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
We WON that case. The neutral arbiter said AI may generate content more quickly than a human can write, but that's no substitute for critical safeguards like fact-checking. 7/
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/poli...
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/poli...
Reposted by Becky Little
[email protected] executives claimed their erroneous gen AI tools sit “outside the newsroom” and shouldn’t be subject to editorial standards 6/ www.niemanlab.org/2025/08/poli...
Politico’s recent AI experiments shouldn’t be subject to newsroom editorial standards, its editors testify
In a July arbitration hearing, Politico faced allegations that two generative AI tools violated its union contract.
www.niemanlab.org
December 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
[email protected] executives claimed their erroneous gen AI tools sit “outside the newsroom” and shouldn’t be subject to editorial standards 6/ www.niemanlab.org/2025/08/poli...
Reposted by Becky Little
Last year @politico.com used AI to generate coverage of major political events. They also currently let subscribers generate AI-written reports on any subject. But the reports are often riddled with errors, and there's no human to fact-check them. 3/
December 2, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Last year @politico.com used AI to generate coverage of major political events. They also currently let subscribers generate AI-written reports on any subject. But the reports are often riddled with errors, and there's no human to fact-check them. 3/
Reposted by Becky Little
As a union of creative workers, NWU has been watching the development of AI with interest and concern. In 2023, we released our Platform & Principles for Policy on Gen AI to inform what should be done to protect the lives, livelihoods, & labor of creators. #NewsNotSlop nwu.org/generative-ai
December 2, 2025 at 3:56 PM
As a union of creative workers, NWU has been watching the development of AI with interest and concern. In 2023, we released our Platform & Principles for Policy on Gen AI to inform what should be done to protect the lives, livelihoods, & labor of creators. #NewsNotSlop nwu.org/generative-ai
Reposted by Becky Little
RELEASE: NewsGuild journalists are sounding the alarm – media companies are undermining public trust with unethical AI in the newsroom.
Today, we launch #NewsNotSlop, a national campaign kicking off a Week of Action on AI, December 1–5.
newsguild.org/release-stan...
Today, we launch #NewsNotSlop, a national campaign kicking off a Week of Action on AI, December 1–5.
newsguild.org/release-stan...
RELEASE: STANDING UP TO PROTECT JOURNALISM FROM AI SLOP | The NewsGuild - TNG-CWA
On the heels of a ground-breaking arbitration win at POLITICO, NewsGuild-CWA members launch national campaign and week of action on AI.
newsguild.org
December 1, 2025 at 5:44 PM
RELEASE: NewsGuild journalists are sounding the alarm – media companies are undermining public trust with unethical AI in the newsroom.
Today, we launch #NewsNotSlop, a national campaign kicking off a Week of Action on AI, December 1–5.
newsguild.org/release-stan...
Today, we launch #NewsNotSlop, a national campaign kicking off a Week of Action on AI, December 1–5.
newsguild.org/release-stan...
Reposted by Becky Little
“This ruling is a clear affirmation that AI cannot be deployed as a shortcut around union rights, ethical journalism, or human judgment,” said Ariel Wittenberg, unit chair of the PEN Guild. @arielwittenberg.bsky.social #NewsNotSlop www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/poli...
Politico management violated key AI adoption safeguards, arbitrator finds
The ruling marks one of the first major tests of an AI clause in a newsroom union contract.
www.niemanlab.org
December 1, 2025 at 4:44 PM
“This ruling is a clear affirmation that AI cannot be deployed as a shortcut around union rights, ethical journalism, or human judgment,” said Ariel Wittenberg, unit chair of the PEN Guild. @arielwittenberg.bsky.social #NewsNotSlop www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/poli...
Reposted by Becky Little
A neutral arbiter agrees: @politico.com violated our contract and its own journalistic standards when it deployed AI.
Our readers deserve news, not slop!
wbng.org/2025/12/01/p...
Our readers deserve news, not slop!
wbng.org/2025/12/01/p...
December 1, 2025 at 4:04 PM
A neutral arbiter agrees: @politico.com violated our contract and its own journalistic standards when it deployed AI.
Our readers deserve news, not slop!
wbng.org/2025/12/01/p...
Our readers deserve news, not slop!
wbng.org/2025/12/01/p...
Reposted by Becky Little
NEW — Today, Cook County became the first county in the U.S. to establish permanent funding for guaranteed income at the county level.
The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved $7.5 million for the program through its FY 2026 budget, which totals $10.12 billion.
thetriibe.com/2025/11/cook...
The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved $7.5 million for the program through its FY 2026 budget, which totals $10.12 billion.
thetriibe.com/2025/11/cook...
Cook County becomes the first county in the US to establish permanent funding for guaranteed income • The TRiiBE
On Thursday, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved the FY 2026 budget, which includes $7.5 million to fund the county’s guaranteed basic income program.
thetriibe.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:47 PM
NEW — Today, Cook County became the first county in the U.S. to establish permanent funding for guaranteed income at the county level.
The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved $7.5 million for the program through its FY 2026 budget, which totals $10.12 billion.
thetriibe.com/2025/11/cook...
The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved $7.5 million for the program through its FY 2026 budget, which totals $10.12 billion.
thetriibe.com/2025/11/cook...
Reposted by Becky Little
Folks, if your library doesn’t have a book you want to read, ask them to buy a copy. Most have a convenient form and will let you know when it comes in. If your library offers ILL, they can even borrow books from other libraries.
November 24, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Folks, if your library doesn’t have a book you want to read, ask them to buy a copy. Most have a convenient form and will let you know when it comes in. If your library offers ILL, they can even borrow books from other libraries.
Reposted by Becky Little
Last week, Suncoast Searchlight's four reporters wrote a letter to their board. Their editor-in-chief had secretly been using ChatGPT and inserting hallucinated quotes into their drafts.
The next day, one of those reporters was fired. My latest for @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/flor...
The next day, one of those reporters was fired. My latest for @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/flor...
Florida nonprofit news reporters ask board to investigate their editor’s AI use
Suncoast Searchlight’s four reporters told the board their editor-in-chief was using AI editing tools and inserting hallucinations into drafts. The next day, one of the reporters was fired.
www.niemanlab.org
November 19, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Last week, Suncoast Searchlight's four reporters wrote a letter to their board. Their editor-in-chief had secretly been using ChatGPT and inserting hallucinated quotes into their drafts.
The next day, one of those reporters was fired. My latest for @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/flor...
The next day, one of those reporters was fired. My latest for @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/flor...
Reposted by Becky Little
A few months ago @thelocal.to got a promising pitch from a writer with bylines in whole bunch of reputable publications—The Cut, The Guardian, Dwell, Architectural Digest, etc. Then I started investigating. Here's a story about fabulists in journalism's AI slop era. thelocal.to/investigatin...
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 19, 2025 at 2:10 PM
A few months ago @thelocal.to got a promising pitch from a writer with bylines in whole bunch of reputable publications—The Cut, The Guardian, Dwell, Architectural Digest, etc. Then I started investigating. Here's a story about fabulists in journalism's AI slop era. thelocal.to/investigatin...
"It could take several days for reversal notices to be sent."
Gift link: wapo.st/47lQosf
Gift link: wapo.st/47lQosf
BREAKING: Some of the layoffs at CDC are being REVERSED.
Here is my updated story.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Here is my updated story.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
More than 1,000 CDC staff receive layoff notices during government shutdown
Another round of mass layoffs has struck CDC. The agency had already been cut during a reorganization this year, and more employees are now being shed amid the government shutdown.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 12, 2025 at 10:42 PM
"It could take several days for reversal notices to be sent."
Gift link: wapo.st/47lQosf
Gift link: wapo.st/47lQosf
Reposted by Becky Little
For many disabled workers, federal jobs were decent, human, and accommodating: everything the president hates.
The human costs of Trump's war on government
For many disabled workers, federal jobs were decent, human, and accommodating: everything the president hates.
www.motherjones.com
October 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM
For many disabled workers, federal jobs were decent, human, and accommodating: everything the president hates.
Reposted by Becky Little
NEW: @CDCgov hit hard by massive firings that several staff describe to me as a “bloodbath.”
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
October 11, 2025 at 12:49 PM
NEW: @CDCgov hit hard by massive firings that several staff describe to me as a “bloodbath.”
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4