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Monday, August 14, 2017
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“OK, I need to do something about this”: The Uncharted Journalism Fund is funding stories that wouldn’t be told otherwise“If people would like to replicate it elsewhere, we would be happy to support them in exploring that idea.” By Christine Schmidt. |
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A survey of independent media in the South asks if “movement journalism” can help newsrooms better cover social justice strife“We think that we need more coverage of people who are taking action to change their lives for the better, more reporting that sheds light on the forces they are up against.” By Christine Schmidt. |
What We’re Reading
TechCrunch / Sarah Perez
Facebook is rolling out a Trending News section on mobile →
“Instead of a ‘topic’ (often just a word, person or place, like ‘China’ or ‘Donald Trump’) and squiggly arrow icon, the news stories here include a headline, a photo, the name of a major media outlet that's reporting it, and how many other sources are available on the topic.”
The New York Times / Paul Mozur
In China, Facebook tests the waters with a stealth app →
“Facebook approved the May debut of a photo-sharing app, called Colorful Balloons, in China, according to a person with knowledge of the company's plans, who declined to be named because the information is politically sensitive. The app, which has not previously been reported, shares the look, function and feel of Facebook's Moments app. It was released through a separate local company and without any hint that the social network is affiliated with it.”
The Verge / James Vincent
How to spot a fake viral video →
“Try to find the video’s earliest incarnation. Once you've found what you think is the original video, ask yourself: does the uploader's online presence seem genuine? If it was uploaded to social media, how long has their account been active, and do they have a history of interacting with other users? If not, it might be a plant.”
AP News
The AP is now tracking “completely untrue” headlines in a weekly column →
“None of these stories are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media.”
New York Times / Cecilia Kang, Eric Lipton, and Sydney Ember
How a conservative TV giant is ridding itself of regulation →
“An examination of the F.C.C. records shows that the Smith-Pai alliance does not follow the familiar script of a lobbyist with deep pockets influencing policy. Instead, it is a case of a powerful regulator and an industry giant sharing a political ideology, and suddenly, with the election of Mr. Trump, having free rein to pursue it.”
The Next Web / Matthew Hussey
Here’s how we built Wikitribune in 72 hours →
“Being a design agency, we wanted this newspaper to look and feel beautiful. But what we learned the more we looked at news, news sites, and even Wikipedia itself, is that design takes a backseat when it comes to the content and the collaboration that came with it.”