Please Understand Me

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We want desperately to be understood. But if we put the power to decide whether we are understood into the hands of strangers, strangers who may or may not care about us, strangers who may or may not have our best interest at heart, we may waste our time and resources trying to please them.    

Why give people who don’t know us an outsized influence over our lives? Why provide them with control they haven’t earned by getting to know us by respecting us? How much better to find solace in those who truly care! Those people we can trust! People who will stand by us as they are invested in who we are becoming.

Stephen Goforth

A Dozen Recent Articles about AI & Journalism

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The heroes of an epic adventure

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A team of researchers interviewed a group of people who've been through a course of psychotherapy this is what they found:  

Those former patients who currently enjoyed better psychological health tended to narrate heroic stories in which they bravely battled their symptoms and emerged victorious in the end.

In other words, these people saw themselves as the heroes of an epic adventure and their problems as obstacles that are part of the hero's journey. Now crucially, in those accounts. there was a dominant recurring theme around personal agency. This is the sense that you are the subject influencing your own actions and life circumstances just like the hero in pretty much any story you've ever come across.  

So how can we do this for ourselves?

Tip number one is to practice self-distancing, which is a simple act of viewing yourself from the outside in. It allows you to take a calmer, more objective view on the events of your life.

Tip number two is to focus on building your sense of personal agency. My recommendation is to start by practicing your ability to take intentional action. The capacity to intentionally set and achieve goals is widely considered a cornerstone of self-agency.

Hazel Gale

9 Webinars this week about journalism, media law, FOIAs, Social Media, AI & more

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Mon, Oct 2 – Media Law Office Hours

What: The open group session allows journalists with legal questions to help find answers on issues related to the First Amendment, Freedom of Information, copyright, defamation, or other media law matters.

Who: Attorney Matthew Leish

When: 4 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free for members

Sponsor: New York Deadline Club

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Tue, Oct 3 - Media Distrust in a Post-Truth Society

What: Why has media distrust grown in recent years? And is there anything rank-and-file journalists can do about it?  Join us as we unpack the myriad of factors contributing to media distrust, and examine some ways it might begin to be restored.

Who: Gerard Baker, Editor-at-Large, The Wall Street Journal; Joy Mayer, founder of Trusting News; Rod Hicks, SPJ’s Director of Ethics and Diversity.  

When: 7 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: New York Deadline Club

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Tue, Oct 3 through Thu, Oct 5 – National FOIA Summit 2023

What: The fall gathering of access professionals, transparency advocates, and journalists with more than 20 timely panels and training sessions about public records and access.

Who: Jeff Roberts Executive Director of NFOIC; Jodie Gil Associate Professor Southern Connecticut State University; Alexander Shalom, ACLU of NJ; Shirsho Dasgupta Investigative Data Reporter at the Miami Herald; Frank LoMonte, Counsel CNN; Sam Stecklow, Journalist Invisible Institute; Rachael Johnson, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; Justin Mayo, Senior Data Journalist at Big Local News; Lisa Pickoff-White, Data Journalist, KQED; Derek Kravitz Investigations and Data Editor at MuckRock; and that’s just on Tuesday!

When: Sessions throughout these three days.

Where: Zoom

Cost: $25 for NFOIC members or $30 for non-members.

Sponsor: National Freedom of Information Coalition

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Tue, Oct 3 - Social Media 101 for Nonprofits

What: Practical tips and tools for extending your cause and mission via social media. We cover the basics of using social media for your nonprofit organization and give you handy tips for the “big 3:” Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Who: Kiersten Hill Director of Nonprofit Solutions

When: 2:30 pm, Central

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Firespring

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Tue, Oct 3 - AI and the Media

What: AI has been a massive talking point this year, in all areas of the media. Is it friend or foe? Will AI help media folk to become more creative, freeing them up from mundane tasks, and allowing them to extend their production and editorial horizons? Or will it replace jobs, promote tired formats and stereotypes, increase misinformation, and undermine copyright?  

Who: Sir Peter Bazalgette. Former chair of ITV, the Arts Council and Endemol; Jessica Cecil. Founder of the Trusted News Initiative and former BBC Chief of Staff; Alex Connock. Former CEO of Ten Alps, now a Fellow at the Said Business School, director of a postgraduate course in Artificial Intelligence, and author ‘Media Management and AI’’; Thad McIlroy. Principal at the Future Of Publishing. Thad will be joining us live from San Francisco.  

When: 12:30, Central

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free for students

Sponsor: The Media Society

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Wed, Oct 4 - How to Build a Webinar Using ChatGPT

What: How the team at Cvent used ChatGPT to create a webinar that was so good, it had people lining up to attend (virtually, of course). Register for this webinar to get answers to questions like:   How can AI be used to ideate topics, build the abstract, and write the content outline and script? What are some ways that AI can be used to help promote virtual events? Can audiences distinguish between AI and human input? Does using AI actually save time or does it add to the workload?

Who: Brooke Gracey of Cvent

When: 3 pm, Central

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Institute for Public Relations

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Wed, Oct 4 - What two experts want journalists to know in a time of vaccine fatigue

What: - What you need to know about the COVID-19, flu vaccines. What to know about the new RSV vaccine for older adults and infants. Story ideas for engaging a COVID-weary community. Covering health equity and access angles

Who: Dr. Tina Tan, an infectious disease pediatrics physician and professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine; Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and George Washington University public health professor.

When: 11:30 am, Central

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The National Press Club Journalism Institute

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Wed, Oct 4 - Create Short-Form Videos That Actually Drive Sales

What: The impact that entertaining short-form video content has on driving social media ROI. Why creator-brand partnerships outperform brand-only content, and how to choose the right type of creators . How brands can use community-building to achieve higher engagement and follower growth than industry averages.

Who: Ashley Murphy, VP of consumer marketing at Rare Beauty; Kate Kenner Archibald, CMO at Dash Hudson.  

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Dash Hudson

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Wed, Oct 4 - How Media and Journalism Can Defend Democracy from Fascism

Who: Professor Ben-Ghiat, an American historian and cultural critic. She is a scholar on fascism and authoritarian leaders and professor of history and Italian studies at New York University.

When: 7 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The Media & Democracy Project

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11 Articles From Sept about Data Science, AI & More

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Empathy is a Choice

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Empathy isn’t just something that happens to us — a meteor shower of synapses firing across the brain — it’s also a choice we make: to pay attention, to extend ourselves. It’s made of exertion, that dowdier cousin of impulse. … This confession of effort chafes against the notion that empathy should always rise unbidden, that genuine means the same thing as unwilled, that intentionality is the enemy of love. But I believe in intention and I believe in work. I believe in waking up in the middle of the night and packing our bags and leaving our worst selves for our better ones.

Leslie Jamison, The Empathy Exams 

13 Articles About How Companies are Using AI in their Businesses

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Success

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He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much;

who has enjoyed the trust of pure women, the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children;

who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;

who has left the world better than he found it whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem or a rescued soul;

who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty or failed to express it;

who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had;whose life was an inspiration;

whose memory a benediction.

 

Bessie Anderson Stanley

 

11 Articles about AI & Creativity

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Wait! You Didn’t Use the Proper Lingo

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Once introduced, a prescriptive rule about terminology in a particular profession or field of study is hard to eradicate, no matter how ridiculous. Steven Pinker writes in The Language Instinct:

The rules survive by the same dynamic that perpetuates ritual genital mutilations and college fraternity hazing: I had to go through it and am none the worse, so why should you have it any easier? Anyone daring to overturn a rule by example must always worry that readers will think he or she is ignorant of the rule, rather than challenging it. Since perspective rules are so psychologically unnatural that only those with access to the right schooling can abide by them, they serve as shibboleths, differentiating the elite from the rabble.

11 Articles about AI for those Leading Companies

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The Flip Side

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Most people are aware of their own strengths and weaknesses but miss the flip side. If your weakness is confrontation, the flip side is that you are probably good at finding creative ways to get along with others and create harmony. Someone else might be prone to make rash decisions, and yet that same quality makes them ideal in times of emergency when quick action is critical. Those who are slow to act will likely be thorough and reliable. Whenever you spot your own (or someone else's) weaknesses—don't forget the flip side.

Stephen Goforth

11 Webinars this week on AI, Writing, PR, Storytelling, Social Media, Journalism & More

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Mon, Sept 25 - How to use ChatGPT and other generative AI tools in your newsrooms

What: A four-week massive open online course, held from Sept. 25 to Oct. 22. Instructors will put aside the AI hype cycle and get down to the basic principles of how the technology works, how it might work in your newsrooms, and the ethical implications to consider. Upon completion of this course, you will:  Become conversant on the topic of AI and news. Be able to put into use tools from simple process automation to basic GPT functions. Develop a plan for your news operation to consider, procure, and maintain tools with automation and AI.

Who: Aimee Rinehart, the Senior Product Manager AI Strategy for The Associated Press.  

Sil Hamilton, AI researcher-in-residence at Hacks/Hackers, a network of journalists who rethink the future of news through talks, hackathons, and conferences.

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Knight Center for Journalism

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Tue, Sept 26 – Why Headline Testing Matters & How AI Can Help

What: We delve into the world of A/B testing data and show how ChatGPT can assist in the process. We aim to demonstrate the benefits of investing time in improving your content's performance right after publication.

Who: Smartocto’s content editor Stefan ten Teije; Janneke Bosch, who is the editor at Omroep Brabant.

When: 9 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Smartocto (builds editorial analytics systems for newsrooms)

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Tue, Sept 26 – Time and Project Management for Freelancers With The Writers' Co-op

What: Strategies for time and project management as a business of one. This webinar will also specifically talk about managing your workflow as a freelancer when you are neurodivergent. You’ll walk away with a slew of options, so you can pick and choose the ones that resonate with you. 

Who: Anna Burgess Yang, a freelance writer focusing on banking and finance based outside of Chicago; Andrea Trimarchi, a certified ADHD Life Coach and creator of Focused Femmes ADHD Coaching; Wudan Yan, the host and executive producer of The Writers’ Co-op.

When: 2 pm, Central

Where: Zoom

Cost: $35

Sponsor: The Writers’ Co-op

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Tue, Sept 26 – The Power of Mentoring

What: Find out why our news leaders believe it is crucial to have a deep relationship with a mentor or mentee.Panelists will share stories of being mentored and mentoring others and how these relationships nourished their careers.

Who: Laura Trujillo, Managing Editor, Life & Entertainment at USA TODAY, and author of "Stepping Back from the Ledge" from Penguin Random House. Nicole Carroll, Executive Director, ASU Local Journalism Initiative. Gary Estwick, Breaking News Editor at The Tennessean Katrice Hardy, NLA Board Member and Executive Editor of The Dallas Morning News. The discussion will be moderated by Paul Cheung, CEO of the Center for Public Integrity.

When: 4 pm, Pacific

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The News Leaders Association

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Wed, Sept 27 - Public Relations & Artificial Intelligence

What: This webinar will explore the dynamic intersection of public relations and artificial intelligence. showcasing AI's evolution, as well as the opportunities and challenges it presents for PR professionals. A Q&A session will follow the presentation.

Who: Chris Harihar of Crenshaw Communications, a top B2B tech PR agency based in New York City

When: 11 am, Central

Where: Zoom

Cost: $20 for nonmembers

Sponsor: PRSA Madison (Public Relations Society of America)

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Wed, Sept 27 - From Soft News to Hard News: The Long Journey of Women’s Sections

What: Get the scoop on the evolution of the women’s pages of newspapers and a female journalist who defied the staid conventions of her times and attracted millions of readers.

Who: Journalism professor Kimberly Voss explores the significance of the women’s sections, and journalist Allison Gilbert delves into Elsie Robinson’s career and life.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: $25 for non-members

Sponsor: Smithsonian  

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Thu, Sept 28 - Engage Your Audience Through Storytelling

What: Learn: How brand storytelling works. How to clarify your story’s message. How to understand your ideal customer’s needs

Who: Peter Davis, Brand Story Strategist & Owner of Hero’s Quest Consulting

When: 8:30, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The BBB

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Thu, Sept 28 - After Twitter: Understanding Social Media Protocols

What: We'll delve into the reasons behind the growing search for alternative platforms and the intriguing trends that are emerging from this shift. Discover post-Twitter social media's evolution, alternative platforms, and trends. Learn about decentralization's significance for nonprofits in online communication. 

Who: Ex-Twitter exec Evan Henshaw-Plath and Billy Bicket of TechSoup, Director of Maker Labs.

When: 3 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: TechSoup

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Thu, Sept 28 - How to Become a Micro-Influencer on LinkedIn: Grow Your Followers

What: In this program we will cover how to: Position your profile to be seen as a resource and subject matter expert. Create compelling and reputation building content.  Engage and amplify other influencers and prospects. Become a guest on podcasts, LIVE streams and beyond.

Who: Brynne Tillman CEO & LinkedIn Whisperer, Social Sales Link.

When: 11 am, Pacific

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Training Magazine Network

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Fri, Sept 29 - Health and Science Journalism Webinar

What: Designed especially for freelance journalists, this webinar will teach effective storytelling, evidence-based reporting, and ethical considerations in health communication.  

Who: Lori Leibovich, Editor, NYT Well; Kyong Song, Managing Editor, WebMD; Shraddha Chakradhar, Deputy News Editor for Diversity, Science; Katherine Reynolds Lewis, IIJ Founder and Independent Journalist

When: 11 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The Institute for Independent Journalists

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Fri, Sept 29 - Covering a U.S. Government Shutdown: Story ideas for national and local reporters

What: Participants will: Gain confidence in covering the government shut down. Obtain resources for covering this story from both a national and local perspective Learn what led to this year’s impasse, and how this shutdown would be different Get story ideas to tailor the government shutdown story to a media outlet’s community.

Who: Shai Akabas, executive director, Bipartisan Policy Center’s Economic Policy Program. Moderator: Bara Vaida, NPCJI’s director of training and a longtime Washington, D.C.-based reporter.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: National Press Club

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Here's how you can spot who is going to be successful

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(Some researchers ran) a workshop for low-performing seven graders at a New York City junior high school, teaching them about the brain and about effective study techniques. Half the group also received a presentation on memory, but the other half were given an explanation of how the brain changes as a result of effortful learning: that when you try hard and learn something new, the brain forms new connections, and these new connections, over time, make you smarter. This group was told that intellectual development is not the natural unfolding of intelligence but results from the new connections that are formed through effort and learning.

After the workshop, both groups of kids filtered back into their classwork. Their teachers were unaware that some had been taught that effortful learning changes the brain, but as the school year unfolded, those students adopted what (the researchers) call a "growth mindset," a belief that their intelligence was largely within their own control, and they went on to become much more aggressive learners and higher achievers than students from the first group, who continued to hold the conventional view, what (the researchers) called a "fixed mindset" that they're intellectual ability was set at birth by the natural talents they were born with.

(The) research had been triggered by curiosity over why some people become helpless when they encounter challenges and fail at them, whereas others respond to failure by trying new strategies and redoubling their effort. (They) found that a fundamental difference between the two responses lies in how a person attributes failure: those who attribute to their own inability-"I'm not intelligent"-become helpless. Those who interpret failure as a result of insufficient effort or an ineffective strategy dig deeper and try different approaches.

Peter C. Brown and Henry L. Roediger III,, Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning

Assertive v Aggressive

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While aggressive behavior injures in order to win, assertive behavior focuses, not on winning as such, but on negotiating reasonable changes in the way both parties behave so as to equalize the balance of social power. The purpose of assertive speaking-up is usually to solve an interpersonal problem.

But assertiveness is not just expressing feelings, laying down the law to someone, and then walking away. In general, to solve problems you must do more than talk back or express feelings; you must be very clear about what you want to accomplish by asserting yourself. You must attend to your feelings, decide what you want, and then use some specific verbal skills to negotiate for the changes you want.

Assertive problem-solving involves the ability to plan, “sell,” and implement an agreeable contract between yourself and the other person without sounding like a nag, a dictator, or a preacher.

In other words, an assertive person can express feelings in a manner that is both personally satisfying and socially effective.

Sharon and Gordon Bower, Asserting Yourself

7 Articles about AI & Coding

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A Dozen Articles about AI Coming for Your Job

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Teaching Life Skills

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The data emerging about the mental health of our kids only confirms the harm done by asking so little of them when it comes to life skills yet so much of them when it comes to adhering to the academic plans we’ve made for them.

Karen Able is a staff psychologist at a large public university in the Midwest. (Her name has been changed here because of the sensitive nature of her work.) Based on her clinical experience, Able says, “Overinvolved parenting is taking a serious toll on the psychological well-being of college students who can’t negotiate a balance between consulting with parents and independent decision-making.”

When parents have tended to do the stuff of life for kids—the waking up, the transporting, the reminding about deadlines and obligations, the bill-paying, the question-asking, the decision-making, the responsibility-taking, the talking to strangers, and the confronting of authorities, kids may be in for quite a shock when parents turn them loose in the world of college or work. They will experience setbacks, which will feel to them like failure. Lurking beneath the problem of whatever thing needs to be handled is the student’s inability to differentiate the self from the parent.

Julie Lythcott-Haims, How to Raise an Adult