Media
Lies we tell ourselves
We don't need to educate our audiences to fit our needs. We need to educate ourselves to fit our audiences.
Ben Werdmuller
Ben Werdmuller helps leaders at newsrooms, non-profits, and mission-driven organizations to navigate their biggest technology challenges.
Notable links
Friday links: December 19, 2025
Predictions for journalism; paperbacks are dead; feeling the fear.
Business
The Go/No Go Date
"Feeling fear goes hand-in-hand with being ambitious. Imposter syndrome is real and normal. In fact, if you aren't feeling fear in what you do, I'd argue that you aren't being ambitious enough." Here's a way to build in the fear and do it anyway.
Media
Nieman Lab's Predictions for Journalism 2026
"Each year, we ask some of the smartest people in digital media what they think is coming in the year ahead. Here's what they told us." Some essays from the annual collection that caught my eye.
Future of News
Is the article dead?
Personalization is coming to journalism. The question is: who controls it?
Culture
Last Call for Mass Market Paperbacks
"The format credited with making books more accessible via low prices and widespread availability will all but vanish from the publishing scene in a few weeks." With it comes a generational loss.
Democracy
T.S.A. Is Providing Air Passenger Data to Immigration Agents for Deportation Effort
"The Trump administration is providing the names of all air travelers to immigration officials, substantially expanding its use of data sharing to expel people under deportation orders."
Notable links
Friday links: December 12, 2025
In the face of government oppression, it's time to encrypt.
AI
Trump Signs Executive Order To Combat State AI Regulation
"President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday intended to limit state regulation of artificial intelligence." At the same time, states are watering theirs down.
Technology
2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year
"Wow, we made it. 2025. One of the years of all time." Tumblr didn't die - figuratively or literally - and, honestly, it's just nice to see it.
Democracy
US plans to start checking all tourists' social media
"All tourists will have to undergo a social media screening before being allowed entry into the US under new plans being considered by the country's border force."
Technology
10 Years of Let's Encrypt Certificates
Let's Encrypt is ten years old. It's changed the web for the better.