Ben Werdmuller helps leaders at newsrooms, non-profits, and mission-driven organizations to navigate their biggest technology challenges.
Technology
[Erin Griffith at the New York Times] I've been using Mozi for a little while and like it quite a bit: "Mr. Williams views Mozi as an attempt to return to social media’s original intention, which was about interacting with people you already knew. Over the
I’ve never done a holiday gift guide in any of my spaces before, but this year I was inspired by Kottke and a few other bloggers to create my own. As I write this, it’s literally December 13th; you’ve probably bought most of your gifts already. Still,
Fediverse
[Erin Kissane] Erin Kissane breaks down some interesting research about alternative social media platforms for social justice organizations in the Majority World: "The Engine Room team found that their informants with deep experience in Majority World civil society and social justice work understand exactly what’s wrong with and
The open social web puts control back in your hands. Unlike big social media platforms, it’s not run by a single company — it’s made up of independent, connected communities where you decide how and with whom you interact. It respects your privacy, avoids intrusive ads, and gives you
Fediverse
[Skyseed] Really fascinating play: "Open Source veteran entrepreneur Peter Wang today launches Skyseed Fund, the world's first venture fund and incubator focused exclusively on Bluesky and its open ecosystem." Peter has been involved in decentralized social networking for a long time. There's $1M in
Technology
[Daniel Appelquist and Yves Lafon at the W3C] These ethical web principles that guide the ongoing development of the platform are great. And this is spot on: "The web is a fundamental part of our lives, shaping how we work, connect, and learn. We understand that with this profound
Technology
[Emma Roth at The Verge] I think this was almost inevitable: "On Tuesday, a California District Court judge ordered Automattic to stop blocking WP Engine’s access to WordPress.org resources and interfering with its plugins." Automattic is going to file a counterclaim, pointing out that the ruling
Notable links
[Paul Kiel at ProPublica] If we're going to improve on Medicare, we have to fund it - and it turns out that even today's Medicare taxes are being skipped out on by some of the wealthiest citizens in America, thanks to a legal loophole that the
Okay, I know, but hear me out. If you haven’t encountered it, Red Dwarf was an 80s / 90s science fiction comedy that has definitely aged interestingly, but still has a solid fanbase. Lister, a low-ranking engineer on the mining spaceship Red Dwarf is put into stasis as punishment for
Culture
[The Oxford Clarion] I grew up in Oxford, and the Eagle and Child is one of my favorite pubs from back home. I'm also a longtime critic of certain big companies, Larry Ellison's Oracle among them. So imagine my dismay when I heard this: "The
Technology
[Lindsey Lionheart O'Brien at Mozilla Distilled] This is a rebrand and reorientation for Mozilla: "Mozilla isn’t just another tech company — we’re a global crew of activists, technologists and builders, all working to keep the internet free, open and accessible. For over 25 years, we’ve
Media
[Gabe Schneider in Nieman Lab's Predictions for Journalism, 2025] This is important: "It’s not so much a prediction as a necessity: We must abandon publications and platforms that fail to center our values in favor of newsrooms that actually care for us, our families, our neighbors,