saying this not as a dig to Paul but as a general point, but it does worry me that we've ended up in a world where the two options are seemingly "leftist bubble" or "oh hey the nazis are here" - surely we should be able to have a politically heterogenous platform with tight rules on hate speech etc?

Paul Bernal@paulbernal.bsky.social · 2d ago

The new CEO of Bluesky wants to change Bluesky from being a leftist bubble. The thing is, there’s nothing wrong with being a leftist bubble: the idea that everything has to be all-encompassing and suitable for everyone is a trap. 🧵 1/4

Trolling call centre staff and junior local authority workers automatically makes you a wrong ‘un, regardless of the righteousness of your cause.

Jordan@jordanpfot.bsky.social · 6d ago

Unsurprisingly, Zoë Bread is now a Green Belt warrior.

Anyway, that's now at least two services (LinkedIn and Tidal) that have made a big deal out of giving people tools to push back against AI-generated content. Interesting. Very interesting.

I rarely listen to Today any more, but switched it on this AM. The BBC presenter was interviewing *checks notes* Laura Kuenssberg, another BBC presenter. For SEVERAL minutes, not a 20 second plug for her TV show. It’s ridiculous and it’s not news reporting.

Circlejerk

ALT: Circlejerk

static.klipy.com

If the lobby wants to convince sceptics like me that it’s not antiquated and doesn’t have a ridiculously high opinion of “The Lobby” as vital in the current form to the body politic, they’ll have to do so much better than this. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The Media Show - Andrew Neil, the PM and the press, AI actor Tilly Norwood - BBC Sounds

Andy Burnham’s social media strategy, Andrew Neil on becoming a Youtuber, AI in Hollywood.

bbc.co.uk

Yep it's a basic research principal to only consult people at their level of expertise ie "do you like sausages?" Not "how do you think changes in VAT will affect the hospitality sector "

Ban all vox pops for two years. If someone wants to say something on the news channels “I can’t get a job because of the thousands of people on small boats every day”, they have to be properly challenged and probed on the “fact” or they don’t get airtime.

This is really poor from the journalist and the agencies that set them up. And we ask ourselves constantly why people don’t trust corporate communications and journalism…

Legal C@legalclaret.bsky.social · 2w ago

This disingenuous commentary doesn’t help anyone. Frauds start unravelling pretty quickly. That you apparently cannot afford to put your oven or treat yourself is quickly undermined by the question “so why are you spending £50 per week on petrol?” Then, it turns out, she has an agent and /1

Seconded.

Tom Sutcliffe @tds153.bsky.social · 2w ago

Sad to hear about Edward Stourton. I didn’t know him personally but that steady, warm voice was part of my soundscape.

“Please provide an example of the two meanings of contempt in the English language. Show your workings.”

Michael Savage@michaelsavage.bsky.social · 3w ago

Ouch...

A really good read.

Ray Newman@raynewman.bsky.social · 4w ago

"Human-centred designers can take a lot upon themselves, and put themselves under intolerable pressure, when they credit themselves with too much importance." www.linkedin.com/pulse/avoidi...

Genuinely interesting views and debate in replies and quotes. As someone who loves modern classical, jazz and the American songbook above most things, it’s insane that there wasn’t one thing in for the 250 that I was interested in.

John Oxley@joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · last mo.

Think it shows both how divisive and culturally tasteless and uninventive the US admin is that the 250 celebrations weren't even marginally interesting on a global scale. (Except for laughing at) The big rich country with huge cultural heft should have been able to do more.

Too many people who should know better are either not understanding this or are (worse) preteen not to understand this. ⬇️

Will 🇺🇦 Absolute Shower 🇺🇦@showerabsolute.bsky.social · last mo.

The difference between "everyone knows Farage is a corrupt wrong'un" and "Here's proof Farage is a corrupt wrong'un" is what journalism is, and it's not actually very easy, even when "everyone knows".

Your regular reminder that cryptocurrency does in fact have a use case and that use case is crime

Time to share the licence fee? Jonathan Heawood, bsky.app/profile/publ... and @impressorg.bsky.social on the rise of Manchester’s independent newsletter @manchestermill.bsky.social its Andy Burnham scoop, and what it means for the future of local journalism. 🎧 Listen: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Similarly, I had an email that started “sure, here’s a version of team message with added empathy” the other week. Have to say, the team did not feel more empathised with.

Rhodri Marsden@rhodri.biz · last mo.

Had an email today that began with a sentence they should probably have deleted – "Here's a more natural and polished version of your email" – and it made me sad

In addition, unless your business is “links” (which Bluesky is great for), Bluesky isn’t worth the candle, and the devolved moderation system just is never going to work for most people, sadly.

Alex Hern@hern.bsky.social · last mo.

fwiw reckon it's probably for the best. It's bad if people interpret "i'm leaving X" to mean simply "I am left-wing", and that's the signal — for better or worse — departing X _for bluesky_ sends

Completely agree. Not sure why advisers and comms people are still insisting they should be on any platform except as broadcast/information sharing. And I think the same for departments, ALBs, regulators etc We’ve tried it, it didn’t work. Move on, comms wise.

Sean Carroll@seanedmund.bsky.social · last mo.

No good reason for MPs to be on social media except to announce things, with replies/quotes switched off. If you need to contact an MP there's email. Anyone who thinks that being able to abuse politicians at the drop of a hat has made the world better is tripping, and Bluesky isn't magically better.

Advice for Life from Mel Brooks - (thanks @scientits.bsky.social )

Tits McGee@scientits.bsky.social · last mo.

‘Say yes and never do it’ Mel Brooks knew how to deal with the studios

The end of an era - After almost a century we said goodbye this morning to our great companion of the airwaves Radio 4 198 LW. I shall miss her warmth and crackle. Here’s the final sign off at the end of #theshippingforecast before she fell silent… ❤️

I am begging - BEGGING - newsletter and Substack writers NOT to start your posts/ updates “ooh innit hot” or similar, unless it’s entirely pertinent. Please.

Again, surely it's time for the government to shut down all their X accounts.

Always thought this was a really surprising career progression. I think a lot of people who never saw an actual copy of it had a weird idea of Sullivan's Sunday Sport, that it was just "the funny one with the hilarious headlines!!" 1/2 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Tony Livesey steps back from BBC Radio 5 Live after allegations against David Sullivan

The presenter worked as editor-in-chief at Sullivan's Sport newspapers before joining the BBC.

bbc.co.uk

New content designer ideation session rather undermined by a whole session focused on New Idea’s.

You've heard the stories. You've admired the piles of paper in the Eye office (video viewers only). And now it's time to learn which brilliant story has won this year's Paul Foot Award! 🎧 In the Page 94 podcast feed now: pod.fo/e/424bdf

When the father of a murdered son makes a public statement saying "we do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension", then I believe it's incumbent on any news outlet reporting on Farage's comments to ensure people know he has chosen to disregard the family's wishes.

And the winners of the Paul Foot Award for investigative and campaigning journalism 2026 are... Peter Geoghegan and Khadija Sharife of Democracy for Sale.

the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing people that posting, raising awareness and staying informed were effective political actions

The media’s messiest bitches, the Murdochs.

Catherine Rampell@crampell.bsky.social · 3mo ago

James Murdoch in Talks to Buy Vox’s New York Magazine and Podcast Division www.wsj.com/business/med...