While I focus on Technology, Innovation, and Publishing, because I have a platform, I also flag items that I think are important, which you might have missed, and try to include a bunch of resources & opportunities. I’d love to hear what you think of this newsletter.
Important Items
Conservatives Funding Anti-Woke Companies
MT @sarafischer The man funding Tucker Carlson’s media company, Omeed Malik, has another SPAC that he’ll use to take anti-woke companies public & it’s been upsized to $170M — It’s a validation of his “patriotic parallel economy” thesis w institutional investors. Conservatives have started building companies that challenge what they view as an increasingly liberal internet, retail economy and media ecosystem. What’s changing now is that Malik is bringing some serious capital to those efforts.
https://www.axios.com/2023/11/27/omeed-malik-spac-upsized-publicsq
DEI backlash hits corporate America
https://www.axios.com/2023/11/27/dei-affirmative-action-supreme-court
Innovation
New Breed of Supercomputer Aims for the Two Quintillion Mark
https://www.wsj.com/tech/new-breed-of-supercomputer-aims-for-the-two-quintillion-mark-8caee447
AI Dreamed Up 380,000 New Materials.The Next Challenge Is Making Them
Google DeepMind researchers say they’ve expanded the # of known stable materials 10x. Some could be useful for everything from batteries to superconductors—if they make it out of the lab
https://www.wired.com/story/an-ai-dreamed-up-380000-new-materials-the-next-challenge-is-making-them/
Technology
OpenAI and Microsoft hit with copyright lawsuit from non-fiction authors
Authors Guild Generative AI Survey
MT @AuthorsGuild Companies have scraped millions of copyrighted books/articles and copied them without permission to train generative AI. We are conducting a survey and would like to hear from you. Be sure to share it with your writer friends!
https://form.jotform.com/233316136049048
Can digital watermarking protect us from generative AI?
Content authenticity and enforcing copyright in the age of AI are proving difficult problems to solve.
https://www.engadget.com/can-digital-watermarking-protect-us-from-generative-ai-184542396.html
Sports Illustrated Published Articles by Fake, AI-Generated Writers
MT @weareyourfek Futurism caught Sports Illustrated publishing AI stories — with fake author profile pages and all. We went to them with it, and they wiped…all of it.
https://futurism.com/sports-illustrated-ai-generated-writers
The Problems Lurking in Hollywood’s Historic AI Deal
The terms the Screen Actors Guild negotiated with Hollywood studios put historic AI guardrails in place, but they may not be able to protect performers.
https://www.wired.com/story/hollywood-actors-deal-artifcial-intelligence-future/
New Zealand’s Ardern drafts AI in the fight against extremist content
AI companies, including OpenAI & Anthropic, sign up for Christchurch Call to Action to suppress terrorist content.
https://www.axios.com/2023/11/13/ardern-ai-christchurch-call-openai-anthropic
Forrester’s Predictions 2024: Sixty Percent Of Generative AI Skeptics Will Embrace The Technology — Knowingly Or Not
According to Forrester’s 2024 predictions, 60% of generative AI skeptics will use and value the emerging technology in 2024, whether they realize it or not. Consumers who are genAI skeptics will embrace the technology for tasks that enhance creativity and productivity, including seeking support from conversational assistants and translating and summarizing content. Additionally, business, technology, and marketing leaders’ investment in genAI in the year ahead will augment employees’ creative problem-solving time by up to 50% — driving customer-centric innovation and creating greater business value.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/forrester-predictions-2024-sixty-percent-120000255.html
Adobe is using AI to break apart messy audio
https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/15/23962452/adobe-project-sound-lift-ai-audio-tool
Amazon announces Q, an AI chatbot for businesses
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/28/amazon-announces-q-an-ai-chatbot-for-businesses.html
Amazon’s Q has ‘severe hallucinations’ and leaks confidential data in public preview, employees warn
Amazon’s Q has ‘severe hallucinations’ and leaks confidential data in public preview, employees warn: Some hallucinations could ‘potentially induce cardiac incidents in Legal,’ according to internal documents
https://www.platformer.news/p/amazons-q-has-severe-hallucinations
Amazon plans to start drone deliveries in the UK and Italy next year
Amazon’s dinky Astro robot is now available as a security guard
Zuckerberg’s Metavsere is Bleeding Billions of Dollars, Documents Reveal
https://futurism.com/the-byte/zuckerberg-metaverse-billions-losses
Canadian government reaches deal with Google on Online News Act
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/google-online-news-act-1.7043330
Instagram’s Algorithm Delivers Toxic Video Mix to Adults Who Follow Children
https://www.wsj.com/tech/meta-instagram-video-algorithm-children-adult-sexual-content-72874155
A Quibi-like app called ReelShort hit record downloads and revenue this month
Instacart Teams Up With Peacock for First Streaming Partnership
I thought this was an innovative partnership. Instacart is adding streaming to the menu. The grocery technology company partnered with NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, for its first streaming partnership, giving all of its Instacart+ customers Peacock Premium for free.
Mailchimp is shutting down TinyLetter
https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/29/23981363/mailchimp-shutting-down-tinyletter
The sound of crunching chips is annoying. Doritos has made a silencer.
Doritos Silent is a new “crunch cancellation” software that removes the sound of crunching Doritos from voice chat.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/11/27/doritos-silent-gaming-crunch-cancellation/
Publishing & Media
Audiobooks help raise reading scores
https://ebookfriendly.com/audiobooks-raise-reading-scores-infographic/
Shuffle, subscribe, stream: Consumer audio market is expected to amass listeners in 2024, but revenues could remain modest
InDesign to EPUB
https://apln.ca/category/indesign-to-epub/
Five Trends in the Chinese Children’s Book Market
Many exhibitors had special soundproof areas to allow staff and vloggers to livestream and sell titles at this year’s Shanghai Children’s Book Fair; sales through short-video apps currently represent 40% of the total children’s book sales in China.
Copyright: Canadian Publishing Calls Out Ottawa’s Inaction
Seeing no follow-through on the government’s promise to review the Copyright Act, a coalition wants a meeting.
https://publishingperspectives.com/2023/11/canadian-publishing-calls-out-ottawas-inaction/
Since Afghanistan banned girls from school, its book trade has plummeted 50%
Paste Magazine Acquires Jezebel From G/O Media in All-Cash Deal
MT @MarkStenberg3 Jezebel is coming back. The independent publisher Paste Magazine has acquired the feminist title from G/O Media in an all-cash deal.
https://www.adweek.com/media/paste-acquires-jezebel/
Bloomberg Businessweek to Go Monthly
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/30/business/media/bloomberg-businessweek-monthly.html?smid=tw-share
After 151 years, Popular Science will no longer offer a magazine
https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/27/23978042/popular-science-digital-magazine-discontinued
Audiences are declining for traditional news media in the U.S. – with some exceptions
HT @JacklynMonk
PlayStation To Delete A Ton Of TV Shows Users Already Paid For
https://kotaku.com/sony-ps4-ps5-discovery-mythbusters-tv-1851066164
Scholastic to Include All Books from Celebrate Every Voice Collection in Spring 2024 Book Fairs
https://twitter.com/diversebooks/status/1730293691800064462
What is SkyTree Book Fairs? A “New” Scholastic Competitor
Per @veronikellymars, this is a right-wing, Christian company that seems to be an offshoot of Brave Books.
https://bookriot.com/skytree-book-fairs/
Book Challenges Are Having a Chilling Effect on School Librarians Nationwide
Most Parents and Guardians Trust Librarians and Believe Libraries are Safe Places for Children
https://bookriot.com/new-parental-perceptions-of-librarians-survey/
Yes, Florida Bans Books: Why Can’t Gov. Ron DeSantis Read His Own List?
In his debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed that book bans in his state were a “false narrative.” PEN America counted 1,406 book bans in Florida in the last school year. But don’t take our word for it that Florida bans books – take DeSantis’. This year, DeSantis’ education department asked Florida schools to gather the list of books they banned, and then published it. Florida’s own list, published in September, counts 300 removals in 20 of the school’s 67 districts in the 2022-2023 school year. While Florida admits that it is banning books, the state’s list underrepresents the actual number of bans. The list relies on districts self-reporting bans, annually, following parent or community member complaints. PEN America’s count is more comprehensive, based on news reports, public records requests, and district websites and directives between July 2022 and June 2023. DeSantis claimed Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison was not banned in Florida.
https://pen.org/yes-florida-bans-books-ron-desantis/
Florida Censorship Attempts
MT @FLFreedomRead Toni Morrison’s books have been permanently removed in Clay, Orange, Volusia, Okaloosa, Indian River, Jackson, Hamilton, Martin, & Collier due to HB 1069. Removals pending review & parent permission required for use in AP classes in many other districts.
https://www.fftrp.org/florida_censorship_attempts
Stand with Students: Oppose Texas HB 900
MT @PENamerica As the Supreme Court affirmed in Island Trees v. Pico: “the special characteristics of the school library make that environment especially appropriate for the recognition of the 1st Amendment rights of students.”
https://pen.org/oppose-texas-hb-900/
Colorado conservatives call for law enforcement action to ban books
While attempts to ban books are ongoing in several Colorado school districts, the call for a criminal investigation and possible charges marks a turn in the culture war issue championed by Republicans. Republican State Representative Rose Pugliese was listed as a signatory to the petition, but Pugliese said she submitted a separate, supporting letter encouraging prosecutors to “work collaboratively” with school leaders to evaluate books. Pugliese’s letter acknowledged she had not read the books in question.
When Your Own Book Gets Caught Up in the Censorship Wars
MT @newsbysamuels When I asked why our book was banned, the school district said they did not even read it. They did it preemptively. In this essay, I detail the heartbreaking, eye opening experience of your work being kept away from students.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/essay/when-your-own-book-gets-caught-up-in-the-censorship-wars
St. Marys (KS) Public Library Gets New Lease by Removing LGBTQ Books for Kids
A six-person library advisory committee is in charge of evaluating books. One of the committee members searched “gay,” “transgender,” “lesbian,” “bisexual” and “queer” in the library’s catalog to find books the committee wanted to review. “Most of these titles, the topic really isn’t LGBTQ or anything like that,” Cremer said. “It’s just describing a reality that is normal now for most people.”
Conservatives Are Boycotting Froot Loops for Creating a Library of Diverse Children’s Books Online
https://www.them.us/story/froot-loops-diverse-books-library-boycott-backlash
How We’re Fighting Censorship: Legal Action
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/articles/what-were-doing-legal-action/
100 Notable Books of 2023
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/11/21/books/notable-books.html
The NY Times 10 Best Books of 2023
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/28/books/review/best-books-2023.html?smid=tw-share
The New Yorker: Best Books of 2023
https://www.newyorker.com/best-books-2023
Amazon’s Best Books of 2023
https://www.amazon.com/best-books-2023/b?ie=UTF8&node=17276804011
Esquire’s 20 Best Books of 2023
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g42622809/best-books-2023/
SLJ’s Best Books of 2023
https://www.slj.com/page/best-books-2023
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2022 and 2023
https://bookriot.com/best-science-fiction-and-fantasy-of-2022-and-2023/
Resources & Opportunities
Need a Gift? Contact the Penguin Hotline!
Consult the experts at the Penguin Hotline to receive a personalized list of recommendations from one of our staff members. This year, the Penguin Hotline is partnering with Freedom To Read Foundation! For every request received between 11/30–12/14, the Hotline will donate $2 to FTRF (for a max of $10K). We have 18 amazing authors volunteering this year, including Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Picoult, Emily Henry, Celeste Ng, and more!! #teamPRH
https://www.penguin.com/penguin-hotline/
Penguin Random House Winter Book & Author Festival 2023
MT @PRHLibrary Thursday, December 7th, join us for our Winter Book & Author Festival! Featuring fan favorites like Tommy Orange, Ruth Reichl, Tana French, and so many more. Register for free. #teamPRH
https://www.libraryjournal.com/event/prh-winter-festival-2023#program
Newsletter for Freelance Opportunities
Via @kaitarford
https://freelanceopportunities.beehiiv.com/p/december-1-2023-freelance-opportunities
Pitch Tracker Google Sheet
RT @kaitarford If you’re working on pitching your services or specific outlets, you really need a pitch tracker. This is the one I use, and I’ve made it free for you!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kmarford/e/51091
LGBTQ+ Editors Association Mentorship Program
https://lgbtqeditors.org/mentorship
BIPOC Editors and Agents database
MT @wordisdiversity Start compiling your list of literary agents to query with help from this database by The BIPOC Bookshelf
https://www.bipocbookshelf.com/editors-agents
PEN America Emerging Voices Fellowship
MT @wordisdiversity The PEN America Emerging Voices Fellowship provides a virtual 5-month immersive program for early-career writers from communities that are traditionally underrepresented in publishing. Apps open on Jan 1, but you can learn more about this opportunity now
https://pen.org/emerging-voices-fellowship/
Call for Submissions: Rocky Horror Anthology
Queer and trans writers: Submit your non-fiction essay to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the film’s debut. Deadline extended to March 1, 2024.
https://www.feministpress.org/news/call-for-submissions-absolute-pleasure-anthology
Application now open for George R.R. Martin Summer Intensive Writing Workshop
MT @womenjournos Are you a mid-career journalist who also happens to have a novel brewing? Apply to Medill School’s fully funded George R.R. Martin seven-day writing workshop!
Cokie Roberts Research Fund for Women’s History
MT @agilbertwriter Free money to elevate women’s unknown stories.
https://archivesfoundation.org/cokiefund/
Grant for Small and Rural Libraries Transforming Communities
Apply by December 11th for grants of $10,000 or $20,000 to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities.
https://programminglibrarian.org/articles/apply-now-LTCAccess
Amazon’s offering free courses on generative AI
Amazon is starting to offer free educational courses on generative AI with an aim to extend “critical skills” to adults and young learners everywhere. The company’s initiative, called “AI Ready,” is an extension of current AWS-based AI skills training programs offered by Amazon but now includes eight free courses that cover AI project management and development. Amazon says 21 million people have already trained on AWS cloud computing skills through its programs, and it hopes 2 million will use its AI courses by 2025.
NYPL Teen Writing Contest
MT @nypl Teens! Why is the freedom to read important to you? Enter NYPL’s National Teen Writing Contest by December 22 for a chance to be published in a special edition of NYPL’s Teen Voices magazine and receive a $500 prize!
https://www.nypl.org/spotlight/books-for-all/teen-writing-contest
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