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While I focus on Technology, Innovation, and Publishing, because I have a platform, I also flag items that I think are important. I also try to include some resources & opportunities. Please let me know what you think.
Important Items
Why reporting matters
Jim VandeHei: “This historic war for truth is just beginning. The coming years will reorder everything we know and think about news
https://www.axios.com/2024/12/03/news-reporting-elon-musk-x-media
In news deserts, Trump won in a landslide
https://localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/posts/2024/12/05/trump-wins-news-deserts-in-landslide/
Post Election, Many Women Are Working With “High Functioning Depression”
MT @amydiehl If you are feeling ‘off’ & less productive since Nov 6, you are not imagining it. “There is a concern that the country is moving towards protecting traditional values of select groups over values that represent the diversity of the country.”
In the Country of Georgia, publishers and writers protest against “stolen elections”
MT @PENamerica In Tbilisi, Georgia, thousands are protesting the government’s suspension of EU talks. Writers have read George Orwell’s 1984 in the streets, poets and translators have been arrested, and journalists have been beaten and jailed for reporting.
https://chytomo.com/en/in-georgia-publishers-and-writers-protest-against-stolen-elections/
Innovation
Scientists tap robots and AI to make new materials to curb air pollution
Instead of making and testing samples by hand over weeks or months, researchers at the University of Tennessee use smart robots that can produce and test at least 100 different materials within an hour.
AI Dash Cams Give Wake-Up Calls to Drowsy Drivers
The technology detects driver fatigue and signals them to take a break
https://spectrum.ieee.org/driver-drowsiness-detection
Technology
Dotdash Meredith Nabs Millions from OpenAI
https://www.adweek.com/media/openai-dotdash-meredith-licensing-payment/
AI startup Perplexity adds The Independent, LA Times to its publishers’ program
Study of ChatGPT citations makes dismal reading for publishers
How AI is accelerating—and devaluing—book publishing
https://www.fastcompany.com/91236515/how-ai-is-accelerating-and-devaluing-book-publishing
AI licensing deals can protect good journalism, says Reuters chief
Steve Hasker says generative AI presents dangers but can remove the “grunt work” of producing high-quality content
ElevenLabs’ new feature is a NotebookLM competitor for creating GenAI podcasts
ElevenLabs launched a new feature called GenFM, designed to create multispeaker podcasts, similar to Google’s NotebookLM. Available on the ElevenLabs Reader iOS app, GenFM allows users to upload various types of content, such as YouTube videos or documents, and automatically generates a podcast using two chosen voices from a selection of over a dozen. The feature supports 32 languages and incorporates natural speech elements, like “ums” and pauses, to enhance the conversational flow. The company plans to introduce more customization options in the future.
Amazon launches Nova AI model family for generating text, images and videos
Amazon has entered the generative AI competition with the launch of its Nova model family. The Nova suite includes various models for generating text, images, and videos, and support over 200 languages. Nova Canvas and Nova Reel focus on creative content generation, allowing users to edit images and create dynamic videos with sophisticated features. Future expansions planned for 2025 include a speech-to-speech model and an any-to-any modality model.
Google’s new generative AI video model is now available
Google launched Veo, its generative AI video model, making it available ahead of OpenAI’s competing Sora product. Veo can generate high-quality 1080p videos in various visual styles from text or image prompts. The model has demonstrated impressive capabilities, such as maintaining consistent fur patterns in a dog, making it difficult to distinguish AI-generated content from real videos. Additionally, Google is rolling out the latest version of its Imagen 3 text-to-image generator, which includes prompt-based photo editing and brand integration features. Both Veo and Imagen 3 come with safeguards to prevent harmful content generation and copyright violations, supported by DeepMind’s SynthID digital watermarking technology to mitigate misinformation concerns.
https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/4/24312938/google-veo-generative-ai-video-model-available-preview
Anthropic says Claude AI can match your unique writing style
Anthropic introduced a new feature for its Claude AI assistant that allows users to customize the chatbot’s writing style. Users can choose from three preset styles—Formal, Concise, and Explanatory—or create personalized styles by uploading sample content that reflects their communication preferences. While this feature enhances user control, similar options are also available in OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, which allow for tailored responses based on individual writing styles.
https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/26/24306575/anthropic-claude-ai-custom-style-presets
OpenAI explores advertising as it steps up revenue drive
OpenAI is discussing plans to introduce advertising to its artificial intelligence products, as the ChatGPT maker seeks new revenue sources as it restructures as a for-profit company.
https://www.ft.com/content/9350d075-1658-4d3c-8bc9-b9b3dfc29b26
Amazon Seeks Media Partners for New Alexa
https://www.axios.com/2024/12/03/amazon-news-partners-revamped-ai-alexa-voice-assistant
Google Gemini’s Imagen 3 lets players design their own chess pieces
Google Labs has launched GenChess, an online chess game that utilizes the Gemini Imagen 3 image-generation model, allowing players to customize their chess pieces through text prompts. Users must log in with a Gmail account to access the game, where they can generate themed chess sets based on concepts like sushi or pizza. Once satisfied with their customized set, they can generate an opponent, with gameplay options including three difficulty levels and timer settings. Google designed GenChess to highlight the synergy between AI, design, and chess, making the game accessible to all. In conjunction with the World Chess Championship, Google also announced several chess-related initiatives, including a coding challenge for AI chess engines on Kaggle and the upcoming Chess Gem game, which will allow Gemini app users to play chess against a language model with conversational elements, available exclusively to Gemini Advanced subscribers.
Publishing & Media
Internet Archive Copyright Case Ends Without Supreme Court Review
Oprah Launches New Podcast for Book Club
Oprah Winfrey is unveiling “The Oprah Podcast,” a weekly series on her YouTube channel featuring book club authors and guests
https://apnews.com/article/oprah-winfrey-podcast-book-club-7986cfdcb850401f86bc303b325b7d45
Costco will stop selling popular item year-round in January in most US stores
Taylor Swift Book Hits a Sales Bullseye
Taylor Swift’s publishing gambit has paid off on the strength of her brand. Published by her own vanity press, Taylor Swift Publishing, and sold only at Target, The Eras Tour Book has sold just over 814,000 copies in its first week on sale, according to Circana BookScan, making it the 7th bestselling book of the year in a short sales week that began with its November 29 publication. The book had a two million copy first printing, and appears to still be on sale at Target, suggesting that the retailer has yet to run out of copies despite the big first week.
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour book dubbed ‘errors tour’ over spelling mistakes, ‘blurry photos, and design flaws’
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/taylor-swift-eras-tour-book-typos-b2658821.html
Hearst to Pivot Away from Consumer Media
https://www.axios.com/2024/11/26/hearst-media-profit-b2b
Royal Literary Fund’s hardship grants for writers see applications increase by 400%
Author hides $2M in treasure across the country, reveals clues in new book
An entrepreneur is offering a genuine treasure hunt to people who read his new book. Jon Collins-Black author of “There’s Treasure Inside,” gives hints to help readers find more than $2 million worth of treasure that he’s hidden in chests all across the country. Treasures include everything from gold to rare Pokémon cards, sports memorabilia and even a brooch that was worn by Jackie Kennedy Onassis.
Penguin Random House Raises Base Salaray to $51,000
Effective January 1, Penguin Random House will raise its entry-level salary to $51,000, from $48,000, as well as base salaries across seven other employment levels. #TeamPRH
Inside the Art of the Picture Book: An Evening at the Society of Illustrators
A really great write-up of WMG’s event at the Society of Illustrators by @emkantor.
Books Boost Revenue for Entrepreneurial Authors, But Not The Way Think
Findings from Comprehensive Study of Business Book ROI.
https://www.thetilt.com/revenue/business-book-revenue
Author Stephen King To Shutter Three Maine Radio Stations
King and his wife, Tabitha, have owned and operated three Bangor-area stations under The ZONE Corporation name: WZON-AM, WKIT, and WZLO. The flagship station, WZON, first began broadcasting in 1926 as WLBZ. The Kings purchased the station in 1983, changed its call letters to WZON as a nod to King’s bestseller The Dead Zone, and introduced a Rock format. The station never turned a profit and briefly became a donor-supported station before returning to a commercial model after the Kings reacquired it in 1993. King says the trio have consistently struggled financially and he has personally covered these losses throughout the years to keep the stations on the air.
https://radioink.com/2024/12/02/author-stephen-king-to-shutter-three-maine-radio-stations/
Italian authorities shut down €3bn-a-year pirate TV ring
HT @benedictevans Italian police shut down a service that was ripping TV shows from streaming services and reselling them – and was turning over €3bn a year in sales, with 22m subscribers.
https://www.ft.com/content/48f63457-9c6f-4d5e-adfb-d6d47fb71c66
2024 Nero book awards shortlist announced to celebrate “extraordinary writing talent“
Winners of each category will be announced on 1/14 and receive £5,000, and an overall winner of the Nero Gold prize will be revealed on 5 March and win an additional £30,000. The awards are run by Caffè Nero, and launched after Costa Coffee abruptly ended its book prizes in June 2022.
‘AudioFile’ Magazine’s Best Audiobooks of 2024
Jodi Picoult, Kennedy Ryan and More Bestselling Authors Share Their Most-Anticipated 2025 Books
https://people.com/bestselling-authors-most-anticipated-2025-books-exclusive-8750062
Resources & Opportunities
Donate to WMG Scholarships
MT @WMG_NYC This Giving Tuesday, let’s transform lives together. Your support funded 12 scholarships, totaling $33K, this year! Every dollar counts, and every gift changes a life. Donate TODAY!
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/Donate
Rock Star Confidence: How to Be BOLD, Stand Out and Attract Clients NOW
Virtual event 12/11 noon ET, FREE for members, $15 for nonmembers.
https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-5945262
Speed Networking NYWICI & Omnicom
MT @NYWICI Join us for NYWICI’s Speed Networking Event on February 12!✨This event will feature a presentation from Lee Carter, who will reveal counterintuitive secrets to landing a dream job. Register today!
https://nywici.wildapricot.org/event-5929445
Penguin Hotline
Need shopping inspo? Consult experts at #PenguinHotline for a personalized list of recommendations from one of our staff members (including me!). This year, we’re partnering w @namicommunicate. For every request 12/4–12/13, the hotline donates $2 to NAMI (max $10K) #TeamPRH
https://www.penguin.com/penguin-hotline/
Authors for Voices of Color Auction!
https://e.givesmart.com/events/Frv/
Pitch Calls
Via @job_writers
https://x.com/job_writers/status/1863670266091430097
Literary Journals Currently Open for Submissions
Via @laughingyeti
https://x.com/laughingyeti/status/1863313422898618379
Grants fund investigative journalism
https://ijnet.org/en/opportunity/grants-fund-investigative-journalism-worldwide
Call for Health Fellowship Applications
MT @womenjournos DEADLINE EXTENDED: Early career journalists — apply for the jaws Health Journalism Fellowship! This unique opportunity includes a $4,000 stipend, workshops, mentoring and more! Applications due Friday, Dec. 13.
https://www.jaws.org/news/call-for-health-fellowship-applications
George R.R. Martin Summer Intensive Writing Workshop
MT @leverus The George R.R. Martin Summer Intensive Writing Workshop is for mid-career journalists interested in trying their hands at fiction. IT’S FREE. George endowed the whole thing.
https://www.medill.northwestern.edu/journalism/phd-fellowships/grrm-workshop/
Applications Open for Bay Area Women in Publishing 2025 Robin Seaman Award
Deadline 1/27.
https://www.bayareawomeninpublishing.com/robin-seaman-award
Feminist Press Apprenticeship
https://www.feministpress.org/apprenticeship
Career Services at NYPL
MT @nypl NYPL is here for recent graduates and job seekers of all ages with one-on-one help, guidance for crafting resumes and cover letters, career coaching to help with networking and interviewing, free workshops, and access to job search databases.
https://www.nypl.org/education/adults/career-services
Everywhere Is Queer
HT @NewYork_CM A map of queer-owned businesses around the world.
https://www.everywhereisqueer.com
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