Notices by Ben Werdmuller (ben@werd.social)

Realizing that my niche (what I do, what I care about) is not so much news product as news technology freedom: empowering newsrooms to use technology on their terms, in a way that leaves them independent of business and policy decisions by companies that don’t center them. #ijf25

Very excited to be at an in-person @Mastodon aperitivo at #IJF25. @andypiper is welcoming us all and setting the stage. The #fediverse can help build a more free, more international, more democratic social web.

"A year after leaving Substack in early 2024, newsletter writers are making more money peddling their words on other platforms." Mostly Ghost and Beehiiv. #Media https://werd.io/2025/after-leaving-substack-writers-are-making-more-money-elsewhere

Trans people are targeted, their rights stripped: some murmurings

Students deported for protesting: some angst

People shipped against a judge's orders to a prison in El Salvador with no possibility of being retrieved: a few people saying this is bad

The stock market goes down: everyone is angry

I also hope everyone in the tech industry reads it. Not only because it’s a cautionary tale in itself, but because the personalities described here are rife in the industry. I’ve never spoken to Mark or Sheryl or Joel or most of the rest of them, but I’ve met people like them, with those same sensibilities, and they are every bit as shallow and driven by power as is laid out here.

These are the people to avoid. These are the people who will lead us into hell. These are the people who, in very real ways, through genocides, swung elections, and the violence of indifference to real human suffering, already are.

But it’s engagingly-written, frequently hilarious, and jaw-dropping on almost every page. She’s done us a service by painting this insider’s picture of Facebook / Meta. It’s one that I hope every politician who hopes to touch tech policy will read.

Careless People is a complicated book: the author is complicit in the activities she describes, which no amount of ironic detachment or claims of trying to change the system from the inside can hide. #bookstodon
https://bookshop.org/a/7949/9781250391230

We're looking for a Texas-based reporter to join our joint investigative newsroom with the Texas Tribune. You would be working with both @ProPublica and @texastribune to investigate abuses of power and trust in the public interest. #journalism https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/propublica/jobs/4552647006

I'm in the middle of reading this. It's really good! https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/20/meta-expose-tops-bestseller-chart-despite-companys-attempt-to-ban-its-promotion?CMP=bsky_gu

Divide I've noticed: people who have never experienced systemic oppression in their own or their family's lives are treating this like business as usual. Those who have family memories of camps, unjust incarceration, or are part of vulnerable communities, are freaking out. Listen to the latter.

Someone reached out to buy my blog so they could add it to their referral traffic network. Obviously, no.

Unless ...

What would be *your* number that you would sell your personal website at?

"After some research, the reality became clear — ICE detention isn’t just a bureaucratic nightmare. It’s a business. These facilities are privately owned and run for profit." #Democracy https://werd.io/2025/youre-not-a-criminal-but-youre-going-to-jail-my

On the inevitability of returning to the office: https://werd.io/2025/forcing-people-back-to-the-office-was-a-choice-im

"Today we're opening a public beta for our social web integration in Ghost." Yessssss #Fediverse https://werd.io/2025/the-social-web-beta-is-here

Job alert: @ProPublica is looking for an engagement and tips coordinator who can help us triage, vet and distribute tips to journalists across our newsroom. It's an important role with huge implications for our investigative journalism. Check it out: https://boards.greenhouse.io/propublica/jobs/4471275006?gh_src=a959c9ff6us

In a world where we really need to shine a spotlight on abuses of trust in the public interest, my colleagues at @ProPublica are doing the work. Donations keep it free to read and ensure we can make as big an impact as possible. If you have the means, please consider sending a donation of any amount: https://give.propublica.org/give/346528/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=bsky&c_src2=spring25_A1&utm_content=buffera95a5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=ben&utm_campaign=ben #journalism #Democracy

So many stories of tourists getting apprehended by ICE lately. And student activists, too. For lots of reasons, I don't know that I'd encourage anyone to visit the US right now. Or be a student here. Or invest here. This is not a good situation.

Surreal. https://theconversation.com/why-annexing-canada-would-destroy-the-united-states-249561

If you're in Austin, visiting #Fediverse House at 412 Congress Ave today and tomorrow is what you need to be doing. I don't think you need a #SXSW ticket - just show up and meet some of the key people building and thinking about this network for all of us. https://about.flipboard.com/fediverse-house/