Trying New Things Is So Hard to Do

/

When I think of my favorite restaurants, the ones I have visited many times, it is striking how few of the menu items I have tried. And when I think of all the lunch places near my workplace, I realize that I keep going to the same places again and again.

Habits are powerful. We persist with many of them because we tend to give undue emphasis to the present. Trying something new can be painful: I might not like what I get and must forgo something I already enjoy. That cost is immediate, while any benefits — even if they are large — will be enjoyed in a future that feels abstract and distant. Yes, I want to know what else my favorite restaurant does well, but today I just want my favorite dish. 

Overconfidence also holds us back. I am unduly certain in my guesses of what the alternatives will be like, even though I haven’t tried them.  

Many so-called choices are not really choices at all. Walking down the supermarket aisle. I act without thinking. 

Experimentation is an act of humility, an acknowledgment that there is simply no way of knowing without trying something different.

Understanding that truth is a first step, but it is important to act on it.  

Sendhil Mullainathan writing in the New York Times

What Pain Does to Us

/

Pain humbles the proud. It softens the stubborn. It melts the hard. Silently and relentlessly, it wins battles deep within the lonely soul. The heart alone knows its own sorrow, and not another person can fully share in it. Pain operates alone; it needs no assistance. It communicates its own message whether to statesman or servant, preacher or prodigal, mother or child. By staying, it refuses to be ignored. By hurting, it reduces its victim to profound depths of anguish. And it is at that anguishing point that the sufferer either submits and learns, developing maturity and character; or resists and becomes embittered, swamped by self-pity, smothered by self-will. I have tried and cannot find, either in Scripture or history, a strong-willed individual whom God used greatly until He allowed them to be hurt deeply.

Charles Swindoll, Killing Giants, Pulling Thorns

15 Recent Articles about AI & the Bigger Questions

/

Adaptability: Critical to Effective Leadership

/

A decade long study published in Harvard Business Review set out to identify the specific attributes that differentiate high-performing CEOs: 

Our analysis shows that CEOs who excel at adapting are 6.7 times more likely to succeed. CEOs themselves told us over and over that this skill was critical. The adaptable CEOs spent significantly more of their time—as much as 50%—thinking about the long term. Adaptable CEOs also recognize that setbacks are an integral part of changing course and treat their mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow. In our sample, CEOs who considered setbacks to be failures had 50% less chance of thriving. Successful CEOs, on the other hand, would offer unabashedly matter-of-fact accounts of where and why they had come up short and give specific examples of how they tweaked their approach to do better next time. Similarly, aspiring CEOs who demonstrated this kind of attitude (what Stanford’s Carol Dweck calls a “growth mindset”) were more likely to make it to the top of the pyramid: Nearly 90% of the strong CEO candidates we reviewed scored high on dealing with setbacks.

Read more about the CEO Genome Project in the Harvard Business Review

Tech Companies Turned Ukraine Into an AI War Lab

/

The collaboration between foreign tech companies and the Ukrainian armed forces, who say they have a software engineer deployed with each battalion, is driving a new kind of experimentation in military AI. The software processes raw intelligence from sources including drones, satellites, and Ukrainians on the ground, as well as radar that can see through clouds and thermal images that can detect troop movements and artillery fire. AI-enabled models can then present military officials with the most effective options to target and enemy positions.

Read more from TIME

21 Recent Articles about AI & Writing

/

If it’s powerful enough to distract you, harness it’s power

/

People often ask me “What are some great books to buy?” My response is usually “The ones you’ll actually read.” Doing a bunch of activities that you think are important will almost always be less impactful than doing the stuff that genuinely fires you up. It’s hard to be great at the stuff that you have to work hard just to tolerate.

Pay attention to the side projects and hobbies that no one needs to pay you for. Pay attention to the stuff that doesn’t have to be mandatory in order for you to be motivated to do it. Pay attention to the stuff that keeps you awake at night not because of fear and obligation, but because you’re always fantasizing about it. That’s where your advantage is.

TK Coleman, 5 Ways to Steal Like An Artist

17 Amazing Things AI Can Do Now

/

15 Articles about the Business of Running an AI

/

16 Webinars about AI, Journalism, SEO, Writing, Branding & More in the next 2 weeks

/

Tue, Feb 6 - Putting People First: A New Approach to Political Coverage

What: This webinar will help those who want an effective alternative to horse-race coverage, which is polarizing and often misleading.

Who: Jaisal Noor, Democracy Initiative manager at The Solutions Journalism Network; Jay Rosen, a journalism professor at New York University; Natalie Van Hoozer, a bilingual journalist at KUNR Public Radio in Nevada; Hugo Balta, an accredited solutions journalism trainer and publisher at Latino News Network; and Elliot Wade, a community reporter at The Current of Louisiana.

When: 12 noon, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The Knight Center for Journalism, Solutions Journalism Network

More Info

 

Tue, Feb 6 - Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 101: Proven Strategies to Improve Website Traffic

What: Learn more the importance of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and tips and tools for optimizing your website to better communicate with the top search engines: Google, Yahoo, and Bing. The webinar will also provide insight into website content, backlinks, and keywords.  

When: 10 am

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The University of Pittsburgh’s Small Business Development Center

More Info

 

Tue, Feb 6 - The Investigative Agenda for Climate Change Journalism

What: In this panel, leading climate change journalists and experts — who all contributed to the discussion and report — will share perspectives on the top priorities for investigative journalism on climate change, including the fossil fuel industry, government policies, climate change finance, and the interface between climate and socio-economic forces.

Who: The moderator is Sheila Coronel, professor of journalism and director of the Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York; Matthew Green is global investigations editor at DeSmog; Sunita Narain is the director general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a public interest research and advocacy organization based in New Delhi; Amy Westervelt is an award-winning investigative journalist and executive producer of the independent podcast production company Critical Frequency

When: 9 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Global Investigative Journalism Network

More Info

 

Tue, Feb 6 - The Rise of Al

What: New breakthroughs in artificial intelligence could lead to one of the largest technological shifts in generations and already have governments around the world racing to develop guardrails.

Who: Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), Rep. Marcus Molinaro (R-N.Y.); Anne Neuberger, deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technologies; Neal Khosla, CEO and co-founder of Curai; Linda Moore President & CEO, TechNet; Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.)

When: 9 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: TechNet, Washington Post

More Info

 

Wed, Feb 7 - Election data: Before election night, during and after

What: Three newsrooms talk about how they approach election data storytelling at each stage in the cycle, from explainers to prepare voters, to Election Night rigs and dashboards and how to prepare for post-election visual analysis.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free to members, $25 for student membership

Sponsor: Investigative Reporters & Editors

More Info

 

Thu, Feb 8 - Student Press Freedom 101

What: A crash course in the law of the student press, including the court cases and advocacy that led us to where we are.

Who: Featuring the Student Press Law Center’s Senior Legal Counsel Mike Hiestand.

When: 6 pm, Central

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Student Press Law Center

More Info

 

Thu, Feb 8 - Ethics and Visual Journalism  

What: There will be a discussion of the foundational standard of ethics and how this framework continues to evolve as the world of journalism changes and practical factors like technology influence visual journalists’ work. This conversation will also focus on the shift in how communities receive and value challenging imagery, and how these changing attitudes influence ethical debates and norms. The discussion will also include how a new generation of storytellers is shaping this debate, and share their thoughts on the future trajectory of photojournalistic ethics.

Who: Fred Ritchin and Andrea Wise; moderator Jenn Poggi with The Kalish Workshop.

When: 7 pm, Central

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Santa Fe Workshops

More Info

 

Thu, Feb 8 - Beyond Breaking News: Local Journalism’s Role in Disaster Recovery

What: The critical role of the media in long-term recovery, including one that is often overlooked: To monitor recovery activities and hold to account the government, funders and others involved so that no community is left behind. The panel will answer questions such as: Why and how should donors invest in nonprofit journalism? What is the unique role of local coverage in disasters? How can funders and media work together?  While primarily aimed at funders, the webinar may also be of interest to emergency managers, government staff, academics, journalists, disaster responders and nongovernmental organization staff interested in, or working on, disasters and other crises.

Who: Paul Cheung, CEO of the Center for Public Integrity and CDP board member, will moderate; Glenn Gamboa, Philanthropy Editor, The Associated Press; Pu Ying Huang, Director of Photography, Texas Tribune; Vincent Stehle, Executive Director, Media Impact Funders

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: United Philanthropy Forum, Giving Compass   

More Info

 

Fri, Feb 9 – Covering Firearm Violence: How journalists can reframe their reporting

What: The gaps, go-to resources, and facts and myths about firearms and firearm ownership. Participants will also learn: The differences among firearm violence, such as what is a mass casualty event versus a mass shooting Where to find new research on firearm violence How news coverage of firearm violence impacts victims and frontline health workers How to move thinking of firearm violence as “the crime beat” to more nuanced coverage across beat

Who: Dr. Jessica Beard, director of research at The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting;  Abené Clayton, reporter on The Guardian’s Guns and Lies in America project; Jennifer Mascia, senior news writer and founding staffer at The Trace; Moderator: Kaitlin Washburn, health beat leader for firearm violence and trauma at the Association of Health Care Journalists and reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times.

When: 11:30 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: National Press Club

More Info

 

Mon, Feb 12 - Op-Ed Boot Camp 

What: Student journalists, it’s time to take your op-ed writing and pitching skills to the next level. Learn everything you need to know to publish an op-ed that advocates for press freedom in your community.

Who: Featuring seasoned journalist Steve Holmes, formerly of the New York Times, Washington Post and CNN.

When: 8 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Student Press Law Center

More Info

 

Mon, Feb 12 - Digital Content Transformation: Unveiling the Impact of Branding

What: Delve into the world of digital branding and discover its profound impact on business success. By the end of this seminar, you will be equipped with the essential tools and insights to either give your existing brand a digital makeover or start building a new brand with a solid foundation in the digital world. Our experts will guide you through the intricacies of branding in the digital age, offering practical advice and innovative strategies to revamp or create your brand effectively. 

Who: Carolyn Kerkowski, the PA Desk Assistant Program Coordinator and Lead Brand Specialist; Alexa Fink, a skilled Digital Strategy and Photo Specialist, bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.

When: 5 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Small Business Development Center at the University of Pennsylvania

More Info

 

Tue, Feb 13 - Digital Dangers: Protecting Against Online Harassment 

What: Student journalists are increasingly contending with the threat of online harassment, which attempts to intimidate them into silence. Learn from those who know first-hand the tools available to protect and support yourself (or your students).

Who: Featuring Taylor Lorenz, technology columnist at The Washington Post; Sarah Swetlik, The Greenville News; and Pratika Katiyar, SPLC student board member. 

When: 7 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Student Press Law Center

More Info

 

Tue, Feb 13 - Narrative investigations

What: This workshop will focus on the tools you need to craft compelling narratives while unveiling or building on investigations.

Who: Houston Chronicle reporter Andrea Ball

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Investigative Reporters & Editors

More Info

 

Wed, Feb 14 - Generative AI: How Hackers Exploit AI to Target Small Business Owners

What: We will delve into the intricate world of cyber threats. Witness firsthand sophisticated AI tactics used by malicious actors to exploit small business owners. In this session, you will:  Explore real-life instances showcasing the fusion of AI and cybercrime. Discover emerging dangers that could impact your business. Learn effective strategies to safeguard your company against AI-fueled scams.

Who: Dr. Teresa Piliouras, CEO and Founder, Technical Consulting & Research, Inc., is an IT consultant, educator, inventor, and author. Pui Lam (Raymond) Yu, Executive Vice President Engineering at Technical Consulting & Research, Inc., has over 20 years of industry experience in Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, and Systems Engineering.  

When: 12 noon, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Small Business Development Center at the University of Pennsylvania

More Info

 

Thu, Feb 15 - Mastering the Art of the Interview

What: This class, taught by a lifelong journalist, will teach you ten ways to conduct memorable, useful interviews that will have people buzzing long after they read, see, or hear them. Mastering the art of the interview will also help you get better sound bites for everything from a simple blog post to a complex documentary film.  

Who: Elaine Appleton Grant, a Loeb School instructor in podcasting and communications curricula.

When: 12 noon

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: Nackey S Loeb School of Communications

More Info

 

Thu, Feb 15 - Learn How to Use Google Analytics 4

What: A live walk-through and Q&A session. We will cover the new features, differences in metrics compared to Universal Analytics, and demonstrate common questions such as how to find traffic for a story and top referrers. This webinar is designed for beginners and will focus on building a basic understanding of how Google Analytics works, as well as different ways to use analytics to inform editorial decisions.

Who: Sophie Ho, Senior Newsroom Growth Expert, News Revenue Hub

When: 12 noon, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: News Revenue Hub

More Info

I must be unlovable

/

The child who is not loved by his parents will always assume himself or herself to be unlovable rather than see the parents as deficient in their capacity to love. Or early adolescents who are not successful at dating or at sports will see themselves as seriously deficient human beings rather than the late or even average but perfectly adequate bloomers they usually are. It is only through a vast amount of experience and a length and successful maturation that we gain the capacity to see the world and our place in it realistically, and thus are enabled to realistically assess our responsibility for ourselves and the world.

M Scott Peck
The Road Less Traveled

Perplexity Search

/

“A start-up called Perplexity shows what’s possible for a search engine built from scratch with artificial intelligence. Perplexity doesn’t give you back a list of links. Instead, it scours the web for you and uses AI to write a summary of what it finds. One impressive Perplexity feature is ‘Copilot,’ which helps a user narrow down a query by asking clarifying questions. Perplexity also allows users to search within a specific set of sources, such as academic papers, YouTube videos or Reddit posts.”  http://tinyurl.com/y38eszvd

If it’s powerful enough to distract you, harness it’s power

/

People often ask me “What are some great books to buy?” My response is usually “The ones you’ll actually read.” Doing a bunch of activities that you think are important will almost always be less impactful than doing the stuff that genuinely fires you up. It’s hard to be great at the stuff that you have to work hard just to tolerate.

Pay attention to the side projects and hobbies that no one needs to pay you for. Pay attention to the stuff that doesn’t have to be mandatory in order for you to be motivated to do it. Pay attention to the stuff that keeps you awake at night not because of fear and obligation, but because you’re always fantasizing about it. That’s where your advantage is.

TK Coleman, 5 Ways to Steal Like An Artist

Time to Recharge

/

A century ago, economists believed that you could predict how poor someone was by how much he or she worked. The whole point of earning wealth, they argued, was that it afforded you less toil and more downtime. But somewhere in the annals of America’s workaholic culture, putting in inhuman hours at your job became a status symbol, especially for the elite. 

You could argue these executives are doing what they love, and that meaningful work provides a real sense of fulfillment. But all that industriousness probably isn’t making them more creative or productive. Some of history’s most accomplished figures across science, math, and literature—people like Charles Darwin, Henri Poincaré, and Charles Dickens—insisted on working just four or five hours a day. The rest of their mornings and afternoons were filled with long walks and other leisurely pursuits that recharged their mental batteries and gave rise to creative ideas. 

Studies of exceptional performers and athletes reveal similar work/rest patterns, with just a few hours a day of serious, focused effort.  

Carolyn O’Hara writing in The Week Magazine

Additive Thinking

/

We should avoid ruminating on what went wrong—“If only I hadn’t done that.” That’s called subtractive thinking. What works is additive thinking. Say you’re playing basketball: Rather than saying to yourself, “Oh, if only I’d made that shot,” think, “I have another strategy I didn’t use. Next time I’ll drive to the hole and then I can shoot or dish it.” If you think about things that didn’t happen that you’d like to do next time, you can prime your brain for better performance after a failure.

Po Bronson quoted in Wired magazine