Tech + democracy + media. Now: New_ Public, husband+dad. Then: Upworthy, "Filter Bubble," MoveOn ED. Pessimist of the intellect, optimist of the will.
We’re looking for an exceptional Creative Technologist & Frontend Engineer for the Public Spaces Incubator team.
We need someone who can craft exceptional user experiences and is committed to helping reinvent digital communication for public media institutions.
Is that you?
Is there any hope for the internet?
New_ Public Co-Director @elipariser sees hope in the community stewards who care for small digital groups.
“When they're empowered, and when they have the tools that they need, they can do amazing things in bringing people together.”
I’m fascinated by this chart: the gap between what people think goes viral and what they think SHOULD go viral
Now if we could only make the companies tell us (and researchers!) what actually goes viral…
From this smart post: https://www.centerconflictcooperation-newsletter.com/p/changing-the-incentive-structure
New_ Public is hiring our first ever AI Fellow!
We’re seeking a curious person with high EQ who is interested in harnessing AI to enhance the creativity, efficiency, and capability of our team. (Coding skills not required!)
What do multiplayer video games have that social media lacks?
According to Sijal Nasralla, there’s often depth, relationality, and community that “exceed far beyond the shallowness of a like, comment, or follow.”
https://newpublic.substack.com/p/fortnite-squads-discord-servers-and
🚀 Hiring: Creative Technologist & Frontend Engineer
Join the Public Spaces Incubator team! Alongside designers, researchers and our public media partners, help create open-source tools for prosocial public conversation.
Ready to make an impact? Apply now! ✨
New_ Public Co-Director @elipariser and Project Liberty founder Frank McCourt talk with @rightsduff about how the internet was meant to give us more liberty, freedom, and agency.
Eli: “We don’t have to live in a monarchy, we can build public things.”
Want to write for our newsletter? We’re looking for great pitches and better writers.
Have something to say about community stewardship, local online groups, alternative social media, civic health and clubs, or the intersection of journalism and social media?
More info at the bottom here:
https://newpublic.substack.com/p/how-the-swahili-wikileaks-built-trust
Former CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada Catherine Tait gave an inspiring, uplifting convocation at BU’s j-school on a superpower of journalists: local storytelling
“At the local level we have responsibilities and connections to our neighbors, to our communities. We are never anonymous or led by algorithms”
JamiiAfrica once helped topple a prime minister in Tanzania. It’s also a forum with innovative approaches to moderation and stewardship.
Could its model of journalism and community stewardship work in the West?
Journalist, entrepreneur, and friend of New_ Public Jenn Brandel writes about the role local journalists have in civic renewal and rebuilding community connection.
Jenn calls for shifting “the reporter’s role from merely documenting community life to actively supporting its flourishing.”
📄 RESEARCH: Is one way to ease political tension as simple as watching a respectful conversation?
Researchers found that watching a 50-minute documentary decreased polarization among viewers.
Questions persist about durability of the effects, but this is pretty scalable!
This nonprofit uniquely blends investigative journalism and smartly-moderated regional community forums.
Our latest newsletter features JamiiAfrica, a fascinating case study in community-building & tech for democracy. Dive in:
https://newpublic.substack.com/p/how-the-swahili-wikileaks-built-trust
New_ Public Co-Director Deepti Doshi joins @ajescoffery to talk about our vision for healthy digital public spaces.
You don't want to miss Deepti talking at length about what she's learned about stewardship from helping her eight year old son create a pop-up backyard restaurant
New_ Public is seeking a...
Senior Software Engineer, PSI: help create tools that strengthen public conversation, social trust, and civic engagement
Staff UX Researcher, Local Lab: we need someone with research skills, strategic thinking abilities, and a collaborative mindset
We had a great panel last month on "hyperlocal heroes" — the people, practices, and platforms that finding and sharing key local info.
Here's a one sheet of key takeaways and new areas to explore more.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GKdAmOsl4j4UIGyiKgZF8j6p51UpVraDQdxqibUMRkQ/edit?usp=sharing
New_ Public is working with six public media institutions around the world in Public Spaces Incubator.
We are hiring a Senior Software Engineer to help create tools that strengthen public conversation, social trust, and civic engagement.
New_ Public is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our global coalition of public service media organizations.
Are you interested in building healthier online spaces for connection and discussion?
Learn more and apply here:
We’re seeking a Staff UX Researcher for our Local Lab. ✨
You’ll drive strategic research initiatives while leading tactical studies to refine and evaluate our new platform while collaborating closely with your product colleagues.
Check out New_ Public Co-director @elipariser on Judy Woodruff’s PBS series, America at a Crossroads!
Judy traveled to Vermont to check out Front Porch Forum, the useful, reliable, and friendly network of digital community forums we researched last year with the Center for Media Engagement.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-a-social-network-is-bringing-people-together-in-increasingly-divisive-times
