iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

"There is not as much humanity in the world as some of us would like to believe, but there is a lot more than one would think." James Baldwin, 1970

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

"Somebody do something," is just not good enough. If a bomb is dropped, that will be the Great Experiment's time of death -- not Iran's.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

I regret to inform you that this post by Hamish does *not*, in fact, reveal how to save the media from Substack. 😔 (To be fair, I haven't read the book - the answer might be in there.)

Email notification says "How to save the media" (line breaks) "From Substack"

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Three people. She held up a piece of paper with THREE people. They have arrested THREE violent criminals and murdered three people in the process. This certainly tracks with Trump's past record of return on investment.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Exhibit A for my moral injury statement. Other exhibits available.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

I want/need a 7000-word essay that helps me process the moral injury of living in a time when multiple flaccid idiotic bullies face no repercussion for their ineptitude, greed, and dishonesty. An imagined eternity in hell is not good enough.

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Reuters Institute @reutersinstitute.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Tonight we hosted the #MT25 Fellowship Winter Showcase, where three fellows from the United States, Bulgaria and the United Kingdom presented their work, introduced by our own @caithlinm.bsky.social 🧵 Key points from their presentations in thread

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

How neat is this concept? Four people with learning disabilities hosting a podcast about issues that matter to them. In this episode, they interview one of our fellows about his project: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

podcasts.apple.com

The People First Podcast

Society & Culture Podcast · Monthly · People First Keighley & Craven is a self-advocacy group run by, and for, people with learning disabilities, and the People First Podcast is our platform to raise ...

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

My mom asked for help to build a Quality of Life and Appointment tracker for her GPA. I used data from Eosinophilic & Rare Disease Cooperative to build this template. Please feel free to copy, adapt, and share with anyone who might benefit. #raredisease docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

docs.google.com

Chronic Illness QoL Tracker Template

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

A little #TC2025 thread for those who can't be in London today. Inimitable Ros Atkins is chairing a panel featuring dean of CJR, Wiki's Jimmy Wales, PPF podcast host David Runciman and Mozilla's Nabiha Syed up first. Jimmy shares amusing letter from the state...

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

A year ago today, the new Bangladesh govt jailed ex-minister Asaduzzaman Noor. At 79 and frail, he remains behind bars without charge, evidence, or trial. This isn’t justice but vengeance. Bangladesh deserved a new start, not a weaponised judiciary. #DoBetterDhaka

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

The saddest thing about this exposé is that the whole truth would have made an even better book. She couldn't give herself the grace to be flawed and, in the process, we are robbed of a real redemption arc.

observer.co.uk

Fact and fiction: Raynor Winn won’t talk to us. But here...

After our exposé of the inaccuracies behind a couple’s walk to salvation, their defence raises new questions

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

To all those people who have wished me a cool pillow over the years, I wanted to let you know: it isn't working.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

His mother is a BAFTA-nominated filmmaker. His father is a university professor. Please tell me what exactly makes Zohran Mamdani part of the “underclass”? Was it the immigration? Or the melanin?

Mobile alert frames Zohran Mamdani (son of university professor and movie director) as "overqualified underclass".

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Sending all my love and gratitude to the legendary Brian Wilson who wrote music that never fails to awaken my inner child, including this often-overlooked gem that features celery as a percussion instrument. Safe home, Brian.

youtube.com

The Beach Boys - Vegetables (Visualizer)

YouTube video by TheBeachBoysVEVO

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Fixed it for you: Trump attacks South Africa's Ramaphosa over debunked targeting of white farmers.

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Eduardo Suárez @eduardosuarez.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

"It's really important to prepare yourself for a marathon, because things may take much longer to calm down than you would originally anticipate" Our Russian fellow Maria Kiseleva speaks to @caithlinm.bsky.social on being a journalist in exile reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/our-pod...

reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk

Our podcast: The challenges of covering Russia and Syria from exile

In this special World Press Freedom Day episode of Fellowship Takeaways two exiled journalists speak on covering Russia and Syria from afar.

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Eduardo Suárez @eduardosuarez.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Hoy es el Día de la Libertad de Prensa. Nunca antes hubo tantos periodistas forzados a informar desde el exilio. Aquí @caithlinm.bsky.social conversa sobre esto con dos de nuestras fellows: la siria Asmaa al-Omar y la rusa Maria Kiseleva reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/our-pod...

reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk

Our podcast: The challenges of covering Russia and Syria from exile

In this special World Press Freedom Day episode of Fellowship Takeaways two exiled journalists speak on covering Russia and Syria from afar.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

First day of school jitters here at RISJ as we await the new cohort of journalist fellows. For me, new fellows 101 to 105.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

I'm so tired of watching the lights go out in so many important little cottages where people came together to confirm and contextualize information so their neighbours would be equipped with knowledge to make important decisions about their lives. No, the village noticeboard isn't a replacement.

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Jews For Racial & Economic Justice Action @jfrejnyc.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

🚨 EMERGENCY PRESS CONFERENCE Columbia/Barnard faculty, Jewish community leaders, immigrant advocates, and rabbis are demanding the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil from ICE custody. We will not be silent or cower in the face of American Fascism. #FreeMahmoud

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Ben Lorber @benlorber8.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Right now there is clear, overwhelming opposition to Mahmoud Khalil’s abduction across the moderate, liberal, progressive & left spectrum. This kind of loud unity is what authoritarians are afraid of. To keep it up we need every institution & public leader to join the chorus.

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Reposted by Caithlin Mercer

Reuters Institute @reutersinstitute.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

"The early days of the second Trump term have been greeted by a different and more troubling trend in the American press – capitulation" Read Jelani Cobb's Reuters Memorial Lecture in full, with insights on local news, distrust and covering Trump

buff.ly

Full text of Jelani Cobb's 2025 Reuters Memorial Lecture: Trust issues. Credibility, credulity and journalism in a time of crisis

On 10 March the Columbia Journalism Dean delivered the 2025 Reuters Memorial Lecture. Here's the transcript of his talk.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

In about 14 hours, the window for applications to our Journalism Fellowship programme closes. 27% of all active applications have been filed, and 73% are still in progress. Based on what you know about journalists, what percentage of applications will make it across the finish line before midnight?

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Amid all the fact-checking furore, Tom Edgington asks UK politicians: does the work of units like BBC Verify have any sort of behavioural impact? Their answers suggest that it does, and explains why repeat offenders require our closest scrutiny and best discernment.

reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk

Perceptions, power, and polarisation: the political impact of UK fact-checking

Through interviews with UK politicians, strategists, and advisers, this project investigates whether fact-checking changes how politicians craft their messages.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

If you're a foreign correspondent planning an assignment in Taiwan, this is a must-read. Quote: Taiwanese fixers [... highlighted] “numerous unfavourable experiences” with foreign journalists, including last-minute cancellations, requests for free services, and months-long delays in payment.

reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk

An eight-point guide to better collaboration with fixers in Taiwan

The Straits Times' Taiwan Correspondent, Yip Wai Yee, explores the fractured relationship between foreign journalists and Taiwanese fixers.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Warning: this project will make your blood boil. Quote: In one episode, Palestinians were portrayed as worse than Nazis for at least “[Germans] came with a culture based on which it was possible to redevelop, [and with Palestinians] this is not the case.”

reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk

The Patriot effect: Israel’s shifting civil discourse under Netanyahu

Davide Lerner explores shifting trends in the Israeli media space through the lens of Channel 14's most popular TV show.

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Lex McMenamin (they/them) @lexmcmenamin.com · 23/01/2025

hi! @teenvogue.bsky.social has been a reliable outlet for strong political journalism since at min 2016 — which was *9* years ago! you don't need to be surprised each time you're impressed by our work! (maybe other outlets would respect us more if you didn't!) signed, 1/2 of Teen Vogue Politics

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Should journalists label everything produced with AI help? The short answer: no. The long answer - including the WHEN and the HOW - is here, courtesy of Austria's finest @kschell.bsky.social. The perfect project to open our 2024/2025 cohort's publishing season.

reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

In the UK & Ireland, Amazon Prime subscribers got Alex Garland's Civil War added to the top carousel of free content this weekend. And that is all I have to say.

media.tenor.com

a person laying under a tree with the words it 's shady over here below them

Alt: a person lying under a tree with the words "it's shady over here" below them

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

FYI only: the seagulls who walk on water have multiplied. And this one has a halo.

Seven seagulls walking on a frozen lake. One has a halo.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Seagulls walking on water in Oxford. Perhaps the Messiah has returned as four chip-stealing squawkers. Perhaps it is very, very cold. I suggest we wait 2 years for the meteorological and theological professors to publish their research.

Four seagulls standing on an ice-covered pond in Oxford's University Park

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rasmuskleis.bsky.social @rasmuskleis.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Far from "censorship", in their 2024 EU DSA Systemic Risk Assessment and Mitigation Report, Meta proudly trumpets their work with independent fact-checkers, writing it "forms the basis to prevent the spread of large scale misinformation and disinformation" transparency.meta.com/sr/dsa-sra_r...

transparency.meta.com

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

WaPo sent a notification that "12 cities will be pummeled by a deadly winter storm", then suggested I "tap to find out which cities". This, for me, is the day the music died.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Dear Doctor Who, that was an insane amount of emotional violence for Christmas Day.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

This 1983 Italian film (Endgame) is set in 2025, when New York is run by irradiated telepathic mutants. Happy new year! www.youtube.com/watch?v=inYX...

youtube.com

RETRO A végső játék/Endgame 1983 ᴴᴰ HUN NARRATOR

YouTube video by RETRO VHSRip Narrátoros Filmek

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me: 700 automated out-of-office replies to the monthly newsletter, and a partridge in a pear tree.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Eurovision Christmas Card Contest: which national mail service will deliver my postcards first? 100 points to host nation, UK, with a card to Nottingham, delivered in 9 days. This doesn't really count, because it only had to travel 100 miles, so 11.11 miles per day.

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Eduardo Suárez @eduardosuarez.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

"Fair coverage will only happen if our teams themselves are diverse and inclusive enough to understand the inequality, injustice, and hate stories that genuinely affect people" A great piece by my @reutersinstitute.bsky.social colleague Tania Montalvo www.niemanlab.org/2024/12/how-...

niemanlab.org

How do we cover “people like me”?

"2025 should be an opportunity to ask ourselves if we are in a position to cover people fairly."

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

And here it is! Can't wait to share these projects with you.

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

The aftermath of final showcase of fellows' projects at @reutersinstitute.bsky.social I am sitting in the quiet with @eduardosuarez.bsky.social while he deftly curates a thread of all that was said. All that's left for me to say: thank you, journalist fellows, for bringing everything to the table.

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☀️ Jon Schwarz ☀️ @schwarz.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

It's rare you get such a clear illustration of whose lives have value in America and whose don't

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Caithlin Mercer @caithlinm.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

The last episode of Fellowship Takeaways was released today, featuring @albertocairo.com and Simon Rogers on data journalism at the Olympic Games. Binge-listen to all 10 episodes for a 60-minute summary of the seminars we put on for journalists in 2024. Just, you know, fast-forward my voice. 👍

reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk

Fellowship Takeaways podcast series

Bite-sized insights for the modern journalist from the Reuters Institute.

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