Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 10/10/2026It's Saturday, so although it is long, you may have time for this. It's fascinating, truly. www.digitaldigging.org/p/inside-the...digitaldigging.orgInside Russia's Recruiting Machine with AI & OSINT“New destination: Ivanovo. €15,000 per signature. Girls accepted for drone units!” 063
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 09/10/2026"Academics will have to separate solutions from slop" is honestly what grading has been like for a couple of years now. 31910
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 09/10/20262/ B This does not make sense to me. www.nbcnews.com/business/ene...nbcnews.comTrump eases Russia sanctions, says Putin will release diesel amid massive price spikesEscalations in the Russia-Ukraine war have caused diesel costs to spike this fall, repeatedly setting all-time records. 270
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 09/10/2026So A www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat... +nbcnews.comRussia is shipping explosives to Iran to bolster its missile and drone arsenal in U.S. warThe Russian shipments, which haven’t been previously reported, underscore the deepening strategic alliance between Moscow and Tehran. 3157
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 09/10/2026A disinformation conference in Europe scheduled a presentation arguing that the U.S. is a vector for disinformation abroad. U.S. embassies successfully pressured other countries to withdraw their support. QED, I suppose? www.politico.com/news/2026/10... 0133
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 09/10/2026What would make someone think that they have the right to demand to be heard at a council meeting in a city they don't live in? That the council should push aside the business for the people they were elected to serve because you, from out of town, are mad. What a weenie such a person would be. 2131
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 08/10/2026In line with trees falling in the woods and the like, if you livestream something horrible and no one watches it... 192
Reposted by Professor Amanda SturgillProfessor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Hey, you! Pay attention! Says everything all the time. This week's UnSpun podcast is about the attention economy - how your eyeballs are worth big bucks, how newsmakers manipulate you and how AI is changing things fast. Here or where YOU pod. bit.ly/UnSpunPod 1206
Reposted by Professor Amanda SturgillEliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Today in Russian Disinformation/AI Cringe, Russia's ongoing disinformation campaign is now using fake ChatGPT screenshots to "verify" the fake news clips it's distributing on X and TikTok. 216261
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 07/10/2026TIL: Using John/Jane Doe and other similar pseudonyms is a practice that is centuries old. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Do...en.wikipedia.orgJohn Doe - Wikipedia 021
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 07/10/2026I think we need a new threat index - the time, in seconds, between when I open the news and the time I say, out loud, oh no, that's concerning. This morning, it was 8 seconds. 1181
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 07/10/2026I wish I were at this conference. Also, this slide is extremely accurate. 061
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 07/10/2026They tell us it's useful in fundraising to be able to say a big percentage of faculty give. But I have 3 degrees, and those schools ask me for money. Never, not once, have they pitched faculty giving to entice me. 0133
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Hey, you! Pay attention! Says everything all the time. This week's UnSpun podcast is about the attention economy - how your eyeballs are worth big bucks, how newsmakers manipulate you and how AI is changing things fast. Here or where YOU pod. bit.ly/UnSpunPod 1206
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 06/10/20266/ My point is, you can describe what you see - tell what happened without imputing intent to the speaker. That's why you are there - to observe. 2142
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 06/10/20265/ Before that, you can describe things to give context. His next words, not reported here, are "This is a very small price to pay." There are videos, and it looks like there's perhaps a hint of a smile from the speaker (I'd like a better angle, though). There ARE cheers from the crowd. 1100
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 06/10/20264/ In the quoted bit, the reporter likely did not get to immediately ask "Did you really mean to invite Iran to blow up Los Angeles?" You should ask this after the fact, although the reaction will be predictable: You're fake news. You're trying to make me look bad. 180
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 06/10/20263/ When students come from creative writing, they often want to use words like "cried" or "shouted" as attribution words. Here's what's better: "X," he said, tears running down his face. She said "Y," her voice loud, clearly audible above the crowd noise. 170
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 06/10/20262/ Perhaps you have noticed that journalists give credit for ideas with words of attribution. In my class, that word is, very nearly always "said." This is because it is a neutral word that doesn't apply emotion or intent to the speaker. BUT, you can still convey how something was expressed. 180
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 06/10/2026How about a free reporting lesson to go with this #GiftLink www.nytimes.com/2026/10/06/w... 23711
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 06/10/2026They are starting to announce the Nobel Prizes, and the winners' institutions are sharing some joy on social media. I am here. for. it. 1181
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 05/10/2026I did an episode about this, with examples, a while back. bit.ly/4hs422eredcircle.comUnspunListen to Unspun on RedCircle 02710
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 05/10/2026I was glad a political party stopped funding the Senate candidate in my state because I really dislike campaign videos. I like these better. I'm trying to decide it that's bad. At least they show candidates maybe thinking about what the public wants? #GiftLink www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/u...nytimes.comMayors Are Filming Videos, Mamdani Style, With Varying Degrees of Cringe (Gift Article)The growing use of walk-and-talk social videos can be traced to Zohran Mamdani’s successful campaign for mayor of New York City. But not all candidates are naturals on camera. 2279
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Now, I like a good scam as much as the next gal, but please stop messaging me... 170
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Happy Banned Books week. When my kids were at home, I'd celebrate by buying them one and reading it together. 3214
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Those laws aren't nothing, but they aren't as helpful as they might seem. They let you punish after the fact, which is great. However, if your illegal act lets you gain power, you might avoid the punishment anyway. All that to say, be careful out there. 0249
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Old enough to remember college, when I was a summer "copygirl" at @nytimes.com, and there were at least 10 copy editors JUST FOR THE BUSINESS SECTION. 061
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 03/10/2026<shocked sarcasm voice> What? Validity still matters? But we have charts! And dashboards! 020
Reposted by Professor Amanda SturgillProfessor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Did you know that Baptists have a news outlet? (I study media and religion, so I do). Anyway, it published a piece about Cornell, and it will probably surprise you. baptistnews.com/article/dear...baptistnews.comDear men, it is time to wake the hell upAll this is horrible, but there’s one fact about this case that ought to keep you awake at night worried about the future of the world: 35443212
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 01/10/2026I'm not an economist, but I'm pretty sure inflation and prices are different things. 0141
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 30/09/20262/ I do at least a brief trip through media law and ethics in every journalism class. The students take a whole semester course, but sometimes they will do internships or student media earlier, so they need to know things. We discuss this difference. Laws codify ethics; they don't replace them. 060
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Legal: Allowable under the law Ethical: Conforming to standards of conduct They are not the same. Societies consider being illegal and being unethical to both be bad. Bad-faith arguers will sometimes say that because something was legal, you are unfair to bring up ethics. Weaksauce. 3193
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Did you know that Baptists have a news outlet? (I study media and religion, so I do). Anyway, it published a piece about Cornell, and it will probably surprise you. baptistnews.com/article/dear...baptistnews.comDear men, it is time to wake the hell upAll this is horrible, but there’s one fact about this case that ought to keep you awake at night worried about the future of the world: 35443212
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Timely with the Cornell story. #GiftLink www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/u...nytimes.comTrump Officials Revise How Title IX Sex Discrimination Rules Are Enforced (Gift Article)The change follows a court ruling barring Title IX from protecting L.G.B.T.Q. people and has angered advocates for sexual assault survivors. 092
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 29/09/20262/ Here's the original on the page. I'm going to go with the latter, particularly given McClatchy's latest round of layoffs. 160
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Um... Theories: Social media editor is having some kind of issue It's time to dial back on the AI adding art and posting Or... Really puzzled here 2102
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 28/09/2026What - you don't put paintings of food inside your refrigerator? 171
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 28/09/2026I don't think @ddale8.bsky.social posts here anymore, but all the way back in his @thestar.com days, he was instrumental in developing the kind of live verification that is more effective in keeping lies from becoming deceptions. This is worth a read. www.cnn.com/2026/09/27/p...cnn.comI started fact-checking Trump 10 years ago. Here are 15 things I’ve learned | CNN PoliticsTen years ago this month, in my old job as Washington correspondent for the Toronto Star, I started what I believed would be a quick little side project: fact-checking underdog presidential candidate ... 14616
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 28/09/20263/ Specks and logs, I know, and I should probably say less, but it's really been jumping out at me lately. 2100
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 28/09/20262/ Like, if your faith said "rest on Tuesdays", so you spend your own Tuesdays yelling outside businesses so people can't work. Or your faith said "care for animals," so you spend your time hunting rabbits to feed to tigers. And you're big mad at people who actually rest or feed bunnies. 181
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 28/09/2026So the thing about religous folks deciding they should be all up in politics is... the theology is so bad. It's like they don't really understand the thing they say they believe in and fight for. 2181
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 27/09/2026I'm a little confused by this. Why are media outlets accepting this ad? He's not a candidate, so the equal time threats don't seem like they would apply? www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-f...cbsnews.comNew Trump-focused "Love Me" ad campaign paid for by taxpayers hits airwavesAds promoting President Trump and paid for by American taxpayers are now airing on network and national cable. 4245
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 27/09/202610/ www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c.... #GiftLinkcharlotteobserver.comJames Comey’s North Carolina ‘86 47’ trial pushed to 2027. Here’s why.Former FBI Director James Comey Jr. is now set to be arraigned early next year. Read what the judge said. 001
Professor Amanda Sturgill @drsturg.bsky.social · 27/09/20269/ www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/b.... #GiftLinknytimes.comTV Networks to Resume Trump Coverage, Even as White House Excludes CNN (Gift Article)The White House TV pool went dark this past week amid a standoff between CNN and the president. Network leaders, however, believe an indefinite suspension may be untenable. 130