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Ian Silvera

@iansilvera.bsky.social
197 followers 323 following 193 posts

Edit Tech, Power & Media 🤖📰, looking at innovation in technology, its impact on media and politics, and how policy-makers deal with it all. news-future.com

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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
NYTimes owned The Athletic has been able to hire some of the laid off WaPo sports reporters
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Labour HQ has paid for Scottish Labour’s digital campaign, as previously reported. Now Anas Sarwar is calling for his leader to go. www.news-future.com/p/digital-ad...
news-future.com
Digital Ads Give Glimpse of 2026 Campaigns
Political parties turn to YouTube, Instagram and Facebook as we head towards the elections in May
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Wouldn’t SuperBowl be even bigger if it was on Saturday? Perhaps I’m just being a dim Brit
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
A new @ippr.org report (Roa Powell and Carsten Jung) has found that OpenAI's flagship LLM product, ChatGPT, heavily relies on The Guardian for news referrals. The British-headquartered outlet signed a deal with the US AI company back in Feb 2025, but...
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
My main challenge to Lobby reporters and political commentators: how would you describe ‘the centre’ in UK politics today and what is your empirical evidence? Cc @stephenkb.bsky.social
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
With 180 million users, Strava is now planning an IPO. Here's why I think it's the future of social networking. www.news-future.com/p/teetotal-a...
news-future.com
Teetotal and Terribly Positive, Why Strava is The Future of Social Networking
With 180 million users, the fitness tracking app is now planning an IPO
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Surgical strikes, minimal casualties, night-time raids. We’ve been here before. But this time we’re not watching cable news correspondents embedded inside the American War Machine at prime time. open.substack.com/pub/futurene...
open.substack.com
War in The Age of The Meme
Social media has encouraged us to become bit part players in conflicts
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Just turned on BBC Three for the first time in forever and it's literally just re-runs of old Top Gear and Tommy Furry. Make of that what you will...
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
DMGT buying The Telegraph would create a super Tory-affiliated outlet, w/ the latter title getting closer to Reform over the years while the Mail continually backed the Conservatives. Business-wise, Mail+ was launched far too late, so now DMGT could have a very strong subscription offering.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
Berkshire Hathaway, a long-time backer of Apple, has now thrown its considerable weight behind one its tech rivals, Alphabet, with a $4.3.bn stake. It has also increased its stake in SiriusXM. The biz is targeting $1.5bn of free cash flow by 2027. www.news-future.com/p/why-berksh...
news-future.com
Why Berkshire Hathaway Loves Radio
Mr Warren E. Buffett and Co. are on manoeuvres with the media again
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Today, the international currency and bond markets have turned on Britain. After much obfuscation and unsound media briefings, it increasingly looks like the UK’s Chancellor will merely tinker with income tax thresholds at her next Budget...
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
If someone could actually build a proper political party in the US, something akin to the parliamentary systems across the UK, Canada and Australia, they would do extremely well. As it stands, the American Republic looks wedded to personality politics for at least the next electoral cycle.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
The Financial Times launches The AI Shift, written by John Burn-Murdoch and Sarah O'Connor. It's a weekly deep-dive into how AI is reshaping work, productivity and society. The newsletter promises to combine original reporting, fresh data and visual storytelling.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
The flotilla celebrations are just bizarre. Perhaps I’m just getting too old, but aren’t activists meant to achieve something? It’s all v performative. Maybe that’s the schtick — more shows, more dead ends, and more ‘celebrations’. Rinse and repeat, then move onto the next cause.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
A new world was created in the 1950s & we are still discovering how it was really formed today. If anything else, this story should give you a sense of the powers at play & the high stakes which had to be navigated at the start of what we now call the Cold War. www.news-future.com/p/the-shadow...
news-future.com
The Shadow General, The Press Baron and The CIA - a Cold War Story
How The Daily Express went to war with two intelligence services, enraged Winston Churchill and found itself in the middle of an international spy scandal
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
If I ever wanted to watch the wrestling, I had to pop around my cousins as a kid. They had NTL, a now defunct US-listed British broadcaster which carried Sky Sports. My father refused to pay the Murdoch levy and we subsequently used to catch any major football games on the radio. (1/3)
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Woke up to the US' Secretary of War Pete Hegseth berating his military over its sartorial standards. The message was to the point: get leaner, look meaner. I was cheering along, dear reader, until I happened upon a tragedy. Hegseth was wearing brown shinny shoes
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
The Digital ID debate has exposed large knowledge gaps in SW1. Some of the biggest & best think-tanks don’t have a singular tech policy expert, while top political hacks — who have to scrutinise the government in real-time — don’t have a high-level understanding of the issue
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
As is typical with the PM, he's sent someone else to defend this major policy and he hasn't announced it to the Commons, where our elected representatives could debate it. The good news: the plan and its messaging aren't surviving impact this morning
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Digital IDs: A road to ruin open.substack.com/pub/futurene...
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
The type of announcement which prompts emergency board meetings in Silicon Valley www.axios.com/2025/09/23/m...
axios.com
Scoop: Microsoft looks to build AI marketplace for publishers
Copilot would be the first buyer in the Publisher Content Marketplace.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
I’ve responded to James Marriott’s intriguing new essay on the impact of technology and media on our post-industrial society below. In doing so, I’ve adopted a slightly different format than usual, but, as ever, I do hope readers enjoy it open.substack.com/pub/futurene...
open.substack.com
The Post-Literate Society?
An Annotated Critique
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Favourable coverage for access isn’t a new tactic from The Pentagon. The US broadcast media was especially exposed to such deals during the Vietnam War, when light-travelling press reporters could find their own way into the conflict. A camera crew, however, is a different logistical feat. (1/4)
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Judge Steven Merryday, who has a fairly sound record, is a George H.W. Bush appointee and is potentially a bit of an Anglophile. He cited Hyde Park Speakers' Corner as he effectively told Trump to bore off as part of the POTUS' legal dispute with the New York Times.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
The New York Times has already spent more than $10mn suing Microsoft and OpenAI as part of a potentially landmark generative AI suit, the publisher is now facing another legal challenge from none other than the President of the United States. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
washingtonpost.com
Trump files defamation and libel lawsuit against New York Times
President Donald Trump accuses the newspaper and its reporters of defaming him in a book and three articles he said were “false, malicious, defamatory, and disparaging.”
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
NEW: How and why the British media is picking its winners as party politics evolves into a five-horse race www.news-future.com/p/in-a-multi...
news-future.com
In a Multi-Party World, the British Media is Picking its Winners
Reflections on Reform, the opinion polls and the state of political journalism
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Axel Springer, which was one of the first major global publishers to sign a partnership with OpenAI, is going to give Sam Altman an award for being an “outstanding individual”.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Latest newsletter (👇) What a ‘No Consensus’ World Actually Looks Like: 🚨You will need just 14,000 votes on avg to become an MP 🚨Avg vote share needed to win a constituency has dropped by 33% in just 7 yrs to 42%, it’s heading towards 32% 🚨8 seats were won w/ <30% at last GE
news-future.com
What a 'No Consensus' World Actually Looks Like
Why the race to the 30% election winner has already started
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Had a bit of fun with AI reverse-engineering some of the best Tweeters in the UK media scene. Can you guess who this is? 🕵️ A clue: [PERSONALITY] tends to post during weekday mornings and early afternoons, aligning with news cycles and political events.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
With a large ecosystem of tech talent, start-ups and founders, the UK was in a prime position to become the world’s next crypto hub. a16z even launched its first international office outside the US in London, while successive British governments promised to deliver on the digital assets dream.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Latest newsletter explores the three layers of the Online Safety Act debate, how No 10 is trialing a new form of attack on Reform and an explanation as to why the government is hooked on data harvesting. www.news-future.com/p/the-lazy-s...
news-future.com
The Lazy Surveillance State Strikes Again
The UK government's private data demands keep growing
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
No 10 influencer drive going well: 'Why are we getting taxed more, and you're doing less?'
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
As per London Playbook this morning: The APPG for Crypto and Digital Assets has been relaunched, jointly chaired by Labour MP Gurinder Josan and Conservative peer and former Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
V good move from the govt. We all know how sexy gen AI is, but internet connectivity across some parts of the UK is still woeful. inews.co.uk/news/politic...
inews.co.uk
Extra 5G mobile masts to be built across UK to boost phone signal
Planning to be relaxed in bid for connectivity and economic growth
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Whether you agree with the approach or not, Starmer/Reeves thought they could trigger economic growth by improving productivity in the public sector - that was their big gambit. At the same time, they've decided to spend more (the HO is the only major ministry to get a cut) and borrow more.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Politico has partnered with Uber to launch a bold, new and "immersive experience" for party conference season...The Pub.
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Reposted by Ian Silvera
Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
A breakdown of the UK’s AI strategy: open.substack.com/pub/futurene...
open.substack.com
The UK's AI Strategy: An Update
The latest LLM developments from Keir Starmer's administration
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
A breakdown of the UK’s AI strategy: open.substack.com/pub/futurene...
open.substack.com
The UK's AI Strategy: An Update
The latest LLM developments from Keir Starmer's administration
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Bit of non-story if you ask me, but the media has seized on the fact that Eben Upton, co-founder of Raspberry Pi, has sold 14% of his shareholding in the company following a one-year lock-in. He founded the business in 2008 -- 17yrs ago. Raspberry Pi has an MCAP of £880m.
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Reposted by Ian Silvera
Will Dunn @willdunn.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
For all that has been written about Starmer, no journalist has really been able to access the man within. This unmissable profile is the first to do so: www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
newstatesman.com
What Keir Starmer can’t say
The Prime Minister believes he will heal Britain – but can he find the words?
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
Quite a bit of duplication going on with UK DOGE... - The one ran by GuidoFawkes - The new Reform UK one - The one James Watt, the co-founder of BrewDog, promised to launch
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
Though Musk’s move away from the US government and Trump may be expected, people easily forget he effectively took control of the GoP’s GOTV operation through America PAC. Trump’s successor will have to try and get him back onside for the next Federal election. www.news-future.com/p/how-elon-m...
news-future.com
How Elon Musk Won The US Election
America PAC, Google Trends and the issues
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
One of Sam Altman's nuclear start-ups, Oklo, is ripping amid AI optimism. Shares are now around $51 on the NYSE, with the company at $23 per share just a month ago. My deep dive is below on the company. www.news-future.com/p/inside-big...
news-future.com
Inside Big Tech's Nuclear Dream
We are going to need lots of energy and water for AI
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Starmer's Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme...
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
With x2 trailers out for GTA 6 and a release date of next year, $TTWO has today launched a public offering of its common stock. >4.7m shares are up for grabs, at a price of $225 per share. The company is hoping to raise $1bn. J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs are acting as lead bookrunners.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Said it before and I'll say it again, who at the BBC negotiated Lineker's contract? He's been able to build a super-successful podcast business outside of the Corporation whilst taking £1.3m py of licence fee payers' money. Gary's agent deserves a bonus.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
Latest on newsletter: The Biden cover-up continues. Whatever happened to preserving, protecting, and defending the Constitution of the United States?
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Folks, we've hit peak 'Run Club'. For all the downsides of Web 2.0, endurance and strength standards have reached new highs. The proliferation of smart devices and fitness apps have gamified training. And now running a marathon is a very common thing.
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Update on SW1 media narrative. Not enough space here unfortunately to post the long version. Labour are clearly trying a re-patch. It won't work - manifesto promises are broken. ECHR is going to be the issue of the summer & the next GE substack.com/profile/1102...
substack.com
Ian Silvera on Substack
SW1 media latest | McSweeney tries a re-patch : ECHR narrative is now growing. Starmer is trying to create a veneer of credibility around immigration, but it’s just another announcement — another plan...
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Ian Silvera @iansilvera.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
No skin in the game here, but it's very odd of the BBC to question The Observer charging £4.20. Results from Smiths News, Reach PLC and others show that rising cover prices do actually work. The market will decide if £4.20 is worth it for The Observer
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