iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

One last thing: it took several months, off season, for us to build that set of resources. This is not a two day sprint. It takes editors, reporters, data, SEO, and developers working together with a shared goal: be an information hub for our communities in all instances.

000

These are opinions, but based on my 20some years in breaking news. LA orgs are doing a good job of getting info out. I see you. The point of my ramble is the fires are a prime example of why breaking news can get easier if planned for. (I’m grateful Chris et al helped us think this through, btw)

Though 5: liveblogs People reading live blogs are likely those watching/worrying. If you lost your home, you’re not in a state to scroll a liveblog to find what you need. Blogs are easy for us, but in a true emergency they’re not for the public. I personally prefer a structured updating story.

100

Thought 4: How you will cover matters as much as what you cover. Avoid burnout with plans. BEFORE the emergency know: where do people live? How do we decide lead editor? How do we assign reporting shifts? Do photographers have the right gear? Update these plans yearly. Update gear yearly.

100

Thought 3: utility, not SEO. That landing page is your home page for the emergency. Lay out areas for essentials. The latest for each fire. Latest response. Fact checks. Guides. Resources. A map. Chronology is less important. An ugly list of past reporting at the bottom is fine. Kill the damn ads.

100

Thought 2: fire season is yearly. Same for hurricanes, etc. when it is not said season, get your team together to build infrastructure. At reportedly and NowThis, we structured breaking news into categories and worked out how we’d mobilize in each. We should have also built landing pages in advance.

100

This sounds easy, but with most CMSs it takes time and effort to build a big page with links out to everything. Thought one: It doesn’t have to be nicely designed. In fact, it needs to look as simple as possible bc most people will be viewing said info on a cell phone.

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

I’ve been thinking about why I pushed to build this, as I watch a place I love burn and try to keep up with news. LA journalists are tired and overworked right now. I believe with planning you can make their job easier. The thing is as simple as this: make it easy to find the crucial information.

100

I do too but honestly I never aspire to get up at 5 am just to meditate for 30 min. I am OK with 10 min at 730.

120

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

I have never read a "morning routine" from any person (celeb or non) and 1) beleived they actually do that every day 2) thought their routine is doable for a regular human being.

170

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

If you read the newsletter you'll see another announcement in there, but I'll save that for another day (prob later this week). For now, I hope you enjoy the booklet! I'm printing mine out and doing it this weekend.

000

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Every year, I release the booklet I designed to help me reflect on the last year and set goals for the next. This year, I didn't change the design, but some key questions have been adjusted for today's times. I release it as part of my newsletter The Middles. buttondown.com/kimbui/archi...

buttondown.com

The Middles: Goodbye, hello and more

Edition 70: An update and a booklet Despite my best intentions, the past few years have not included writing much here. There are a lot of reasons and...

120

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Writing this was a bit of a leap for me (I don't usually pontificate on funding), and it's an argument that only has so many legs, but we can all agree 2025 is going to be a pivotal point for press freedom from oligarchs / plain ol billionaire owners. This, I think, might get lost in that fury.

181

Reposted by P. Kim Bui

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

substack just announced a new enterprise media offering (whatever that means) in partnership with bari weiss’ website “because of its commitment to pursuing high-integrity journalism.” if you’re still publishing there, it’s time to get the fuck out. on.substack.com/p/the-new-me...

on.substack.com

The new media, powered by Substack

Partnering with The Free Press to better support media organizations

741528592

Buttondown is also totally independent and small. When I had issues the founders have emailed me, and I prefer to support indie developers.

0150

If you're even more curious the 2024-25 booklet will include a few tweaks but sticks to the general process. I think I am most concerned with not annoying folks who signed up for The Middles to get leadership thoughts.

000

I use @buttondown.com but beehiv is good too. Substack…does not match my values.

This is the 2022-2023 booklet if you’re curious. www.dropbox.com/s/kl9hjceo3o...

dropbox.com

121

Robert "The Bobby Yaga" McNees @mcnees.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Every year, I release a goal setting workbook. I create them for free, and have sent them to my newsletter list (themiddl.es). I haven’t sent anything on that list for a year. If you use the booklet, tell me: keep it on my newsletter list and hope I write more next year or release another way?

121

Reposted by P. Kim Bui

Computer science pioneer and United States Navy rear admiral Grace Hopper was born #OTD in 1906. 🧪 👩‍🔬 As far as I am aware, she is the only person who has both a supercomputer and a US Navy destroyer named after her. (1/n) Image: Computer History Museum

A black and white photo of Grace Hopper standing in front of a computer bank. She is wearing a dark knee-length dress and has glasses. She is holding a piece of paper that says "COBOL" in her right hand, and flipping a switch on the computer with her left.

18671206

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

No prob! That is one of more, I really just want people to think critically about how and who they follow/support. That other list includes many wonderful people but just underscores how much of the system leaves us out, whether intentionally or not.

130

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

I am mainly annoyed because this *should* be a chance to rebuild our connections using lessons about prior place, which many POC left bc it is not inclusive/diverse. To rebuild the same narrow systems seems…stupid. It is a fresh chance for you to build feeds that are not hegemonic.

060

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Because I’m mildly annoyed, if you’re looking for media/news folks to follow, I strongly suggest you look for ones with diversity and this one popular one I see is….not diverse at all. A good example: go.bsky.app/BmnETn7

33716

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Because of that place, I thought I hated all mexican food except for quesadillas and taquitos. TBH, the ice cream was pretty good.

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Non-midwesterners never believe that my first exposure to Mexican food was a place called Chi Chis (yes, now I know what that means). But I bring you proof, it is apparently coming back?? www.msn.com/en-us/foodan...

120

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Thank you!It is the “starter project” which really tested my hatred of warping.

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

PS: you will never appreciate handmade fabric more than after you have warped, and started a difficult loom project. That tea towel definitely should cost $30. My “table runner” has taken months of (intermittent) work

060

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

So being a widow made me realize how terribly we treat people who are going through things like this. Most places barely give you bereavement leave and FMLA is a fight. I was lucky enough to have an understanding workplace, but many aren’t.

140

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Part of my work with @biglocalnews.bsky.social is with the CA Local News Fellows, and they're wonderful. Apply to be one of them: fellowships.journalism.berkeley.edu/cafellows/ne...

fellowships.journalism.berkeley.edu

Newsroom Application – California Local News Fellowship

063

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Hello chi! Lovely to see you here.

One of the first times we ever spoke in person, we discussed Tumblr. Ah, the days.

You know what I kinda miss though? Tumblr.

100

The journalism exodus in numbers: (PS, I think those folks have great judgement, but i hope they followed me here)

050

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

I am so proud to have had a small part in your journey and I hope you get some rest before you go back out and change the world. You deserve it.

010

This is for fibersky, or whatever we are calling niches here.

281

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

wait wait wait, but i want dog photos??

P. Kim Bui @kimbui.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

OK! Wading slowly bc I still am not over the trauma that resulted in me leaving The Other Place.