iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

This week’s newsletter: on revisiting Mira Nair’s The Namesake, 20 years later, at a wonderful outdoor screening here in Brooklyn a couple of nights ago. Plus: more on books & their screen adaptations.

marinafang.substack.com

We all came out of Gogol’s overcoat

On Mira Nair's "The Namesake" 20 years later, plus more on books & adaptations

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

If this is something you'd periodically like in your inbox, subscribe here. These days, it's kind of like a reporter's notebook, scratch pad, margin notes, etc., now that my day-to-day work looks a little different.

marinafang.substack.com

Marginalia by Marina Fang | Substack

Sidebars and margin notes from a journalist covering culture, politics, and their intersection. "'On the side' is a very big thing for you." — "When Harry Met Sally...". Click to read Marginalia by Ma...

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Nathalie Baptiste 🇭🇹 @nhbaptiste.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

After almost 5 years with HuffPost, I'm one of the people getting laid off. I'm so grateful for @huffpostunion.bsky.social, this would be a lot scarier without them! If you're an editor looking for someone to report and write on race/culture wars, feel free to hit me up at nhbaptiste@gmail.com!

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Jessica Schulberg @jessicaschulberg.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Today is my last day at HuffPost. After 11 years, I was laid off as part of the 33% cuts at BuzzFeed. My team, the National desk, was cut from 7 reporters to 3, after being cut from 14 to 7 just over a year ago

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Levi Kalish @kalish.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

After 3 years, it's my last day at HuffPost. I was laid off as part of the larger cuts at BuzzFeed. I'm not sure what comes next but I'm proud of our union for holding it down. If you’re an editor or lit agent looking for someone to write about trans rights and politics, hmu at levikalish@proton.me

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HuffPost Union @huffpostunion.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

A statement from the HuffPost Union @wgaeast.bsky.social on today's layoffs.

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Matt Shuham @mattshuham.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Today is my last day at HuffPost. Like many others, I was hit by mass layoffs at BuzzFeed. I've done my best to hold power to account and tell complex stories with care, and I'm going to keep doing that. So please keep sending me tips! Contact: mattshuham@protonmail.com, 646-397-4678 (cell/Signal)

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

In my newsletter this week: reviews of Tony + The Whoopi Monologues, plus some thoughts on the forthcoming East of Eden adaptation

marinafang.substack.com

Origin stories

On "Tony" and "The Whoopi Monologues," plus revisiting "East of Eden" ahead of the Netflix adaptation

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

This week’s newsletter: wrote about The Odyssey’s press tour and how, these days, so many celebrity interviews are about having to come up with something for the celebrities to do: a game to play, a questionnaire to answer, etc.

marinafang.substack.com

Infinite scroll

On "The Odyssey" press tour and feeding the content machine

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Josh Gondelman @joshgondelman.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

I know this is not the biggest concern going these days, but it stresses me out that basically every artist/writer/critic is now expected to create their own tiny empire instead of getting paid by any existing entity to perform a job they've worked to get good at!!!!

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

In my newsletter this week: on the final season of “The Bear,” plus some thoughts on the appeal and nostalgia of summer reading challenges.

marinafang.substack.com

Let it rip

On the final season of "The Bear" + more "Salesman" and summer reading

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

I'm bad at promoting this, but I'm still trying to keep up my culture writing via my newsletter. Subscribe if it's something you might like in your inbox (usually every other Sunday): marinafang.substack.com

marinafang.substack.com

Marginalia by Marina Fang | Substack

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Wrote about the Hacks series finale in my newsletter this week: marinafang.substack.com/p/hacks-seri...

marinafang.substack.com

Completing the circle

On the "Hacks" series finale + the usual ephemera

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

I'll still be writing about culture in my personal newsletter (though now moving it to a biweekly cadence). Subscribe if you'd like to keep up with my work. This week, I wrote about revisiting The Joy Luck Club, after having a fraught relationship with it in high school.

marinafang.substack.com

Literary nemeses, part 1(?)

On revisiting

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Looking forward to applying my skills in a different context, and relieved to put this turbulent season of my career behind me. I've already gotten to put my experience to good use: for our member newsletter, I wrote a feature on a big rally featuring some of our members and partner organizations.

us12.campaign-archive.com

Member Newsletter: Special Edition — #JustPay Wage Equity Rally

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Realized I had not shared this here yet: On May 4, after over 14 months of slogging through a Sisyphean job market, I started a new job managing relationships & communications (including writing two weekly newsletters) for a nonprofit with over 200 member organizations.

nycetc.org

Marina Fang - New York City Employment and Training Coalition

Marina Fang is NYCETC's membership manager, building and coordinating relationships and communications with NYCETC's member organizations.

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

On Monday, had the honor of going home to Pittsburgh to moderate author Jade Song's book launch for her new novel I Love You Don't Die at @cityofasylum.bsky.social. Many thanks to everyone who joined us! If you're looking for a moderator for a book talk, post-screening Q&A, etc., get in touch.

Author Jade Song and me sitting opposite one another in two chairs on stage, with a red curtain behind us.

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Wanted to reiterate that in addition to my continued search for full-time jobs, I'd love to pick up more short-term contract work. Do you need a writer to turn around a few stories for an upcoming project? A researcher or fact-checker for your book? etc. etc. Get in touch: bymarinafang@gmail.com

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Constance Grady @constancegrady.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

When I wrote this story a few years ago, the main thing everyone I talked to said was that JVDB was always fully committed, whether he was playing a breakup scene with utter seriousness, or mocking the breakup scene 20 years later. Not everyone would have gone so hard! www.vox.com/culture/2236...

vox.com

An oral history of the Dawson crying GIF and its outsized legacy

How Crying Dawson ascended to “the Mount Rushmore of GIFs.”

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Michelle Ye Hee Lee @myhlee.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

We have launched a new fundraiser to support The Washington Post's courageous international employees and local staff who were laid off, who are not eligible for Guild protections, and who face additional logistical challenges and security risks. Please give & share widely: gofund.me/e765aab9f

gofund.me

Donate to Support for Washington Post international employees, organized by Michelle Lee

Among the hundreds of journalists laid off by The Washington Post on … Michelle Lee needs your support for Support for Washington Post international employees

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Leor Galil @imleor.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

After a month and a half break from print, the Reader makes its debut as a monthly. Thank you to everyone who supported the paper last year when we were scraping by week to week, and all the ups and downs before then. Thank you to everyone who picks up a new issue, it means the world.

The cover of the newest Chicago Reader, which features a huge photo of an egg that’s cracking open

My feature on Fire Talk Records’ Chicago-based imprint, Angel Tapes

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Sam Adams @samadams.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

the Washington Post effectively blew up its arts section today, dismissing its books, TV, music, and theater critics, features writers, and several editors. (I'm also guessing the vacant film critic position will stay that way.) Just an insane loss of talent and a huge self-inflicted wound.

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s. e. smith @sesmith.lol · 04/02/2026

So many people doing great work here; many of us were caught in layoffs repeatedly or squeezed out of traditional staff jobs. I value the indie media ecosystem so much but there's also a critical need for newsrooms and their resources: Some stories need a lot of support, especially investigations.

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Brandon Pope TV @bpopetv.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Sports coverage is more than scores. It’s about the people, politics and cultural factors that drive it. Sports journalism adds vivid color and context to these dynamics. Without it, every sports fan suffers. Some of the best sports journalism all-time came from WaPo. Inexcusable loss.

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whet moser @whetmoser.com · 04/02/2026

caroline is a great reporter

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JM Rieger @riegerreport.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Well, I was laid off at The Washington Post today. It's been an honor to work with some of the best journalists in the business. I'm hoping to continue reporting, producing videos and finding long-forgotten archival footage. If you have any openings, reach out.

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Kim Bellware @bellwak.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

My time with The Washington Post is up. I was laid off with hundreds of folks I am so honored to call my colleagues. I covered it all at The Post (really), so now I'm looking for my next adventure. ➡️ kbellware [at] gmail dot com Website update coming soon @postguild.bsky.social forever

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

The "summarize this email" is really the cherry on top of the fucking cake

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

One of the very best to ever do it. Sending you all the love and solidarity.

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Yes, and not everyone has the capacity to be an internet personality/entrepreneur/marketing expert/lawyer/HR/accountant, etc. etc. — on top of doing the writing and reporting itself!

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Alex Sujong Laughlin @alexlaughs.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

also being edited is GOOD having colleagues is GOOD being part of a context and community makes the work BETTER we can't all just be typing in little boxes alone in the dark forever

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dr. thrasher, an american writer in ex(archia)(xile) @thrasherxy.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

With the closing of the Kennedy Center and the cuts at the Post, the Washington, DC metro area has lost its biggest arts institution and of its largest local journalism outlet.

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Marina Fang @marinafang.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

In the year since my layoff, many well-meaning people have said things like: "Start a newsletter/podcast/independent publication!" What about health insurance, legal support, and all the essentials — and frankly, more peace of mind — that a full-time job at an established news outlet provides?

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Karen K. Ho @karenho.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

I really hate that media layoffs have been happening for the last three years, including my own, and most of the people responsible for the mismanagement won't experience any negative consequences, especially for decimating the number of people of color in so many American newsrooms.

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Jessica Luther @jessicawluther.com · 04/02/2026

When I tried reporting on LSU, football, and gendered violence as a freelancer, I hit so many walls. I joined the team at USA Today and we did award-winning work bc, in large part, it was a big team of people and they were able to sue the school repeatedly, which was withholding public documents.

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Elizabeth Spiers @espiers.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

I don't know what it is about idiots who buy newspapers without understanding why they exist or what their business is, but I think gutting books coverage is some kind of canary in the coalmine. These jackasses don't read books, so they assume no one else does either.

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Mina Kimes @minakimes.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

The line in this courageous essay about her child not remembering her broke my heart. I hope she knows what an impact it had on so many people.

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