By Matt Carroll <@MattCData>

Sept. 15, 2018: Cool stuff about journalism, once a week. Get notified via email? Subscribe: 3toread (at) gmail. Originally published on 3toread.co

1. So Facebook is the “uncool uncle.” What’s next?: If it seems like Facebook is slipping as a the default platform, here’s some evidence to support that. Which leads to the obvious question: What are people switching to? Well, many are moving to messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, or Instagram or Facebook Messenger. All, of course, owned by Facebook. It is interesting to note, though, how fast people can use, then abandon wildly successful platforms. Laura Hazard Owen for Nieman Lab.

2. If it’s ‘news’ on Twitter, is it ‘news’ everywhere else?: Interesting, thoughtful take on what happens when a crazy tweetstorm takes root — even when its, well, crazy, with no substance. How should newsrooms react? Should they cover it as a story, ignore it, or do something else? A vexing problem, written about by Chris Deaton for the Weekly Standard.

3. Conspiracy theories made Alex Jones very rich. They may bring him down: The headline says it all. Troll-meister extraordinaire Alex Jones made a name for himself by extolling wacky conspiracy theories. Tttt anyone? Now, as social media platforms start realizing the uncomfortable truth that they are in part responsible for the grip this man has on a certain segment of the population, a backlash is swinging back. It’s been too long in coming. An excellent read by Elizabeth Williamson and Emily Steel for the NYT.

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AI, Media and the Threat to Democracy

Interested in the intersection between Artificial Intelligence and the Media?

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Keynote: Danielle Citron, Morton & Sophia Macht Professor of Law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

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1. AI on the Beat: How journalists are using — and covering — bots, algorithms and whatever comes next

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