Author | Lightnews

Dayna Bateman

@daynabateman.bsky.social

120 followers 170 following 87 posts

incurably curious // recovering tech worker, emerging writer // 2025 ALR Essay Prize // https://campsite.bio/daynabateman // Tin House, Granta, Kenyon Alum

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Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · May 10

So many thanks @tinhouse.bsky.social 🙏💛 and honestly the joy of writing within the community you've created is all mine 💛✨

Tin House @tinhouse.bsky.social · May 9

Congratulations to #THAlum @daynabateman.bsky.social on winning the 2025 American Literary Review Award in Essays, judged by Jaquira Díaz!

Dayna, we're so proud and thank you for writing with us!

Read it here: americanliteraryreview.com/2025/04/07/d...

Media description: A screengrab from the beginning of the essay. Text reads: Dayna Bateman, Deracinaiton, or How to Disappear.

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Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · 21d

“Now, do you believe in rock and roll? Can music save your mortal soul?”

Visited the crash site. Paid our respects.

www.instagram.com/p/DPX57bXjXj...

Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · 21d

The honeyguides, he writes, “no longer call because the humans no longer listen.” Dunn’s plea is that we pay attention; listen hard enough to hear when the nonhuman world offers us a chance for kinship.

#giftlink »

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/b...

Birds Who Help Humans, and Other Tales of Inter-Species Cooperation

www.nytimes.com

Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Sep 21

100%
and feel them respond to our grip. I wonder at how we've reoriented to be a primarily visual culture -- the illumination of screens intoxicates us, to the deficit of our other senses

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Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Sep 20

“An analysis published in 2020 by the Transport Research Laboratory, a British organisation, found that touchscreens impaired a driver’s reaction time more than driving over the legal alcohol limit.”

Are touchscreens in cars dangerous?
#paywall
www.economist.com/science-and-...
From The Economist

Are touchscreens in cars dangerous?

Probably—and safety organisations are beginning to take note

www.economist.com

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Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Sep 6

Indigenous people are stewards of 80% of the Earth’s biodiversity. » www.miamiherald.com/detour/artic...

The continued displacement of the Maasai shows how tourism harms more than it helps, Part I

A country’s tourism may be thought of as a universal good, but writer Bani Amor shows how tourism can negatively affect native populations.

www.miamiherald.com

Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Sep 6

“The multibillion-dollar global tourism industry says that if you can afford to travel to a place, you have a right to all that is there. Our project does not support this logic.” www.fodors.com/world/north-...

How Native Hawaiians Are Decolonizing Tourism

Fodor's provides expert travel content worth exploring so you can dream up your next trip. The world is a weird and wonderful place—we want to show you around.

www.fodors.com

Reposted by Dayna Bateman

Rachel Segal Hamilton @rachsh.bsky.social · Jul 27

Excited to be part of @vocebooks.bsky.social autumn season! On Thursday 20th November, 7pm, I'll be in conversation with writer Morag Rose @thelrm.bsky.social , talking about her forthcoming book, The Feminist Art of Walking, published by @plutopress.bsky.social. www.plutobooks.com/978074535100...

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Reposted by Dayna Bateman

Lesley Stanley Roberts @lesleylsroberts.bsky.social · Mar 15

Thrilled to have my NF piece published this week. The idea for it began in a workshop with Randon Billings Noble.

www.cordella.org#/offering

Cordella Press

A biannual online publication with an annual print edition, featuring the work of women-identified and nonbinary creatives.

www.cordella.org

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Reposted by Dayna Bateman

pamlhouston.bsky.social @pamlhouston.bsky.social · Jul 18

open.substack.com/pub/pamhoust...

(Maybe Not) The Last Wolfhound

open.substack.com

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Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Aug 1

In other news I just pickled my first herring and it's indescribably delicious.

Helped that I got my Holland herring from @russanddaughters.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/s...

A Rare Chance to Eat Like a Seal

www.nytimes.com

Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Aug 1

“We don't know why we need stories to live, but we do.” — Hilton Als in this week's @newyorker.com
The Ambitious Film Deconstructions of Stan Douglas
www.newyorker.com/culture/goin...

The Ambitious Film Deconstructions of Stan Douglas

Also: the nostalgia of Vacation sunscreen, the heartwrenching songs of Stevie Nicks, Tiler Peck’s Jerome Robbins festival, and more.

www.newyorker.com

Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Aug 1

Brilliant Fernando ✨ thanks for this

Reposted by Dayna Bateman

Fernando Gros @fernandogros.com · Jul 27

Here's my first Starter Pack.

This Starter Pack contains writers who completed Granta writing courses in memoir, nature writing, short fiction, and longform journalism. There's some amazing writers in here for you to follow and get to know.

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Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Jul 23

And here's a link to the photo archive of trail talkers so you can add your own » sites.google.com/umn.edu/save...

Save Our Signs

Save Our Signs: Celebrate All-American History

sites.google.com

Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Jul 23

Here's a gift link to read the whole piece » www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/c...

Trump Told Park Workers to Report Displays That ‘Disparage’ Americans. Here’s What They Flagged.

www.nytimes.com

Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Jul 23

In response to the Trump directive to edit America's trail talkers, a coalition of librarians, historians and others organized through the University of Minnesota has launched a campaign called “Save Our Signs.” It is asking the public to take and upload photos of existing content at national parks.

Trump told park workers to report displays that disparage Americans. Here's what they flagged. Descriptions and displays at scores of parks and historic sites have been flagged for review in connection with an executive order from President Trump

In addition to reshaping the way the parks present history, the executive order could result in the removal of information about the risks climate change poses in the present day at Cape Hatteras National seashore. For instance, the internal documents show that a park service employee asked the Trump administration to review a sign that explains how rising seas are threatening the habitat of wild horses: "We do not believe it to be in violation, but would like someone to review if messaging of climate change and sea level rise reduces the focus on the grandeur, beauty and abundance," the employee wrote

Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Jul 11

What's interesting about these fines and prohibitions -- which seem to be largely enforcing good manners -- is what they say about how tourists are behaving in these places 🤦 www.travelpulse.com/news/destina...

Europe Cracking Down on Bad Tourist Behavior With Bans, Hefty Fines

Facing record visitor numbers, European destinations are enforcing stricter rules to combat overtourism and protect cultural sites, with penalties that could catch travelers off guard.

www.travelpulse.com

Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Jul 9

Oh I love this news » Former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, fired by Trump, joins Mellon Foundation | AP News share.google/pmET91vvEcjf...

Former Librarian of Congress, fired by Trump, vows to improve public information in new Mellon role

Carla Hayden, the former Librarian of Congress fired by President Donald Trump, has joined the the country's foremost philanthropic supporter of the arts.

share.google

Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Jul 8

"The "Big Beautiful Bill" may be remembered for its fiscal policy. But its deepest consequences will be felt in the quiet spaces of rural America: in exam rooms, emergency departments, and pharmacy counters where coverage used to exist."

www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...

Opinion | The Worst of Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' Will Be Felt in Rural America

The law contains far-reaching changes to health policy

www.medpagetoday.com

Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Jul 8

Found a buried interview with Producer Paul Rothschild about the final days of recording PEARL with Janis Joplin and wanted to share -- enjoy »
open.substack.com/pub/suttonho...

Paul Rothschild on Janis Joplin and Pearl and Buried in the Blues, in conversation with Bob Hamilton of Radio Report

Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Jun 16

I think the technical term is Jesus H. Christ » marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevo...

Reposted by Dayna Bateman

Jessica Christian @jachristian.bsky.social · Jun 14

This time-lapse video of protesters marching down Broadway in Oakland for No Kings Day gives an idea of how many people turned out today @sfchronicle.com

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Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Jun 14

“When the regime is fully confident of its legitimacy, the loyalty of the people and their armed forces… you don’t need this sort of display,” said Dr. Aron, “The more you need to display it, I think, the more you show that there is an issue of legitimacy.”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

How to Read a Military Parade (Gift Article)

The U.S. will hold a rare military display in Washington D.C. soon. The motives of countries that stage military parades vary, but the spectacles all tend to share a common visual vocabulary.

www.nytimes.com

Dayna Bateman @daynabateman.bsky.social · Jun 11

Rented one of those steam rug cleaners and now the house smells faintly, although not unpleasantly, of clean, wet dog