COYOTE
@coyotemedia.org
Independent journalism with a BITE.
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COYOTE
@coyotemedia.org
· Jul 24
Did you know that you can follow all our COYOTE co-founders (who have Bluesky accounts) with just one beautiful click? Here you go!! go.bsky.app/8qE8JRY
Reposted by COYOTE
I love that this story has a railroad retirement connection! (It has to do with certain prefixes of Social Security numbers that were originally reserved for rail workers pre-1963 and haven't been used since.)
Aided by genAI models like ChatGPT, “writers” hoping to get paid for fake stories have become an even bigger problem for publications big and small. One such writer almost pulled one over on COYOTE — until @soleilho.com, who is a nerd, spotted a key idiosyncrasy.
How COYOTE Almost Got Slopped by AI
The sordid tale of the freelancer who never was.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 12, 2026 at 1:14 AM
I love that this story has a railroad retirement connection! (It has to do with certain prefixes of Social Security numbers that were originally reserved for rail workers pre-1963 and haven't been used since.)
Reposted by COYOTE
Nerdy special interests save the day! Fascinating article on solving a mystery using specialized knowledge of social security number prefixes, and how generative AI is leading to publishers getting overwhelmed with slop proposals
Aided by genAI models like ChatGPT, “writers” hoping to get paid for fake stories have become an even bigger problem for publications big and small. One such writer almost pulled one over on COYOTE — until @soleilho.com, who is a nerd, spotted a key idiosyncrasy.
How COYOTE Almost Got Slopped by AI
The sordid tale of the freelancer who never was.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Nerdy special interests save the day! Fascinating article on solving a mystery using specialized knowledge of social security number prefixes, and how generative AI is leading to publishers getting overwhelmed with slop proposals
Reposted by COYOTE
This is a great article about how AI effects small independent media outlets. It’s also way more informative about how the US issues social security numbers than you would expect any article about AI to be.
Aided by genAI models like ChatGPT, “writers” hoping to get paid for fake stories have become an even bigger problem for publications big and small. One such writer almost pulled one over on COYOTE — until @soleilho.com, who is a nerd, spotted a key idiosyncrasy.
How COYOTE Almost Got Slopped by AI
The sordid tale of the freelancer who never was.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 7:14 PM
This is a great article about how AI effects small independent media outlets. It’s also way more informative about how the US issues social security numbers than you would expect any article about AI to be.
Reposted by COYOTE
Hi folks. We're dropping our paywall on this story about the scourge of AI pitches for the day, so give it a read and share widely. www.coyotemedia.org/how-coyote-a...
Aided by genAI models like ChatGPT, “writers” hoping to get paid for fake stories have become an even bigger problem for publications big and small. One such writer almost pulled one over on COYOTE — until @soleilho.com, who is a nerd, spotted a key idiosyncrasy.
How COYOTE Almost Got Slopped by AI
The sordid tale of the freelancer who never was.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Hi folks. We're dropping our paywall on this story about the scourge of AI pitches for the day, so give it a read and share widely. www.coyotemedia.org/how-coyote-a...
This week's lineup of Bay Area events, hand-picked by the COYOTE team: death myths of Ancient Egypt, lasso lessons with Black cowboys, a squatting stool-building workshop with handy lesbians, vampire drag, a V-Day party for the disability community, and LOTS more. Full calendar at coyotemedia.org 🐺
February 11, 2026 at 6:06 PM
This week's lineup of Bay Area events, hand-picked by the COYOTE team: death myths of Ancient Egypt, lasso lessons with Black cowboys, a squatting stool-building workshop with handy lesbians, vampire drag, a V-Day party for the disability community, and LOTS more. Full calendar at coyotemedia.org 🐺
Reposted by COYOTE
on top of everything else, the amount of time & energy small publications need to spend on this kind of stuff now really seems unsustainable
Aided by genAI models like ChatGPT, “writers” hoping to get paid for fake stories have become an even bigger problem for publications big and small. One such writer almost pulled one over on COYOTE — until @soleilho.com, who is a nerd, spotted a key idiosyncrasy.
How COYOTE Almost Got Slopped by AI
The sordid tale of the freelancer who never was.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 5:40 PM
on top of everything else, the amount of time & energy small publications need to spend on this kind of stuff now really seems unsustainable
Reposted by COYOTE
ORB has received at least a half dozen or more such pitches, some quite credible; they all fade away at the "let's talk in person" moment in the process, like vampires at sunrise, but it's a HUGE pain in the ass.
Aided by genAI models like ChatGPT, “writers” hoping to get paid for fake stories have become an even bigger problem for publications big and small. One such writer almost pulled one over on COYOTE — until @soleilho.com, who is a nerd, spotted a key idiosyncrasy.
How COYOTE Almost Got Slopped by AI
The sordid tale of the freelancer who never was.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 5:24 PM
ORB has received at least a half dozen or more such pitches, some quite credible; they all fade away at the "let's talk in person" moment in the process, like vampires at sunrise, but it's a HUGE pain in the ass.
Reposted by COYOTE
If you're like 'why have so many publications and editors stopped calling for pitches' or 'why are publications pulling their pitching info down and making it harder to find contact info,' this is a big part of it, and it sucks. I know personally how much it sucks, because I am also a freelancer!
February 11, 2026 at 4:25 PM
If you're like 'why have so many publications and editors stopped calling for pitches' or 'why are publications pulling their pitching info down and making it harder to find contact info,' this is a big part of it, and it sucks. I know personally how much it sucks, because I am also a freelancer!
Reposted by COYOTE
Every organization I work with, including The Flytrap, has noticed this every time we put out an open call for pitches and it gets picked up in an opportunities newsletter, just a deluge of AI slop we have to wade through.
Aided by genAI models like ChatGPT, “writers” hoping to get paid for fake stories have become an even bigger problem for publications big and small. One such writer almost pulled one over on COYOTE — until @soleilho.com, who is a nerd, spotted a key idiosyncrasy.
How COYOTE Almost Got Slopped by AI
The sordid tale of the freelancer who never was.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Every organization I work with, including The Flytrap, has noticed this every time we put out an open call for pitches and it gets picked up in an opportunities newsletter, just a deluge of AI slop we have to wade through.
Reposted by COYOTE
honestly a little embarrassed I let the pitch get as far as it did, but I’m fine with that if this helps any other tiny pubs avoid getting scammed.
Aided by genAI models like ChatGPT, “writers” hoping to get paid for fake stories have become an even bigger problem for publications big and small. One such writer almost pulled one over on COYOTE — until @soleilho.com, who is a nerd, spotted a key idiosyncrasy.
How COYOTE Almost Got Slopped by AI
The sordid tale of the freelancer who never was.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 4:28 PM
honestly a little embarrassed I let the pitch get as far as it did, but I’m fine with that if this helps any other tiny pubs avoid getting scammed.
Reposted by COYOTE
This story is part of an alarming trend. As someone who screens freelance pitches for @gijn.org, I struggle sometimes to find great story ideas from outside (so pitch us, please!).
So, dealing with these scam LLM pitches is doubly frustrating because of the opportunity cost in time and energy lost.
So, dealing with these scam LLM pitches is doubly frustrating because of the opportunity cost in time and energy lost.
Aided by genAI models like ChatGPT, “writers” hoping to get paid for fake stories have become an even bigger problem for publications big and small. One such writer almost pulled one over on COYOTE — until @soleilho.com, who is a nerd, spotted a key idiosyncrasy.
How COYOTE Almost Got Slopped by AI
The sordid tale of the freelancer who never was.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 4:50 PM
This story is part of an alarming trend. As someone who screens freelance pitches for @gijn.org, I struggle sometimes to find great story ideas from outside (so pitch us, please!).
So, dealing with these scam LLM pitches is doubly frustrating because of the opportunity cost in time and energy lost.
So, dealing with these scam LLM pitches is doubly frustrating because of the opportunity cost in time and energy lost.
Reposted by COYOTE
just what editors and freelancers need... fake AI pitches. I mean, freelance writing isn't exactly lucrative why would you even try to steal these meagre amounts?
Aided by genAI models like ChatGPT, “writers” hoping to get paid for fake stories have become an even bigger problem for publications big and small. One such writer almost pulled one over on COYOTE — until @soleilho.com, who is a nerd, spotted a key idiosyncrasy.
How COYOTE Almost Got Slopped by AI
The sordid tale of the freelancer who never was.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 4:50 PM
just what editors and freelancers need... fake AI pitches. I mean, freelance writing isn't exactly lucrative why would you even try to steal these meagre amounts?
Aided by genAI models like ChatGPT, “writers” hoping to get paid for fake stories have become an even bigger problem for publications big and small. One such writer almost pulled one over on COYOTE — until @soleilho.com, who is a nerd, spotted a key idiosyncrasy.
How COYOTE Almost Got Slopped by AI
The sordid tale of the freelancer who never was.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Aided by genAI models like ChatGPT, “writers” hoping to get paid for fake stories have become an even bigger problem for publications big and small. One such writer almost pulled one over on COYOTE — until @soleilho.com, who is a nerd, spotted a key idiosyncrasy.
Reposted by COYOTE
I don't normally post about current events, but this is something I show solidarity with 🙏
I hope the Teachers get what they're asking for.
Teachers are CRUCIAL to society.
I support their fight.
I hope the Teachers get what they're asking for.
Teachers are CRUCIAL to society.
I support their fight.
SF teachers strike, day 2:
February 11, 2026 at 7:11 AM
I don't normally post about current events, but this is something I show solidarity with 🙏
I hope the Teachers get what they're asking for.
Teachers are CRUCIAL to society.
I support their fight.
I hope the Teachers get what they're asking for.
Teachers are CRUCIAL to society.
I support their fight.
Reposted by COYOTE
“San Francisco educators continue their historic strike, and parents and kids are on the picket lines alongside them. But don’t worry, Daniel Lurie is making Instagram videos.”
@coyotemedia.org
@coyotemedia.org
Area Teachers Tired of Bullshit
San Francisco educators continue their historic strike, and parents and kids are on the picket lines alongside them. But don’t worry, Daniel Lurie is making Instagram videos.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 3:16 PM
“San Francisco educators continue their historic strike, and parents and kids are on the picket lines alongside them. But don’t worry, Daniel Lurie is making Instagram videos.”
@coyotemedia.org
@coyotemedia.org
Nate, 11, Roosevelt Middle School: “Teachers need to get paid better. They do a lot of work helping kids. And kids need help.”
www.coyotemedia.org/area-teacher...
www.coyotemedia.org/area-teacher...
Area Teachers Tired of Bullshit
San Francisco educators continue their historic strike, and parents and kids are on the picket lines alongside them. But don’t worry, Daniel Lurie is making Instagram videos.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Nate, 11, Roosevelt Middle School: “Teachers need to get paid better. They do a lot of work helping kids. And kids need help.”
www.coyotemedia.org/area-teacher...
www.coyotemedia.org/area-teacher...
Reposted by COYOTE
my big takeaway from @emmaruthless.bsky.social's SFUSD strike diary: anyone trying to tell you it's families vs. teachers is trying to sell you a load of crap www.coyotemedia.org/area-teacher...
Area Teachers Tired of Bullshit
San Francisco educators continue their historic strike, and parents and kids are on the picket lines alongside them. But don’t worry, Daniel Lurie is making Instagram videos.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 12:27 AM
my big takeaway from @emmaruthless.bsky.social's SFUSD strike diary: anyone trying to tell you it's families vs. teachers is trying to sell you a load of crap www.coyotemedia.org/area-teacher...
Reposted by COYOTE
when @coyotemedia.org lets me write headlines www.coyotemedia.org/area-teacher...
Area Teachers Tired of Bullshit
San Francisco educators continue their historic strike, and parents and kids are on the picket lines alongside them. But don’t worry, Daniel Lurie is making Instagram videos.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 11, 2026 at 12:15 AM
when @coyotemedia.org lets me write headlines www.coyotemedia.org/area-teacher...
SF teachers strike, day 2:
February 10, 2026 at 10:07 PM
SF teachers strike, day 2:
Reposted by COYOTE
A+ sign from the SFUSD community rally.
February 9, 2026 at 10:32 PM
A+ sign from the SFUSD community rally.
Emma here. Massive turnout at SF Civic Center rn in support of UESF and the teachers strike. Teachers, principals, parents, students.
February 9, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Emma here. Massive turnout at SF Civic Center rn in support of UESF and the teachers strike. Teachers, principals, parents, students.
The viral $3.50 fish sandwich everyone's obsessed with — a Chinese bakery’s fried fish bao — is drawing 2-hour lines in San Leandro. Is it the new Filet-O-Fish? @soleilho.com tested it with everything from Puerto Rican pique to jalapeño pickles to find out.
www.coyotemedia.org/san-leandros...
www.coyotemedia.org/san-leandros...
San Leandro’s TikTok-Famous Chinese Bakery Sandwiches Herald the Year of the Fried Fishwich
Are the viral chicken and fish sandwiches worth the wait? Yes — with some caveats.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 9, 2026 at 4:10 PM
The viral $3.50 fish sandwich everyone's obsessed with — a Chinese bakery’s fried fish bao — is drawing 2-hour lines in San Leandro. Is it the new Filet-O-Fish? @soleilho.com tested it with everything from Puerto Rican pique to jalapeño pickles to find out.
www.coyotemedia.org/san-leandros...
www.coyotemedia.org/san-leandros...
Rahawa the GOAT!!!
Some great news. My hybrid memoir IN OPEN COUNTRY will now be published by Little, Brown. It’s about freedom of movement and stillness in the US, and the ways capitalism & settler colonialism have shaped (and continue to shape) the answer to who has either across time. I also do a lot of walking.
February 9, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Rahawa the GOAT!!!
Reposted by COYOTE
back on the food beat with a story about a tiny Chinese bakery that's gone mega-viral for their $3.50 sandwiches www.coyotemedia.org/san-leandros...
San Leandro’s TikTok-Famous Chinese Bakery Sandwiches Herald the Year of the Fried Fishwich
Are the viral chicken and fish sandwiches worth the wait? Yes — with some caveats.
www.coyotemedia.org
February 9, 2026 at 3:36 PM
back on the food beat with a story about a tiny Chinese bakery that's gone mega-viral for their $3.50 sandwiches www.coyotemedia.org/san-leandros...
Reposted by COYOTE
“The Super Bowl seems like a quaint thing to protest during a civil war,” a friend told me. Well, yes. But there's more to the story.
Unwelcome statues, beaches full of trash, homeless sweeps, and a $5M price tag infuriated many in SF when the Super Bowl came to the Bay Area in 2016. 10 years later, as the big game circus returns, the city is quiet. @nuala.bsky.social asks, what’s changed?
www.coyotemedia.org/san-francisc...
www.coyotemedia.org/san-francisc...
SF Hated the Super Bowl in 2016. A Decade Later, What’s Changed?
Ten years ago, protesters took to the streets to slam San Francisco’s Super Bowl City and call for an end to homeless sweeps. As the game returns to the Bay this week, why are things so quiet?
www.coyotemedia.org
February 5, 2026 at 4:58 PM
“The Super Bowl seems like a quaint thing to protest during a civil war,” a friend told me. Well, yes. But there's more to the story.