Leah Becerra
@leahbecerra.com
Product Director at @newsmediahelpdesk.org. Journalist. Product thinker. Chicana. Runner. Techie person. Mizzou J-School grad 🐯 Past bylines: The Boston Globe, The Kansas City Star, Omaha World-Herald and others.
Reposted by Leah Becerra
SCOOP: In testimony from a CBP official obtained by 404 Media, the official described how Mobile Fortify returned two different names after scanning a woman's face during an immigration raid. ICE has said the app's results are a “definitive” determination of someone's immigration status.
ICE’s Facial Recognition App Misidentified a Woman. Twice
In testimony from a CBP official obtained by 404 Media, the official described how Mobile Fortify returned two different names after scanning a woman's face during an immigration raid. ICE has said th...
www.404media.co
January 19, 2026 at 2:56 PM
SCOOP: In testimony from a CBP official obtained by 404 Media, the official described how Mobile Fortify returned two different names after scanning a woman's face during an immigration raid. ICE has said the app's results are a “definitive” determination of someone's immigration status.
The next Help Desk Monthly issue comes out tomorrow! Subscribe to get it sent to your inbox 📨
mailchi.mp/newsmediahel...
mailchi.mp/newsmediahel...
Our inaugural edition of Help Desk Monthly sent earlier this week with an introduction from Help Desk Product Director @leahbecerra.com, links to all the articles from our launch and additional resources about AI for journalists.
Navigating relentless digital change | Help Desk Monthly – News Media Help Desk
www.newsmediahelpdesk.org
January 12, 2026 at 11:50 PM
The next Help Desk Monthly issue comes out tomorrow! Subscribe to get it sent to your inbox 📨
mailchi.mp/newsmediahel...
mailchi.mp/newsmediahel...
Google has removed some of its AI health summaries after a @theguardian.com investigation found people were being put at risk of harm by false and misleading information.
‘Dangerous and alarming’: Google removes some of its AI summaries after users’ health put at risk
Guardian investigation finds AI Overviews provided inaccurate and false information when queried over blood tests
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Google has removed some of its AI health summaries after a @theguardian.com investigation found people were being put at risk of harm by false and misleading information.
I will never be over how bad Outlook email is 🫠
January 9, 2026 at 8:50 PM
I will never be over how bad Outlook email is 🫠
I love the recent @newsmediahelpdesk.org case study looking at how Digital Trends is using TollBit to monitor AI traffic on its website.
It's a great example of a free, low-risk experiment having to do with AI that won't cause harm to a news publisher.
It's a great example of a free, low-risk experiment having to do with AI that won't cause harm to a news publisher.
Inside Digital Trends’ selection of TollBit to help monitor AI traffic to its website – News Media Help Desk
www.newsmediahelpdesk.org
January 8, 2026 at 9:47 PM
I love the recent @newsmediahelpdesk.org case study looking at how Digital Trends is using TollBit to monitor AI traffic on its website.
It's a great example of a free, low-risk experiment having to do with AI that won't cause harm to a news publisher.
It's a great example of a free, low-risk experiment having to do with AI that won't cause harm to a news publisher.
NPR published a visual archive of January 6, 2021, using footage from those who were at the Capitol riot.
Jan. 6, 2021: A visual archive of the Capitol attack
NPR’s Jan. 6 archive brings together reporting, video, documents and testimony to show what really happened during the Capitol riot. Explore the timeline, cases and evidence behind the attack.
apps.npr.org
January 7, 2026 at 2:45 PM
NPR published a visual archive of January 6, 2021, using footage from those who were at the Capitol riot.
Reposted by Leah Becerra
Subclade K is making its impact felt — why flu seems to be everywhere — even if ‘super flu’ is not a thing www.statnews.com/2026/01/06/f...
Why flu seems to be everywhere — even if ‘super flu’ is not a thing
Welcome to the winter of subclade K.
www.statnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Subclade K is making its impact felt — why flu seems to be everywhere — even if ‘super flu’ is not a thing www.statnews.com/2026/01/06/f...
Reposted by Leah Becerra
New today: A look at how Ghost’s all-in-one publishing platform helped propel @404media.co to profitability within a year of launch
Ghost’s all-in-one publishing platform helped propel 404 Media to profitability within a year of launch – News Media Help Desk
www.newsmediahelpdesk.org
January 5, 2026 at 4:04 PM
New today: A look at how Ghost’s all-in-one publishing platform helped propel @404media.co to profitability within a year of launch
Merry Christmas! And, I guess, happy Stranger Things episodes release day?? #rolledaone 🫠
December 25, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Merry Christmas! And, I guess, happy Stranger Things episodes release day?? #rolledaone 🫠
Reposted by Leah Becerra
Human editors at @merriam-webster.com have chosen slop as the 2025 Word of the Year.
Slop (noun): Digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.
Slop (noun): Digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.
2025 Word of the Year: Slop
Plus 'gerrymander', 'touch grass', 'performative', and other words that defined the year
www.merriam-webster.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Human editors at @merriam-webster.com have chosen slop as the 2025 Word of the Year.
Slop (noun): Digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.
Slop (noun): Digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.
Reposted by Leah Becerra
The latest episode of the Small Press, Big Ideas podcast featured Help Desk Product Director @leahbecerra.com and RJI Executive Director @randypicht.bsky.social talking about our new project!
December 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The latest episode of the Small Press, Big Ideas podcast featured Help Desk Product Director @leahbecerra.com and RJI Executive Director @randypicht.bsky.social talking about our new project!
xAI’s chatbot Grok is spreading misinformation about the Bondi Beach shooting.
Grok is spreading misinformation about the Bondi Beach shooting
Grok has repeatedly misidentified video of the Bondi Beach shooting and the hero who disarmed a gunman.
www.theverge.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:15 PM
xAI’s chatbot Grok is spreading misinformation about the Bondi Beach shooting.
🚀 News Media Help Desk is live!
We are officially live! Check out the News Media Help Desk, a one-stop shop for local media organizations to get digital help, at newsmediahelpdesk.org
December 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM
🚀 News Media Help Desk is live!
After more than a decade working in newsrooms, I've seen firsthand the passion and resilience of journalists. I've also seen the immense pressure they face, often with limited time and resources.
That's why I've spent the last nine months building something I truly believe the news industry needs.
That's why I've spent the last nine months building something I truly believe the news industry needs.
December 5, 2025 at 7:32 PM
After more than a decade working in newsrooms, I've seen firsthand the passion and resilience of journalists. I've also seen the immense pressure they face, often with limited time and resources.
That's why I've spent the last nine months building something I truly believe the news industry needs.
That's why I've spent the last nine months building something I truly believe the news industry needs.
I can't wait to share this project publicly next week!
Check the 🧵 to learn more about @newsmediahelpdesk.org's mission to support local media news organizations.
Check the 🧵 to learn more about @newsmediahelpdesk.org's mission to support local media news organizations.
Exciting news! News Media Help Desk will officially be launching on December 10! https://newsmediahelpdesk.org/
December 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I can't wait to share this project publicly next week!
Check the 🧵 to learn more about @newsmediahelpdesk.org's mission to support local media news organizations.
Check the 🧵 to learn more about @newsmediahelpdesk.org's mission to support local media news organizations.
Reposted by Leah Becerra
the listener-member model that public radio has turned to after decades of government underfunding conflicts with its goal to reflect and serve all Americans. spoke with @lauragarbes.bsky.social about her book LISTENERS LIKE WHO? www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/fund...
Funding cuts may make public radio more reliant on old, rich, white donors
After years of interviews, research, and writing, Laura Garbes submitted the final draft of her book on public radio in December 2024. By the time Listeners Like Who? Exclusion and Resistance in the P...
www.niemanlab.org
November 10, 2025 at 11:15 PM
the listener-member model that public radio has turned to after decades of government underfunding conflicts with its goal to reflect and serve all Americans. spoke with @lauragarbes.bsky.social about her book LISTENERS LIKE WHO? www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/fund...
Northern Lights in Columbia, Mo.
November 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Northern Lights in Columbia, Mo.
Kansas county agrees to pay $3 million and apologize over a police raid on a small-town weekly newspaper in August 2023.
The paper’s editor told The AP he’s hoping the size of the payment is enough to discourage similar actions against news organizations in the future.
The paper’s editor told The AP he’s hoping the size of the payment is enough to discourage similar actions against news organizations in the future.
Kansas county agrees to pay $3 million over police raid on a small-town newspaper, editor says
The editor of a small-town Kansas newspaper says the local county has agreed to pay a little more than $3 million and apologize over police raid on the paper in August 2023.
apnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Kansas county agrees to pay $3 million and apologize over a police raid on a small-town weekly newspaper in August 2023.
The paper’s editor told The AP he’s hoping the size of the payment is enough to discourage similar actions against news organizations in the future.
The paper’s editor told The AP he’s hoping the size of the payment is enough to discourage similar actions against news organizations in the future.
Happy Halloween and you’re welcome for the perfect playlist
WEREWOLF BAR MITZVAH
spotify.link
October 31, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Happy Halloween and you’re welcome for the perfect playlist
My very healthy reaction to not getting in to the Sydney Marathon for 2026 was entering the lottery for Chicago and Berlin
October 30, 2025 at 12:31 PM
My very healthy reaction to not getting in to the Sydney Marathon for 2026 was entering the lottery for Chicago and Berlin
I love how much love there is for @bsky.app at #NPASummit
October 24, 2025 at 8:26 PM
I love how much love there is for @bsky.app at #NPASummit
AI is ruining Pinterest
October 12, 2025 at 8:56 PM
AI is ruining Pinterest
I used an anonymous survey to ask my students how they were doing this morning. They said:
TIRED
SLEEPY
unmotivated
melancholic
slow
exhausted
💀
excited
hopeful
So this is just a reminder to check in on your people. They may need some support.
TIRED
SLEEPY
unmotivated
melancholic
slow
exhausted
💀
excited
hopeful
So this is just a reminder to check in on your people. They may need some support.
September 23, 2025 at 7:07 PM
I used an anonymous survey to ask my students how they were doing this morning. They said:
TIRED
SLEEPY
unmotivated
melancholic
slow
exhausted
💀
excited
hopeful
So this is just a reminder to check in on your people. They may need some support.
TIRED
SLEEPY
unmotivated
melancholic
slow
exhausted
💀
excited
hopeful
So this is just a reminder to check in on your people. They may need some support.
Today is the first day of the semester at Mizzou! I’ll be teaching the School of Journalism’s Multimedia Planning and Design class.
My students will learn about digital news design, they'll code (HTML, CSS, Javascript) and they'll learn how to make intentional UI/UX decisions that serve audiences.
My students will learn about digital news design, they'll code (HTML, CSS, Javascript) and they'll learn how to make intentional UI/UX decisions that serve audiences.
August 25, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Today is the first day of the semester at Mizzou! I’ll be teaching the School of Journalism’s Multimedia Planning and Design class.
My students will learn about digital news design, they'll code (HTML, CSS, Javascript) and they'll learn how to make intentional UI/UX decisions that serve audiences.
My students will learn about digital news design, they'll code (HTML, CSS, Javascript) and they'll learn how to make intentional UI/UX decisions that serve audiences.