Mel Buer
@melbuer.bsky.social
LA-based independent multimedia journalist. Union member.
Covering labor, media, and movements at wordsaboutwork.news | Work featured all over || Send tips, inquiries to [email protected]
Support me:
buymeacoffee.com/mel_buer
https://linktr.ee/mel_buer
Covering labor, media, and movements at wordsaboutwork.news | Work featured all over || Send tips, inquiries to [email protected]
Support me:
buymeacoffee.com/mel_buer
https://linktr.ee/mel_buer
Pinned
This holiday season, I'm passing the hat
A plea for sustained support.
www.wordsaboutwork.news
It's the end of the year, which means everyone is holding a fundraiser, and I am no exception, lmao.
I have some goals that I'm still working on meeting through the end of 2026. Help me get to 1000 subs and I will personally fight your boss👊 (jokes, jokes...)
I have some goals that I'm still working on meeting through the end of 2026. Help me get to 1000 subs and I will personally fight your boss👊 (jokes, jokes...)
Reposted by Mel Buer
there’s a scene in the new documentary where Elizabeth Taylor is talking about the stigma of AIDS and how she got involved in the movement and it’s fucking everything
August 10, 2024 at 3:21 PM
there’s a scene in the new documentary where Elizabeth Taylor is talking about the stigma of AIDS and how she got involved in the movement and it’s fucking everything
Reposted by Mel Buer
20,000 teachers are using Pow! as a teaching tool and I am THRILLED!
I partnered with Amplifier to distribute a lesson plan using Pow! as an easy in point to teach kids about modern Native culture. Kadin Mills from @npr.org 's All Things Considered even did a news story about it! Check it out!
I partnered with Amplifier to distribute a lesson plan using Pow! as an easy in point to teach kids about modern Native culture. Kadin Mills from @npr.org 's All Things Considered even did a news story about it! Check it out!
December 1, 2025 at 8:50 PM
20,000 teachers are using Pow! as a teaching tool and I am THRILLED!
I partnered with Amplifier to distribute a lesson plan using Pow! as an easy in point to teach kids about modern Native culture. Kadin Mills from @npr.org 's All Things Considered even did a news story about it! Check it out!
I partnered with Amplifier to distribute a lesson plan using Pow! as an easy in point to teach kids about modern Native culture. Kadin Mills from @npr.org 's All Things Considered even did a news story about it! Check it out!
While I was TAing during my first MA, we were tasked with solo teaching a couple sections a semester. Our advisor encouraged us to bring these types of situations (really any situation we didn't know how to handle) to her to resolve. We were students still learning, & our tenured profs protected us
If you are a chair of a department or supervise grad students, it might be important to collaborate with your colleagues on ways to strategize when a "problem essay" comes down the pike. It's one small way of protecting each other.
December 1, 2025 at 8:46 PM
While I was TAing during my first MA, we were tasked with solo teaching a couple sections a semester. Our advisor encouraged us to bring these types of situations (really any situation we didn't know how to handle) to her to resolve. We were students still learning, & our tenured profs protected us
Reposted by Mel Buer
Part 1 has some original reporting, but owes a great deal to a multitude of others. This piece is just a table setting. As we go, you’ll see a *lot* of new stuff. This project is… an undertaking and please feel free to support however you can. This old cat has some tricks up his sleeve - stay tuned.
December 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Part 1 has some original reporting, but owes a great deal to a multitude of others. This piece is just a table setting. As we go, you’ll see a *lot* of new stuff. This project is… an undertaking and please feel free to support however you can. This old cat has some tricks up his sleeve - stay tuned.
Reposted by Mel Buer
Please, as always, feel free to subscribe, donate or repost.
This is a 5-part (at least) series looking at how ChatGPT’s rollout led to many saying it contributed to suicide, self-harm, child sexual exploitation and encouraged delusions in the mentally ill.
venmo.com/u/ACatWithNews
This is a 5-part (at least) series looking at how ChatGPT’s rollout led to many saying it contributed to suicide, self-harm, child sexual exploitation and encouraged delusions in the mentally ill.
venmo.com/u/ACatWithNews
Venmo | Sean Beckner-Carmitchel
Venmo is a digital wallet that lets you make and share payments with friends. You can easily split the bill, cab fare, or much more. Download the iOS or Android app or sign up on Venmo.com today.
venmo.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Please, as always, feel free to subscribe, donate or repost.
This is a 5-part (at least) series looking at how ChatGPT’s rollout led to many saying it contributed to suicide, self-harm, child sexual exploitation and encouraged delusions in the mentally ill.
venmo.com/u/ACatWithNews
This is a 5-part (at least) series looking at how ChatGPT’s rollout led to many saying it contributed to suicide, self-harm, child sexual exploitation and encouraged delusions in the mentally ill.
venmo.com/u/ACatWithNews
Been listening to @acatwithnews.bsky.social go absolutely bonkers as he waded through what I can only describe as a 'metric ton' of research these last many weeks--read the first part of his new series here. It's worth a read.
NEW for Ten Four:
ChatGPT’s 4o sent numerous messages to minor users encouraging self-harm and suicide. One of several lawsuits says that Adam Raine, a 16-year-old boy, was told how to commit suicide moments before he took his own life.
Part 1 of many this week!
latenfour.com/2025/12/01/t...
ChatGPT’s 4o sent numerous messages to minor users encouraging self-harm and suicide. One of several lawsuits says that Adam Raine, a 16-year-old boy, was told how to commit suicide moments before he took his own life.
Part 1 of many this week!
latenfour.com/2025/12/01/t...
The ChatGPT Deaths: Part 1. Adam Raine’s Suicide.
OpenAI now faces scrutiny from multiple lawsuits alleging its software responded inappropriately resulting in deaths by self-harm. In one case, a suit alleges a minor killed themselves directly as …
latenfour.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Been listening to @acatwithnews.bsky.social go absolutely bonkers as he waded through what I can only describe as a 'metric ton' of research these last many weeks--read the first part of his new series here. It's worth a read.
Reposted by Mel Buer
Want to talk about crimes? Talk about these crimes ⏬
BREAKING: According to a recent investigation by NYC's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Starbucks illegally violated workers' protection laws in NYC 500,000 times since 2021. Over $35.5 million will be paid in restitution to Starbucks workers!
gothamist.com/news/starbuc...
gothamist.com/news/starbuc...
Starbucks to pay $35M to NYC workers after city alleges years of abuses
The city says about 15,000 employees will get paid $50 for each week worked over a three-year period. For some workers, that's thousands of dollars.
gothamist.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Want to talk about crimes? Talk about these crimes ⏬
Reposted by Mel Buer
Independent, pro-worker, class warrior candidates can absolutely beat Republicans in red states if they are not tainted by the Democratic Party brand. The labor movement can make this happen systematically.
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/how-to-win...
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/how-to-win...
How to Win Red States With a Labor Party
We can take political power without asking Democrats for it.
www.hamiltonnolan.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Independent, pro-worker, class warrior candidates can absolutely beat Republicans in red states if they are not tainted by the Democratic Party brand. The labor movement can make this happen systematically.
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/how-to-win...
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/how-to-win...
Reposted by Mel Buer
RELEASE: NewsGuild journalists are sounding the alarm – media companies are undermining public trust with unethical AI in the newsroom.
Today, we launch #NewsNotSlop, a national campaign kicking off a Week of Action on AI, December 1–5.
newsguild.org/release-stan...
Today, we launch #NewsNotSlop, a national campaign kicking off a Week of Action on AI, December 1–5.
newsguild.org/release-stan...
RELEASE: STANDING UP TO PROTECT JOURNALISM FROM AI SLOP | The NewsGuild - TNG-CWA
On the heels of a ground-breaking arbitration win at POLITICO, NewsGuild-CWA members launch national campaign and week of action on AI.
newsguild.org
December 1, 2025 at 5:44 PM
RELEASE: NewsGuild journalists are sounding the alarm – media companies are undermining public trust with unethical AI in the newsroom.
Today, we launch #NewsNotSlop, a national campaign kicking off a Week of Action on AI, December 1–5.
newsguild.org/release-stan...
Today, we launch #NewsNotSlop, a national campaign kicking off a Week of Action on AI, December 1–5.
newsguild.org/release-stan...
Reposted by Mel Buer
to keep functioning, society has to discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities
Body cam shows an immigration agent asking ChatGPT for help writing a report:
“During surveillance in the area, I observed a male subject loitering while seated in a vehicle. Based on his behavior, I approached and initiated a consensual encounter.”
ICYMI:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/28/b...
“During surveillance in the area, I observed a male subject loitering while seated in a vehicle. Based on his behavior, I approached and initiated a consensual encounter.”
ICYMI:
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/28/b...
Bodycam footage from Operation Midway Blitz released: ‘It’s all about arresting people’
The group of videos made public through the Loevy & Loevy law firm includes footage from agents who responded to controversial arrest operations in the Little Village and Irving Park neighborho…
www.chicagotribune.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:52 PM
to keep functioning, society has to discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities
Reposted by Mel Buer
"The findings bring up questions about who exactly has access to footage collected by Flock surveillance cameras and where people reviewing the footage may be based."
This is so fucking bad...
Flock Uses Overseas Gig Workers to Build Its Surveillance AI | WIRED www.wired.com/story/flock-...
This is so fucking bad...
Flock Uses Overseas Gig Workers to Build Its Surveillance AI | WIRED www.wired.com/story/flock-...
Flock Uses Overseas Gig Workers to Build Its Surveillance AI
An accidental leak revealed that Flock, which has cameras in thousands of US communities, is using workers in the Philippines to review and classify footage.
www.wired.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:09 PM
"The findings bring up questions about who exactly has access to footage collected by Flock surveillance cameras and where people reviewing the footage may be based."
This is so fucking bad...
Flock Uses Overseas Gig Workers to Build Its Surveillance AI | WIRED www.wired.com/story/flock-...
This is so fucking bad...
Flock Uses Overseas Gig Workers to Build Its Surveillance AI | WIRED www.wired.com/story/flock-...
Reposted by Mel Buer
December 1, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Reposted by Mel Buer
BREAKING: According to a recent investigation by NYC's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Starbucks illegally violated workers' protection laws in NYC 500,000 times since 2021. Over $35.5 million will be paid in restitution to Starbucks workers!
gothamist.com/news/starbuc...
gothamist.com/news/starbuc...
Starbucks to pay $35M to NYC workers after city alleges years of abuses
The city says about 15,000 employees will get paid $50 for each week worked over a three-year period. For some workers, that's thousands of dollars.
gothamist.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
BREAKING: According to a recent investigation by NYC's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Starbucks illegally violated workers' protection laws in NYC 500,000 times since 2021. Over $35.5 million will be paid in restitution to Starbucks workers!
gothamist.com/news/starbuc...
gothamist.com/news/starbuc...
Reposted by Mel Buer
My Fair Work Week law requires fast-food restaurants to give workers stable schedules & pathways to F/T jobs.
Starbucks has cheated 15,000 baristas—now they have to pay up.
Props @sbworkersunited.org & @hellodcwp.bsky.social for the biggest workers’ right enforcement action in NYC history.
Starbucks has cheated 15,000 baristas—now they have to pay up.
Props @sbworkersunited.org & @hellodcwp.bsky.social for the biggest workers’ right enforcement action in NYC history.
Starbucks to pay $35M to NYC workers after city alleges years of abuses https://gothamist.com/news/starbucks-to-pay-35m-to-nyc-workers-after-city-alleges-years-of-abuses
Starbucks to pay $35M to NYC workers after city alleges years of abuses
Baristas at a Starbucks on Broadway where workers went on strike in February.
The city says about 15,000 employees will get paid $50 for each week worked over a three-year period. For some workers, that's thousands of dollars. [ more › ]
gothamist.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:37 PM
My Fair Work Week law requires fast-food restaurants to give workers stable schedules & pathways to F/T jobs.
Starbucks has cheated 15,000 baristas—now they have to pay up.
Props @sbworkersunited.org & @hellodcwp.bsky.social for the biggest workers’ right enforcement action in NYC history.
Starbucks has cheated 15,000 baristas—now they have to pay up.
Props @sbworkersunited.org & @hellodcwp.bsky.social for the biggest workers’ right enforcement action in NYC history.
Reposted by Mel Buer
But for ignorance and hate, Matthew Shepard would have been 49 today.
Remember Matthew Shepard.
Remember Matthew Shepard.
December 1, 2025 at 3:30 PM
But for ignorance and hate, Matthew Shepard would have been 49 today.
Remember Matthew Shepard.
Remember Matthew Shepard.
Reposted by Mel Buer
It has now been a year since I stopped posting on X. For @spitfirenews.com, I wrote about watching the platform I loved become a conduit for the worst extremism I've ever witnessed. I don't regret leaving. In fact, I wish I'd left even earlier.
spitfirenews.com/p/x-bluesky-...
spitfirenews.com/p/x-bluesky-...
I'm glad I stopped posting on X
A year ago, I abandoned my account. It was the right thing to do.
spitfirenews.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:27 PM
It has now been a year since I stopped posting on X. For @spitfirenews.com, I wrote about watching the platform I loved become a conduit for the worst extremism I've ever witnessed. I don't regret leaving. In fact, I wish I'd left even earlier.
spitfirenews.com/p/x-bluesky-...
spitfirenews.com/p/x-bluesky-...
'Cyber Monday' brings forth images of a lost internet, before we signed away our souls so they could be sold back to us. Also gives you real "Dot Com Bubble" vibes--which I suppose is pretty apropos for the current moment
Anyway fuck Amazon, support local biz, and sub to your fave indie media ;]
Anyway fuck Amazon, support local biz, and sub to your fave indie media ;]
December 1, 2025 at 4:28 PM
'Cyber Monday' brings forth images of a lost internet, before we signed away our souls so they could be sold back to us. Also gives you real "Dot Com Bubble" vibes--which I suppose is pretty apropos for the current moment
Anyway fuck Amazon, support local biz, and sub to your fave indie media ;]
Anyway fuck Amazon, support local biz, and sub to your fave indie media ;]
Reposted by Mel Buer
"Strong floor, no ceiling" is very literally the basis of like every Gilded Age political cartoon
November 30, 2025 at 9:41 PM
"Strong floor, no ceiling" is very literally the basis of like every Gilded Age political cartoon
Writing something for a scholarship application for library school, and man I can't wait to do archival work
It's cool to be a reporter--to write down the first draft of history--and now to have the chance to participate in another step of the process and preserve that for future gens? rad
It's cool to be a reporter--to write down the first draft of history--and now to have the chance to participate in another step of the process and preserve that for future gens? rad
November 30, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Writing something for a scholarship application for library school, and man I can't wait to do archival work
It's cool to be a reporter--to write down the first draft of history--and now to have the chance to participate in another step of the process and preserve that for future gens? rad
It's cool to be a reporter--to write down the first draft of history--and now to have the chance to participate in another step of the process and preserve that for future gens? rad
Love receiving messages from my fans
November 30, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Love receiving messages from my fans
Reposted by Mel Buer
So it turns out it’s the massively overpaid execs who could be replaced by AI… who’d have guessed
A study by Dayforce shows 87% of executives use AI for work, compared to 57% of managers and just 27% of employees.
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
Execs are embracing AI more than their employees are, new research suggests
Research from HR software company Dayforce suggests that executives are leaning into AI far more than their employees.
www.businessinsider.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
So it turns out it’s the massively overpaid execs who could be replaced by AI… who’d have guessed
Reposted by Mel Buer
Look around. The case for more, not less, liberal arts education - actual, real education in reading, writing, thinking, arguing, analyzing, & synthesizing by doing the actual hard work for which there is no substitute - is stronger than it’s ever been at any point in human history.
November 30, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Look around. The case for more, not less, liberal arts education - actual, real education in reading, writing, thinking, arguing, analyzing, & synthesizing by doing the actual hard work for which there is no substitute - is stronger than it’s ever been at any point in human history.
Reposted by Mel Buer
A great essay on why close reading is a more radical methodology than most people think and why university managers don’t like those of us who teach it!
I wrote an essay for @bostonreview.bsky.social about what I learned about close reading when I taught at West Virginia University
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Claims of Close Reading - Boston Review
Literary studies have been starved by austerity, but their core methodology remains radical.
www.bostonreview.net
November 29, 2025 at 7:55 PM
A great essay on why close reading is a more radical methodology than most people think and why university managers don’t like those of us who teach it!
Reposted by Mel Buer
here-we-go-again-again-final-version-v2.docx
Headline: "AI can replace 11.7% of workforce"
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
MIT study finds AI can already replace 11.7% of U.S. workforce
Artificial intelligence can already replace 11.7% of the U.S. labor market, across finance, health care and professional services, according to MIT's study.
www.cnbc.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:58 PM
here-we-go-again-again-final-version-v2.docx
Took a photo walk with my sister in the snow, and boy howdy was it good. :)
November 29, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Took a photo walk with my sister in the snow, and boy howdy was it good. :)