Nick Hune-Brown
@nickhunebrown.bsky.social
Toronto magazine writer and executive editor @thelocal.to. Here for smart long-form articles and dumb basketball posts. Email [email protected]
Since publishing our investigation into "Victoria Goldiee" at @thelocal.to, I've heard from editors from around the world who've had their own run-ins. A quick follow-up, plus a conversation with @cstarnino.bsky.social about journalism in a world of AI fakery. thelocal.to/fallout-from...
The Fallout From Our AI Freelancer Investigation | The Local
A conversation about the future of journalism in a world of “Victoria Goldiees.”
thelocal.to
November 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Since publishing our investigation into "Victoria Goldiee" at @thelocal.to, I've heard from editors from around the world who've had their own run-ins. A quick follow-up, plus a conversation with @cstarnino.bsky.social about journalism in a world of AI fakery. thelocal.to/fallout-from...
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
Jack White is the king of “indie dudes love sports too” representation matters baby
November 27, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Jack White is the king of “indie dudes love sports too” representation matters baby
I spoke to @thewalrus.ca EIC Carmine Starnino about Victoria Goldiee, fake reporters, and what the hell journalists are supposed to do in this AI slop era. thewalrus.ca/the-phantom-...
The Phantom Writer Who Fooled the Internet | The Walrus
The bot-assisted fake journalism of “Victoria Goldiee” and why editors should be very worried
thewalrus.ca
November 25, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I spoke to @thewalrus.ca EIC Carmine Starnino about Victoria Goldiee, fake reporters, and what the hell journalists are supposed to do in this AI slop era. thewalrus.ca/the-phantom-...
Genuine question, cuz this isn't my beat, but what do the AI overlords say is the SECOND step, once recipe makers, journalists, product reviewers, etc, stop doing the work because all their traffic is stolen by crappy AI summaries?
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Genuine question, cuz this isn't my beat, but what do the AI overlords say is the SECOND step, once recipe makers, journalists, product reviewers, etc, stop doing the work because all their traffic is stolen by crappy AI summaries?
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
“Freelance journalism in 2025 is an incredibly difficult place to build a career,” Nicholas Hune-Brown writes. “But, it turns out, it’s a decent enough arena for a scam.” @jacobfeldman.bsky.social's favorite this week thelocal.to/investigatin...
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 23, 2025 at 3:48 PM
“Freelance journalism in 2025 is an incredibly difficult place to build a career,” Nicholas Hune-Brown writes. “But, it turns out, it’s a decent enough arena for a scam.” @jacobfeldman.bsky.social's favorite this week thelocal.to/investigatin...
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
Advocates have long struggled to improve special education at the TDSB. But now that the board is under supervision, they’re finding transparency and accountability are disappearing. New from @wencyleung.bsky.social:
thelocal.to/tdsb-special...
thelocal.to/tdsb-special...
Special Education Policy Vs. Practice at the TDSB | The Local
For years, the TDSB's special education advisory committee has pressed for accountability from the board. Since the province's takeover, that's become harder than ever.
thelocal.to
November 21, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Advocates have long struggled to improve special education at the TDSB. But now that the board is under supervision, they’re finding transparency and accountability are disappearing. New from @wencyleung.bsky.social:
thelocal.to/tdsb-special...
thelocal.to/tdsb-special...
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
Well put by @drrachelbarr.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Well put by @drrachelbarr.bsky.social
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
"Every media era gets the fabulists it deserves... this generation’s internet scammers are scavenging in the wreckage of a degraded media environment." Oof, this bleakly fascinating story from @nickhunebrown.bsky.social is today's media industry must-read, and with a hell of a kicker:
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 19, 2025 at 10:18 PM
"Every media era gets the fabulists it deserves... this generation’s internet scammers are scavenging in the wreckage of a degraded media environment." Oof, this bleakly fascinating story from @nickhunebrown.bsky.social is today's media industry must-read, and with a hell of a kicker:
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
"Every media era gets the fabulists it deserves." This
@nickhunebrown.bsky.social
piece about journalism grifters in the age of AI slop is fantastic, bonkers & sad on so many levels thelocal.to/investigatin...
@nickhunebrown.bsky.social
piece about journalism grifters in the age of AI slop is fantastic, bonkers & sad on so many levels thelocal.to/investigatin...
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 19, 2025 at 2:59 PM
"Every media era gets the fabulists it deserves." This
@nickhunebrown.bsky.social
piece about journalism grifters in the age of AI slop is fantastic, bonkers & sad on so many levels thelocal.to/investigatin...
@nickhunebrown.bsky.social
piece about journalism grifters in the age of AI slop is fantastic, bonkers & sad on so many levels thelocal.to/investigatin...
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
This is a wild ride, from surprise to anger to sadness. Fantastic storytelling about storytelling.
A few months ago @thelocal.to got a promising pitch from a writer with bylines in whole bunch of reputable publications—The Cut, The Guardian, Dwell, Architectural Digest, etc. Then I started investigating. Here's a story about fabulists in journalism's AI slop era. thelocal.to/investigatin...
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 19, 2025 at 2:19 PM
This is a wild ride, from surprise to anger to sadness. Fantastic storytelling about storytelling.
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
"Every media era gets the fabulists it deserves." Brilliant essay/investigation by @nickhunebrown.bsky.social into journalism scammers in the age of AI.
thelocal.to/investigatin...
thelocal.to/investigatin...
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
"Every media era gets the fabulists it deserves." Brilliant essay/investigation by @nickhunebrown.bsky.social into journalism scammers in the age of AI.
thelocal.to/investigatin...
thelocal.to/investigatin...
A few months ago @thelocal.to got a promising pitch from a writer with bylines in whole bunch of reputable publications—The Cut, The Guardian, Dwell, Architectural Digest, etc. Then I started investigating. Here's a story about fabulists in journalism's AI slop era. thelocal.to/investigatin...
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 19, 2025 at 2:10 PM
A few months ago @thelocal.to got a promising pitch from a writer with bylines in whole bunch of reputable publications—The Cut, The Guardian, Dwell, Architectural Digest, etc. Then I started investigating. Here's a story about fabulists in journalism's AI slop era. thelocal.to/investigatin...
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
GAWKER! thou shouldst be living at this hour
November 18, 2025 at 1:52 AM
GAWKER! thou shouldst be living at this hour
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
From the Star's Moira Welsh: the Ford government gave Postmedia more than $1 million to train employees on AI as part of its under-fire job training fund www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
November 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM
From the Star's Moira Welsh: the Ford government gave Postmedia more than $1 million to train employees on AI as part of its under-fire job training fund www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
Attention Black and/or Indigenous early-career journalists! The Local is partnering with The Philanthropist for a $10,000 fellowship. The fellow will write about issues that matter to their community and civil society, and will be offered mentorship and industry guidance. thelocal.to/early-career...
Early-Career Journalism Fellowship
The fellowship provides one Black and/or Indigenous journalist an opportunity to write about issues that matter to their community and civil society.
thelocal.to
November 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Attention Black and/or Indigenous early-career journalists! The Local is partnering with The Philanthropist for a $10,000 fellowship. The fellow will write about issues that matter to their community and civil society, and will be offered mentorship and industry guidance. thelocal.to/early-career...
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
November 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
I'm curious to hear about people's experiences with Health811 (formerly Telehealth Ontario), good or bad. Please DM or email me: [email protected]
November 5, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I'm curious to hear about people's experiences with Health811 (formerly Telehealth Ontario), good or bad. Please DM or email me: [email protected]
Baseball, such a game of inches. That was so close to being the greatest World Series ever but instead is probably the worst thing I've ever seen?
November 2, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Baseball, such a game of inches. That was so close to being the greatest World Series ever but instead is probably the worst thing I've ever seen?
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
So close. Centimetres.
November 2, 2025 at 4:20 AM
So close. Centimetres.
Oh my god. Having a team in an epic World Series is probably the worst thing that's ever happened to me
November 2, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Oh my god. Having a team in an epic World Series is probably the worst thing that's ever happened to me
Vladdy, what a hero
November 2, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Vladdy, what a hero
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
This photo of rookie Yesavage casually walking off the mound as future Hall of Famer and helmet-less Ohtani is still in motion striking out is everything. #WantItAll
October 30, 2025 at 2:02 AM
This photo of rookie Yesavage casually walking off the mound as future Hall of Famer and helmet-less Ohtani is still in motion striking out is everything. #WantItAll
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
if they have to bring in a position player to pitch all the pitchers from earlier in the game should have to bat
October 28, 2025 at 6:13 AM
if they have to bring in a position player to pitch all the pitchers from earlier in the game should have to bat
Reposted by Nick Hune-Brown
They’re cooking over on /r/baseball right now
October 28, 2025 at 6:06 AM
They’re cooking over on /r/baseball right now
But everyone told me the Dodgers bullpen was terrible
October 28, 2025 at 5:46 AM
But everyone told me the Dodgers bullpen was terrible