GRRL Interludes 003: Music news, fake news, and a Backpage.com update

In this quick episode, I give some updates on past Grrl on Grrl guests, including new albums and award nominations! Plus I plug a great podcast and a couple of articles about journalism and fake news, and a quick update on Backpage.com--which I talked about in Interlude Episode 001--and some organizations to check out in the wake up the shutdown. I also have the pleasure of talking over some ambient music created by Asher Mendel, because I felt weird having just my voice talking with no background. So uh, what do you think? Is it too distracting? Too gloomy? TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK.

In this quick episode, I give some updates on past Grrl on Grrl guests, including new albums and award nominations! Plus I plug a great podcast and a couple of articles about journalism and fake news, and a quick update on Backpage.com–which I talked about in Interlude Episode 001–and some organizations to check out in the wake up the shutdown. I also have the pleasure of talking over some ambient music created by Asher Mendel, because I felt weird having just my voice talking with no background. So uh, what do you think? Is it too distracting? Too gloomy? TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK.

Download Interlude 003 on Libsyn [7MB, ~7min] or listen at these websites [iTunes | Stitcher | TuneIn | Google Play]

Hours’ Different Executions EP (Facebook) – Carrie Gillespie Feller of Hexa’s new band is killing it. If you need a reminder of who she is, check out Grrl on Grrl episode 11.
The Fresh Brunettes’ FUBAR (Facebook) – They had their album release in January with a show at San Diego’s Blonde Bar. You can check out their song FUBAR in the episode I did with Megan Liscomb.
Congratulations and good luck to the San Diego Music Award nominees!

The Rise of Fake News

…and how to navigate it.

Paraphrased from the Flash Forward episode “Extra! Extra!”, here are two things you can do before sharing anything on social media.

Read the article and find its sources. Do the so-called experts quoted in the article even exist? If there are research articles cited, were they published by a legitimate journal? Because apparently there are publications out there where you can just PAY to have your article published. No peer review required.
Check what website it’s on. Does the rest of the site have an obvious political agenda? Are the other articles on the site bogus as shit?

The Rise of Progressive ‘Fake News’ by Robinson Meyer: “The disempowered left now faces its own kinds of hoaxes and fables.” (The Atlantic)
How Viral Fake Election News Stories Outperformed Real News On Facebook by Craig Silverman: “Top fake election news stories generated more total engagement on Facebook than top election stories from 19 major news outlets combined.” (Buzzfeed)
Objectivity is dead, and I’m okay with it by Lewis Wallace: a radio journalist writes about why a call for journalistic neutrality comes from a place of privilege, journalism as its own form of activism, and other really great bits.

Backpage.com Update

It happened, Backpage.com shut down their adult services section, putting many sex workers in dangerous positions.

The Sex Workers’ Outreach Project: With several chapters around the US, SWOP provides resources, information, outreach, and activism.
Desiree Alliance: A network of sex worker organizations and communities, health professionals, and supporters working towards productive activism.
Joint statement about sex workers’ rights (GDocs)