loading . . . The Hot List + Deep Dive Has Arrived for Spring of '25 THE HOT LIST + DEEP DIVE for Spring 2025 is here! Volume 1, Issue 1 explores âSignal Gateâ and the ongoing shit show of unqualified and inexperienced people leading key departments within and for the federal government. This premier issue includes a TL;DR đ„Hot Tip, some hot takes, memes, comedic relief, and more. There's also ways you can take action, because being informed is only step 1. Step 2: Doing something about ALL THE THINGS.
The goal of this zine is to provide a snapshot in time of a major social, economic, and environmental issue that has a real impact on how we live day to day. Mostly though, itâs a deeper analysis and lesson in media literacy with the goal of prompting you to ask more questions and look more closely at the sources and the information you consume.
When I read anything, Iâm asking questions. Who says what and why? Who has the power? How are they connected? Whatâs their end goal? Whoâs paying? Once you start to look with intention, youâll see the false flags everywhere. Iâm not just talking about fake newsâthough thereâs plenty of that. Iâm talking about the truth theyâre leaving out, the words in between the MAGA lines, embarrassing soundbites and inane posts on Truth social. Their missteps in messaging are everywhere and they usually expose a root cause or two underneath.
THL-DEEP DIVE isn't my first time calling bull shit on _The Powers That Be.___ From media misses to campaign crap, Iâve called out communication fails from everyone trying to sell us a golden ticket to the circus. After another breaking news headline broadcasts another abhorrent or criminal act, I'll challenge anyone who feigns shock.
An Open Letter to Dan Rather, Elliot Kirschner, and the Patriarchal MediaViolence is their primary value so miss me with your shock.MediumEmily O. Weltman
If I had to pick the top 3 comms fails I called out they would probably be:
1. My response to a Substack post by journalists Dan Rather after a January 6th hearing "bombshell" that was _anything but_ shocking.
2. An open letter to former CDC Director Rochelle Wallensky recommending she hire me to fix her comms debacle, re-brand, and align to their mission.
3. A social post I made dragging the Biden campaign (before he dropped out) for creating a campaign member IDâone of a few TikTok's I've managed to post.
My penchant for over analyzing language and dissecting every sentence is one reason I prefer long form. _The Powers That Be_ use their share of dog whistles and key words, making their b.s. easy to spot, and a blurb easy to write. Iâm on the lookout for the subtext, to understand root causes and power dynamics so we can actually do something about it.
An Open Letter to the Office of the Director at the CDC, Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPHFor a new strategy and inclusive communications, hire us first.coFLOWcoEmily O. Weltman
### New Media Has to Keep Growing.
21st century media (publishing) has a few key distinct features that make media analysis a challenge.
1. We experience a news cycle that moves at the speed of light. As comedian Josh Johnson noted the media cycle used to be 24 hours, then 12, and now itâs every hour.
2. Journalists are moving away from newsrooms and publishing platforms makes the celebrity and/or experienced investigative reporter more accessible. Whether theyâre pushed out or quitting, the biggest names are less and less on cable or network news.
3. The difference between content creation, research, blogging, and journalism are blurring. Trusted sources are hard to come by and theirs a fight for attention and a sea of voices to choose from.
4. We get to consume UGC (user-generated content) alongside the âexperts.â The upside: a tweet from a ânobodyâ can still win the internet on any given day.
5. Not only is the news cycle fast, thereâs so much happening, all at once, and most of itâs a hot mess. We have to preserve our history, especially as criminals try and erase it, especially their wrong doings. Documentation is imperative.
I put THE HOT LIST + DEEP DIVE together for all of the above reasons, but also one more. Because I am a designer at heart. The way I process information is different than someone who has decades of newsroom experience and investigative journalism chops, or someone who studies complex scientific data and statistics. Designers are well equipped to meet this moment.
**Why me?** My neurodivergent brain and insatiable drive to get to the heart of the issue means I read ALL THE THINGS so you don't have to. I love curating and amplifying the goods. I boost content, media, journalists and writers outside of the mainstream, especially cultural commentary and independent news media. And I take note of the comparison in messaging from mainstream media, seeking out a balance of information from reputable sources.
Plus, I had to do something with the 100,000 photos on my phone; 90% are screenshots of news Iâve read or posts in my feeds in the last 7 years. Why? See number 4.
As a writer and researcher, as well as an avid beta tester, I have explored the various ways the media, blogs, and newsrooms deliver information. I've worked with journalists, content creators, and media teams for decades and many of us are clear what's missing.
There is a need for more explanatory, honest media delivered with a visual approach and a side of sardonic wit. Sure, there is plenty of rye commentary out there. But the context, history, and power analysis is limited. Most importantly a solid CALL TO ACTION is usually absent, leaving the reader feeling freaked out, overwhelmed and helpless. Solutions journalism offers more than just the problems, but at least 1 possible way of solving it.
Fellow neurodivergent creators see the same gaps and deliver visually engaging, graphic alternatives. Heart-first communicators are building toolkits and resource libraries to ensure everyone has what they need to fight The Man and GSD (get shit done). Like me, they're building new media, zines, research and infographics "bootstrapped," aka without compensation. Why? Because we know what we know, and you should too. We're already collaborating, and aim to team up on bigger projects soon, but we also need to pay bills. (**Hint:** Funding helps! Subscriptions do too.)
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### Because their comms fails keep flowing.
Calling out a comms or media fail as blatant as Signal Gate and the fallout from the âfeckless GOPâ (h/t Mehdi Hassan) wasnât on the top of my list. To be honest, it felt too easyâtoo obvious. When the memes fill the feed as they have, I know people see it clearly. I don't usually go for the obvious punchline, but like a tap at a DoD âworking lunch,â the jokes just flow.
When people with so many skeletons in the closet slip up, the stories almost write themselves. What could I say that hasnât already been said? Evidently plenty. (Okay, itâs me so of course.)
Itâs not _what_ I say about their massive fuck ups (hey, Buttigieg said it first) that sets THE HOT LIST + DEEP DIVE apart. It's _how_ I say it. I provide context, a narrative, and a more complete picture of what's happening, the way we actually learn about via the media bombardment and meme storms. I look at the economic and social influences pouring gasoline on the latest dumpster fire. And I aim to capture a moment in time because, frankly, itâs fleeting.
This zine is a gift to you, my fellow non-linear thinkers, grassroots organizers, creative futurists, and caring humans who see ALL, but need support and a reprieve. Don't burnout trying to stay on top of ALL the things; lean into your village and listen to independent, new media peers. Learn from solutions journalists who not only analyze, scrutinize, and educate, but who have a clear solve and call to action.
When we look back at history, we often see things in isolation, unless we're digging deeper or reading a book. A blurb or the headline in the New York Times doesn't paint the picture of everything that was happening around it. THL + DEEP DIVE captures the social context of what's happening around the chaos of a constitutional crisis. This document serves as a meta critique on the state of media in 2025, with hot tips and examples of how to communicate to readers and citizens in ways they can actually use to create change.
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****TL;DR Hot Tip****
__THL + DEEP DIVE, Volume 1, Issue 1__
There are no guarantees that your conversation is private, safe, or secure. Proceed accordingly.
Please check out the first installment of our digital zine and log in to leave feedback! Membership to the site is free. This issue is open and accessible to everyone.
**Accessibility Note:** We're testing out heyzine for web accessibility. If you prefer a web-accessible pdf, you can download a free copy below.
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