
The 130-year-old origins of modern clickbait
Long before “you won’t believe what happened next,” yellow journalists were perfecting the art of outrage. The same forces still shape today’s media but with faster, louder, and with higher stakes.

Jason Loch
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January 28, 2026

Why you should care about primary sources
Primary sources can transform forgettable content into authoritative, standout work. Drawing on experience as a historian, this post shows where to find them, how to use them critically, and why relying on secondary sources alone can lead to misinformation.

Jason Loch
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January 23, 2026

Media oligarchs are nothing new
From Hearst’s yellow journalism to Musk’s algorithmic megaphone, elite ownership has long shaped what the public sees. The difference today is scale, reach, and the quiet power of infrastructure.

Jason Loch
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January 16, 2026

What publishers need to know about Trump's latest AI executive order
President Trump's sweeping AI executive order could wipe out state-level regulations before federal standards take their place, leaving publishers in a regulatory no-man's-land.

Jason Loch
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December 23, 2025
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How to spot AI generated content and avoid writing slop
As AI-generated content floods the internet, spotting the telltale signs of "slop" has become an essential digital literacy skill. From overused em-dashes to hollow platitudes, here's how you can tell if the content you're reading was crafted by a machine instead of a human.

Jason Loch
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August 6, 2025

How to create a successful online persona
Building successful online personas requires several key elements working in harmony. First, finding your unique voice and perspective helps differentiate your content in crowded digital spaces. Second, maintaining consistency in subject matter and posting cadence builds audience expectations and trust. Third, engaging genuinely with your audience transforms passive followers into an active community. Fourth, setting clear professional boundaries protects your reputation while allowing authentic connection. Finally, treating self-promotion as a tool for sharing valuable expertise rather than mere bragging helps overcome the psychological barriers many content creators face. This article demonstrates how these principles can develop organically into a powerful digital presence that remains true to your authentic self.

Jason Loch
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April 28, 2025

AI deep research agents struggle with nuanced academic subjects despite bold claims
AI tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini now have deep research features. Their developers have made bold claims about their capabilities, so we decided to see how they would handle questions about highly specialized topics.

Jason Loch
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April 17, 2025

The evolution of privacy rights: From property to digital protection
The right to privacy has come along way. What began as a way to protect property now seeks to safeguard a person's right to live life on their own terms. But in the digital age, securing these rights isn't always easy or straightforward.

Jason Loch
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January 27, 2025

Why mainstream blogging advice doesn’t always work—and what to do instead
A lot of advice for new bloggers is aimed at commercially minded creators, but when it comes to blogging advice, one size doesn't fit all.

Jason Loch
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December 10, 2024

Scrivener: The ultimate writing software for boosting productivity
Scrivener isn't just for fiction writers. On the contrary, it can help with almost any writing project.

Jason Loch
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October 28, 2024
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