Lydia Laurenson

The New Modality is a publication and community that seeks answers to the question: “What is a meaningful life in this rapidly changing world?” This is a question of culture, economics, governance, and beyond, because change is occurring at all levels: the individual, family, community, city, nation, and worldwide.

In 2018, I did a lot of consulting about the impact of digital media on society. I was especially interested in polarization. I also got interested in broader digital media governance issues, and in peacebuilding on digital media. (“Peacebuilding” is a term of art, describing a process that facilitates the establishment of durable peace.) My research has been distilled in two policy briefs commissioned by the Toda Peace Institute, a Japanese organization (Part 1 is linked below). I've also spoken, presented, and advised organizations on this process, and been part of the international governance process; e.g., my research supported the Senate testimony given by one of my clients.

* Articles and/or editorial work for The Harvard Business Review, Vice, The Guardian (UK), The Atlantic, SFWeekly, Time Out, The Point, The Rumpus, BlogHer, an Oxford anthology, and many others * Speaker and/or event organizer at universities including Stanford, U. C. Berkeley, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Reed College, Bard College, Smith College, and more * Event organizing ranging from intimate salon-style dinners to multi-hundred-person galas * Research programs including and qualitative interviews, contextual analysis, ethnography, shadowing, and meta-analysis * Several books edited or published, under various imprints and names * My first self-published non-fiction book was #1 in two Amazon categories for a week; it led to a German translation deal, book tour, and four TV interviews * Joint anthology with Julian Dibbell, former Wired editor and Stanford Fellow on Internet & Society * Contributed to and/or edited ten books in the award-winning White Wolf: Exalted game line

Due to my expertise in political polarization as it plays out on digital media, and my ability to fairly represent the concerns of both American liberals and conservatives, I was recruited as a member of the advisory board for the Wisedex project at the Center for Social Media Responsibility. (I received a small honorarium for this role, which is why it's not listed in my volunteer experience like my other Board positions.)

In 2017, The Battery — a social club in San Francisco devoted to arts, culture, and philanthropy — created a new print magazine called The Battery Candy. I was hired as Managing Editor while Issue #1 was being produced. As Managing Editor, I commissioned, edited, and/or wrote all articles for the magazine, which is 96-112 pages with few ads (sometimes zero ads). I also oversaw all editorial operations. In 2019, after Issue #5 was complete, I gave notice to start my own publication. I still love and appreciate The Battery and I remain a Creative in Residence. Maybe I'll see you there!

In 2018, the Center for Humane Technology was founded by well-known tech ethicist Tristan Harris. I helped the fledgling organization organize, evaluate, and communicate its initial research on the harms of technology, particularly on the Ledger of Harms project. My work was later credited in "The Social Dilemma," a 2020 documentary about the effects of social media on society.

After working with News Deeply for a year and a half, I transitioned into an advisor and consultant for the company, with much love all around. News Deeply makes in-depth media resources about issues of global importance. The company’s inaugural platform, Syria Deeply, is a fusion of journalism and technology created to enhance coverage of the Syrian crisis. In recognition of the project’s innovative approach, Time Magazine called Syria Deeply “The Future of News,” while Fast Company Magazine said “Syria Deeply Outsmarts the News, Redefines Conflict Coverage.” News Deeply won the National Press Foundation's Excellence in Online Journalism Award in 2013, joining honorees like the Wall Street Journal, the Center for Public Integrity, NPR, and Re/code. The founder was later invited to the White House to brief President Obama. News Deeply’s clients and partners include the World Economic Forum, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Baker Institute at Rice University, and Columbia University's Tow Center for Digital Journalism. The company's work has been featured on outlets including CNN, NPR, BBC News, the Guardian, and Wired.

* R&D on emerging digital innovation opportunities * Develop partnerships with other media companies including Medium, Huffington Post, KQED, McClatchy Newspapers, many independent blogs, and more * Create and oversee News Deeply's ethnographic user research program; conduct regular interviews with influential readers in academia, government, think tanks, and other experts working on global issues * Oversee the community/social toolkits and strategy for a rapidly expanding digital media company * Develop content strategy and social media strategy for News Deeply's clients and partners * Run workshops and conference sessions for News Deeply's clients and partners * Manage press outreach and PR

The Cruelest Opt Outs was a tumblr documenting the excessive manipulations of opt-out forms on the internet. * Went viral within a week * Featured in Buzzfeed and Business Insider

Keep It Find It was a combination of social bookmarking plus a "data and commenting layer" overlay for web pages. * User research and insight extraction * Content and social media strategy

Tugboat Yards was a platform to help independent media creators earn money from their audiences. * Prospecting, outreach, and onboarding for media creators who could use the Tugboat platform * Market research, especially in-depth interviews and case studies * Content and social media strategy

* Created an explosively popular grassroots community film series and discussion group * Managed media contact and PR, and facilitated post-film discussions * Chose films, negotiated with filmmakers, and oversaw budget

* Fundraising, project management, and other assistance for assorted community groups * Member, National Sex Work Core Team, which coordinated Swaziland's sex worker HIV initiatives * Wrote a 60-page area assessment report that included gathering data from local teachers, students, businesspeople, charity workers, politicians, preachers, and traditional authorities * Cited as example of excellent community integration at international Peace Corps conference * Designed educational materials and wrote workshops for incoming Peace Corps trainees

* Hired and trained staff for many roles, from writing sales copy to organizing the floor * Worked with a wide variety of used and rare books, antiques, and vintage ephemera * Created new management and marketing tools, including a successful store blog

* Contributed to or edited ten books in the award-winning White Wolf: Exalted game line