We're continuing investigation to the performance issues, you can follow and react here: https://lemmy.world/c/friendicaworld

mastodon - Link to source
@Eugen Rochko
in reply to Aaron 🥞

mastodon - Link to source

Petra van Cronenburg

@aaronmccollum That's my impression too: it was a quick production because Zeiter's press release was on the table, so they quickly opened a blog page for a second structure, took a look, wrote something, and that was it.

These three-minute pieces are done under enormous time pressure. And very few listeners remember them afterwards.

@laxsill @_elena

@Elena Rossini @laxsill @Aaron 🥞
in reply to Petra van Cronenburg

mastodon - Link to source

Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩

my mother was a reporter and editor. she got me a part time job in high school at her newspaper

i've watched her work since i was in diapers and so i understand through her time pressure in journalism

but that is no defense for shoddy work

nor do people just forget

in fact the lies, intentional or unintentional, that appear in the press have debilitating effects on the common perception of truth

@Petra van Cronenburg @laxsill @Aaron 🥞
This entry was edited (1 week ago)
in reply to Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩

mastodon - Link to source

Petra van Cronenburg

@benroyce
We *completely* agree!

France Culture was repeatedly in the headlines until 2023 due to despotic conditions towards employees/political influence (and also financial difficulties):
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_C…
With the new boss, a lot seems to have improved. But I have seen their reporters at local appointments who were unprepared and wanted to finish as quickly as possible. And therefore, reporting mistakes. 🙄

@aaronmccollum @laxsill @_elena

France Culture — Wikipédia

Contributeurs aux projets Wikimedia (Fondation Wikimedia, Inc.)
@Elena Rossini @Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩 @laxsill @Aaron 🥞
in reply to Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩

mastodon - Link to source

Elena Rossini

@benroyce worth mentioning your Neil Postman connection too Ben for the extra cred 😉

The LinkedIn profile of that French journalist is really alarming because he's been a teacher of journalism at La Sorbonne and has published several books on tech. He's a radio producer and host. It's shocking that he would share such blatant lies. Shocking I tell you!

He even has a Wikipedia page: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%…

@NatureMC @aaronmccollum @laxsill

François Saltiel — Wikipédia

Contributeurs aux projets Wikimedia (Fondation Wikimedia, Inc.)
@Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩 @Petra van Cronenburg @laxsill @Aaron 🥞
in reply to 狐ヴィクシー

mastodon - Link to source

Elena Rossini

@KitsuneVixi indeed

The chef's kiss is that according to LinkedIn, the author of the article has been a teacher of journalism at La Sorbonne and has published numerous books.

This is not a 19-year-old intern casually writing about tech: https://fr.linkedin.com/in/françois-saltiel-42725334

@Gargron

@Eugen Rochko @狐ヴィクシー

reshared this

in reply to Elena Rossini

mastodon - Link to source

Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩

yup

#corporate "#journalism"

we are on #mastodon/ #fediverse because the profit motive in corporate #socialMedia means privacy defilement, free reign for bigotry/ ignorance, and #algorithm manipulation by #plutocracy agendas

the same applies to the #news #media:

#ventureCapital takes over dying traditional media outlets and puts right wing goons in the managing editor positions

we have nonprofit news (#NPR, #ProPublica, #TheGuardian, etc)

trust them

all else: beware

#mastodon #fediverse #news #media #journalism #socialmedia #propublica #npr #corporate #theguardian #venturecapital #algorithm #plutocracy

reshared this

in reply to Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩

mastodon - Link to source

Elena Rossini

@benroyce perfectly said Ben!!! 🙌

I just found a video of the CEO of W Social at Davos literally going: "10 years ago we were saying that data is the new oil, but right now we say HIGH QUALITY data is the new oil."

To me it kind of reads like a confession / motivating force behind (1) creating W Social (2) using AT Proto for their "European alternative to X." Ouf.

@Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩
in reply to Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩

mastodon - Link to source

StuartB

@benroyce
I don't even trust The Guardian - too many of their "journalists" are trust fund babies who can't get jobs doing anything else, who regard poverty as a hypothetical rather than something that too many people know from experience, and are just as ready to throw trans folk under the bus as their right wing counterparts.
@Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩
in reply to StuartB

mastodon - Link to source

Ben Royce 🇺🇦 🇸🇩

i remember that

for anyone not familiar with The Guardian's betrayal of trans rights:

theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

all i have to say in return is that with nonprofit media there is a chance for correction. while for-profit news media, they take over the managing editor positions with right wing venture capital and so trans rights will never be honored, will be always attacked

my point is in general about for-profit vs nonprofit, not a specific defense of The Guardian

Why we take issue with the Guardian’s stance on trans rights in the UK | Sam Levin, Mona Chalabi and Sabrina Siddiqui

A recent editorial on the Gender Recognition Act in the UK was met with dismay by Guardian US journalists who believe it advanced transphobic viewpoints that are driving attacks on trans rights in America
Sam Levin (the Guardian)
This entry was edited (1 week ago)
in reply to Elena Rossini

mastodon - Link to source

Petra van Cronenburg

I didn't listen to it, only read the text. I wouldn't judge all journalists based on one example.
He states: "Tout cela est très marketing pour W, qui saisit une fenêtre d’opportunité" and while talking about Zeiter's great experience in marketing and publicity he nails the big problem of Mastodon.

Mastodon has neither the money nor the human power for big lobbyism/marketing.
I know, Mastodon fans don't like to hear it but it's a fact. And the size of a network depends on

@Gargron

@Eugen Rochko
in reply to Petra van Cronenburg

mastodon - Link to source

Petra van Cronenburg

how many politicians, organisations and journalists will join - because then the masses will join. If we want that is another question.

So yes, it's just one of these "quick" broadcast contributions where an author doesn't interview people directly (or did he?) and graps the informations on the desk. And these were definitively the press release/publicity of Zeiter ...

@Gargron

@Eugen Rochko
in reply to Z_Zed_Zed

mastodon - Link to source

Petra van Cronenburg

Therefore, I wrote: If we want that is another question."

Personally, I like that the Fediverse is growing in a sustainable and quite organic way, especially since some admins of smaller servers are often on the brink of financial ruin, lacking donations. But we also have to support this - and watch how the really big accounts go elsewhere.

@_elena @Gargron

@Elena Rossini @Eugen Rochko
This entry was edited (1 week ago)
in reply to Elena Rossini

mastodon - Link to source

Clu | #RipNatenom 🕯

Wow, this, well, article is... something. In German jurisprudence, I guess this would most likely fall under “false factual claims” and can have legal consequences for the author. As it is not “only” directed against one person, but against the network as a whole and can have very negative consequences, I would at least consider taking legal actions against this person.
The crucial point is: Is this false factual claim being claimed as fact, or is it being expressed as opinion?
This entry was edited (1 week ago)
in reply to Elena Rossini

mastodon - Link to source

Wouter 🇳🇱🇧🇷🇧🇪

I foresee all those blind lemmings who left centralised platform X because one person started pulling the strings there with an undesirable fascist result, and then fled to a similar centralised platform, Bluesky, where ICE is suddenly allowed, now fleeing again to yet another centralised platform, W, only to find out in a few years' time that it's the same shit.

Donkeys don't stumble over the same stone twice!

in reply to Nick Bergen Computer Quest

mastodon - Link to source

Nick Bergen Computer Quest

@imacrea

In November 2025, Eugen Rochko stepped down as Mastodon CEO, and he transferred the trademark and assets to Mastodon. He did NOT cancel his account or any instances. It’s still there. The “journalist” could have check.
blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/11/…

In January 2026, he opted his Mastodon account out of the Bluesky bridge. This was supposedly because of the user behavior at Bsky. But I cannot find a direct statement about him leaving because of users.
mastodon.social/@Gargron/11591…

My next chapter with Mastodon

Reflections on my time leading Mastodon and what's to come next.
Mastodon Blog

Eugen Rochko

2026-01-17 23:14:32

mastodon - Link to source

I will be opting my account out of the #Bluesky bridge next week. If you follow me from Bluesky (I think there are about 3.9K of you) and want to continue seeing my posts you will need to get an account on the fediverse. Cheers.
@ImaCrea
in reply to Nick Bergen Computer Quest

mastodon - Link to source

Elena Rossini

@NickBergenComputerQuest you can't "find a direct statement about him leaving because of users" because it's a complete fabrication by that so-called journalist / radio host.

I repeat, a complete fabrication. And my jaw is still on the floor.

Thank you @imacrea for bringing to our attention that shocking paragraph

@ImaCrea @Nick Bergen Computer Quest
in reply to Elena Rossini

mastodon - Link to source

Elena Rossini

Update: Radio France removed the last paragraph in the piece that claimed " @Gargron had quit his own social network [Mastodon] because he was fed up the behavior of certain users."

But this preposterous lie is still in their radio broadcast. The clip has been up for 10 HOURS now.

Maybe @Mastodon could use this as leverage to set the record straight and get some exposure with French listeners.

I'm this close to getting my LinkedIn account out of hibernation to write to Radio France about it

@Mastodon @Eugen Rochko
in reply to Elena Rossini

mastodon - Link to source

Nicolas Hoizey

there is already some discussion on LinkedIn: mastodon.social/@STPo/11597863…

@Gargron @Mastodon

STPo

2026-01-29 13:32:44

mastodon - Link to source

@benjamin Il corrige son article (mais pas le podcast je pense, trop tard). On a échangé sur Linkedin, je ne mets pas ça ici parce qu’il a déjà pris assez cher à mon goût (mais c’est public là-bas).
@Mastodon @Eugen Rochko
in reply to Elena Rossini

mastodon - Link to source

tk 🍜

there is a right call "droit de réponse" that forces media to publish (but not necessarily broadcast) additional facts or versions. also the convention is to ask for comment on quotes and facts and precise the person didn't answer at time of publication (and courtesy is to let a reasonable amount of time for the person to answer).

fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droit_de…

Droit de réponse — Wikipédia

Contributeurs aux projets Wikimedia (Fondation Wikimedia, Inc.)
This entry was edited (1 week ago)
in reply to Elena Rossini

mastodon - Link to source

Jimmothy Baggins

no no no @Gargron and John Mastodon have been have a quarrel for years. Something about John kept eating all of the sandwiches in the fridge despite the fact @Gargron put him name on them.

He just stopped putting his food on the Mastodon office fridge because of certain behaviors.

That story always gets twisted in its re-telling

This entry was edited (1 week ago)
in reply to 狐ヴィクシー

sharkey - Link to source

狐ヴィクシー

Even if they publicly apologize, that will only reach their readers, who probably aren't going to then propogate the apology to the people they passed the misinfo to.

Legal action would have greater reach though journals puhlishing about Radio France getting sued. Might even generate good PR for mastodon to people who never heard of it before (people tend to be sympathetic to victims of journalistic slander)

Kimi reshared this.

in reply to Elena Rossini

mastodon - Link to source

David B.

Ineptitude or ill-intent. Hard to tell. The French press has a history of not caring about facts if it fits their narrative when talking about something they consider fringe (and there will be no consequence to their slander).
Or... Some people in the French government have a vested interest in the success of W social (either monetary or for good PR) and they're undermining what they see as its main competition. ⤵️
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