UnFiltered 014 | Tech vs Analog: How We Gather News Without a Newsroom Budget

Ready to peek behind the curtain of how your favorite independent journalists actually gather the news? In this unfiltered episode, Meseidy and Rachel expose their wildly different approaches to news sourcing—and spoiler alert: one of them just discovered you can search your Twitter bookmarks (looking at you, Rachel).While Meseidy operates like a tech-savvy newsroom with AI assistants, databases, and enough apps to make your head spin, Rachel’s over here with her trusty paper lists and printed articles, proving that sometimes old school just works. From AI hallucinations to Google Alerts, from Twitter lists to literal Manila folders, this episode is packed with practical tips you can actually use—whether you’re team digital or team analog.Warning: You might leave this episode with a serious case of tool envy and a sudden urge to organize your entire news consumption system.Episode Highlights* The Great Tech Divide - Meseidy drops knowledge about AI tools and Twitter features while Rachel discovers she’s been living in the digital stone age* AI for News Junkies - Learn how to use Grok, Claude, and other AI tools for research without falling into the hallucination trap* Verification Standards - Both hosts reveal their personal rules for confirming breaking news before hitting publish (spoiler: it’s not what mainstream media does)* The Tool Arsenal - From Ground News to Google Alerts to searchable Twitter bookmarks, get the full breakdown of free and paid tools that actually work* Analog vs Digital Showdown - Rachel’s paper lists and printed articles go head-to-head with Meseidy’s databases and digital workflowsHey Friend!If you’re a free subscriber and enjoyed this preview, why not take the next step?Becoming a paid supporter helps keep independent journalism alive and ensures we can keep bringing you real talk, real news, and real accountability—without the media spin.As a paid subscriber, you’ll get:* 🔥 Exclusive Content – Access to premium posts, deep-dive analysis, and subscriber-only podcasts.* 🎙 Unfiltered Episodes – Bonus conversations that go beyond the headlines.* 💬 Community Engagement – Join discussions, comment on posts, and be part of the conversation shaping our coverage.* 🚀 Support the Mission – Help us grow and continue challenging the narratives the mainstream media wants you to believe.If you love what we do, upgrading to a paid subscription is the best way to keep independent media thriving while getting more of the content you already enjoy.Thank you for being here and supporting our mission!Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates05:37 News Sourcing Methods: A Contrast of Approaches10:32 Utilizing Technology for News Gathering16:32 The Role of AI in News Reporting22:08 Evaluating News Sources and Bias25:27 Navigating Research Tools27:37 Utilizing AI for Data Analysis30:52 The Role of AI in Historical Research34:48 Building a Personal Database for Research38:41 Setting Up Google Alerts for News Tracking42:59 Journalistic Ethics and Verification47:55 The Changing Landscape of News Reporting55:21 Archiving and Note-Taking Strategies58:40 Utilizing Technology for Information Management01:01:25 Podcasting and Learning Styles01:07:23 Balancing Technology and Traditional Methods01:12:20 Personal Preferences in Focus and Learning01:18:20 Embracing Differences in PerspectivesHEY, PAYING SUPPORTER!Exclusive Discount for Rivera and Reeves Subscribers!Many of you have asked if we offer discounts on our individual Substacks for loyal Rivera and Reeves paying subscribers. We heard you loud and clear—and now we’re excited to offer exactly that!If you’re a paying subscriber to Rivera and Reeves and have been curious about It’s Meseidy or Here are the Headlines(or both!), this is your moment.Here’s what you get:* 40% off an annual subscription to It’s Meseidy* 40% off an annual subscription of Here are the Headlines* Or subscribe to BOTH and save even more!Whether you’re drawn to one newsletter or want the full experience with both, you can choose what works best for you. This is our way of saying thank you for being such engaged supporters of our work.Ready to expand your reading? Simply click the buttons below to subscribe!This exclusive offer is available for current Rivera and Reeves paying subscribers only. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riveraandreeves.substack.com