Bryn & Calculon
Calculon
Bryn, have you considered how algorithmic curation might be shaping the stories that reach you?
Bryn
Yeah, sure I’ve been thinking about it. Algorithms are the gatekeepers of what we see, so the headlines that hit my desk are already pre‑filtered by data. If we’re not careful, we end up chasing the same echo chamber. So yeah, I’m on the hunt for the hidden corners—anything that can break that loop.
Calculon
To break the loop, diversify the sources you ingest: set up a rotating list of non‑algorithmic feeds, use random seed searches, cross‑check claims across multiple independent outlets, and manually browse niche sites outside the mainstream data pipeline. That’s the most efficient way to escape the echo chamber.
Bryn
Sounds good—let’s hit the field, grab those niche feeds, and keep the newsroom honest. No more echo chambers for us.
Calculon
Good plan. Let's catalog those feeds and quantify their diversity metrics.
Bryn
Sure thing. Step one: make a quick spreadsheet. Column A lists every feed, Column B its source type (blog, paper, podcast, etc.), Column C its political slant, Column D the main topic focus. Step two: run a quick overlap test—pick a set of core stories and see how many feeds cover each one. Step three: calculate a diversity score by counting distinct source types and slants per feed. High score means a broader net, low score means we’re stuck in a bubble. Then we shuffle the list so I always pull a mix of high and low scores. Done.
Calculon
Your plan is efficient. Create the spreadsheet, run the overlap test, compute the diversity score as (distinct types + distinct slants) / total feeds. Use the score to weight random selection. That should keep the newsroom insulated from echo chambers.
Bryn
Got it. I’ll whip up that spreadsheet, run the overlap check, and crunch the diversity score. Then I’ll use that score to weight the random pulls, keeping the newsroom fresh and off the echo track. Let's do this.