Scott proposes using prediction markets to fund investigative journalism, potentially solving the issue of funding quality reporting in the digital age. Longer summary

Scott Alexander proposes using prediction markets to fund investigative reporting, inspired by Hindenburg Research's model of profiting from exposing corporate fraud. He argues that this could solve the problem of funding investigative journalism in the age of unbundled media. The post explores how this might work for political reporting and even for less quantifiable issues like exposing discrimination in institutions. Scott acknowledges potential challenges but suggests that creating more specific prediction markets could address these. He concludes that this system, while unusual, could incentivize truthful reporting and separate serious journalism from 'infotainment'. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander analyzes an article about Facebook moderators' working conditions, drawing parallels to his experience in psychiatric hospitals and discussing the challenges of content moderation. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses a Verge article about the challenging work conditions of Facebook content moderators. He acknowledges the difficulty of their job, which involves exposure to disturbing content and adherence to complex rules. Scott draws parallels to his experience in psychiatric hospitals, noting how strict regulations often result from previous scandals or lawsuits. He critiques the article's stance, suggesting that many of the problems it highlights are consequences of attempts to address issues raised by similar investigative reports. Scott also ponders the balance between maintaining safety and creating a humane work environment, and expresses concern about the article's implications regarding the spread of conspiracy theories among moderators. Shorter summary