Journalism

🏎️ **If you’re not automating yet… you probably are.** Be honest: how much of your job are you already secretly automating, and how much of it is just automation in disguise? In this session, **[Ellis Pratt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellispratt/)**, director of **[Cherryleaf](https://www.cherryleaf.com/)**, will take a clear, no-hype look at automation in technical communication. He’ll rewind to where things stood just over a year ago, then discuss what’s changed since. We’ll explore how automation shows up across the technical writing lifecycle, and common pitfalls that come with it. Finally, we’ll look ahead. What does increasing automation really mean for our careers as technical writers and documentarians? Join us for an honest, practical conversation about what to automate, what not to, and how to stay relevant as the tools keep changing. **📣 This event is aimed at technical writers and those working in closely related roles. The discussion will focus on automation and AI specifically in the context of technical documentation and technical content workflows.** **When:** Thursday 19 February, from 6.30pm **Where:** The Yellow Room @ Remark! 18 Leather Lane, EC1N 7SU **What:** 18.30 - 19.00 Arrival 19.00 - 19.45 Presentation 19.45 - 20.00 Short break 20.00 - 20.45 Presentation 20.45 - 21.30 Networking *All times are approximate.* **Photos:** Note that the organizers will take some photos for the WTD group.

*"The age of mass protest ushered in by the Arab Spring is hardly over, but that record of failures, setbacks, and cataclysms has been dispiriting even to many of the agitators and demonstrators who shaped the movements in question and whom Bevins has spent the last 10 years or so following and interviewing in search of answers. 'The point was not just to notice that the mass protest decade hasn’t really worked out,' he muses toward the end of the book. 'The idea was to understand why.' Fortunately, he comes away from his globe-trotting search with critical lessons for activists both here and abroad. Setting the world afire, it turns out, is easier than one might expect. Tending to the flames is harder."* New Republic, *[The Mass Disappointment of a Decade of Mass Protest](https://newrepublic.com/article/175314/decade-mass-protest-mass-disappointment)* Hello readers and welcome back! This time, we're continuing last year's theme of analysing the class struggle histories, successes and failures of the century's first twenty-five years with a deep dive into the 2010s-early 2020s' global protest movement, courtesy of Vincent Bevins' (known for *The Jakarta Method*) seminal historical analysis of the period, *[If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_We_Burn).* Thanks to one of our readers for the recommendation! Not to put too fine a point on it: even before "world leaders" like Putin, Trump, and Netanyahu brought industrial-scale murder and militarised mayhem back to the front of westerners' minds, we were already - [as predicted by many](https://www.noemamag.com/welcome-to-the-turbulent-twenties/) \- living through one of the most politically turbulent periods in history\, with more people out on the street in more countries than at any time before\. In this text\, Bevins takes a global sweep of protest movements from Brazil to the so\-called Middle East to Hong Kong and beyond\. Think back for a moment: at the start of the "Arab Spring" and the Occupy movements, spooked-up deep state maniac Paul Mason once wrote a blog article entitled ["Why it's kicking off everywhere"](https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/12271/1/paul-mason-why-its-all-kicking-off); as even a stopped watch is right twice a day, we can look back and agree that it really did kick off, everywhere. So why, at the start of 2026, does it seem that the peoples of the world, in living memory never more dissatisfied with their ruling class, have never in living memory been more cowed, broken, scattered and disempowered? We'll discuss whether Bevins' thoughtful analysis, which does not shy away from offering assessment and recommendation, provides some of the material for an answer to this question. We'll also discuss to what extent the seeds sown by protest movements in the past, including the very recent past, may be about to bear fruit in the present, and what role new forces and generations might play. We'll read the introduction and chapters 19 and 20. Do pick up the book if you can! The author has a purchasing guide here: https://vincentbevins.com/book2/ If not, here's an online copy: https://archive.org/details/if-we-burn Take care and see you on the barricades!

In these sessions, we will start to cultivate a relationship with our breath, so that we are able to work WITH it and USE it day to day, developing an inner sense of presence, self connection and resilience so that we are better equipped to navigate 'life'. We will also explore techniques to deepen and expand our relationship with our selves, others and with our past through our breath, and experience a guided conscious connected breathwork journey to release emotional blockages and tap into our inner wisdom for clarity, healing and transformation. You may experience a profound shift in your consciousness, deep inner healing and letting go, and a (re)connection with your true, authentic self. This event is ideal for those interested in self-help and self-evolution, energy healing, and exploring the depths of their spiritual nature. These workshops offer you a supportive space to let go of limiting beliefs, rejuvenate your energy, and awaken to the full potential of your being. Whether you are new to breathwork or have been practicing for years, this session will offer you a unique opportunity to dive deep into the healing power of your breath About Kate - Kate first experienced the incredible healing and transformational power of her own breath in 2016. Blown away by the insight, clarity and deep inner healing that unfolded in just one session, she went on to train with Transformational Breath and to then get certified as an Alchemy of Breath Facilitator in 2018. She has explored many modalities including Rebirthing and Holotropic, but primarily follows the Alchemy of Breath philosophy to breathwork, taking an intuitive approach to holding space for whatever wants to unfold and encouraging breathers to listen first and foremost to their own body and intuition, and to allow their breath to guide them wherever it is they need to go. Kate believes that we are our own healers, and that if we can simply breathe – here – now – and be willing and open to receive – then we can connect with that inner knowing, our eternal wisdom, and find all the answers we are looking for, all of the resolution we crave, and all of the guidance we need, to step forward in alignment with our true self, resourced and able to live our very best life. **General House keeping - Please read!** Please kindly make payment by bank transfer of £15 upon booking to secure your spot directly as spaces are limited to 5 per session. Band details - Kate Stephens, Lloyds Bank, Account No 01103229 Sort code 302580. Spaces are limited so pre booking and payment is required. Please kindly arrive on time at 11am. Please bring a bottle of water and a blanket (not essential) and an open mind and heart. You may also like to bring a note pad and pen. **Health & Safety first -** If you have any of the following conditions, this kind of Breathwork may not be right for you - Bipolar, Schizophrenia, acute heart conditions, cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, aneurysms, glaucoma, history of stroke, and the presence of severe psychiatric symptoms. If you have any of these please contact me directly at [breatheherenow01@gmail.com](mailto:breatheherenow01@gmail.com) before you book a session. It is paramount to me that your safety comes first!

Step into the gas-lit streets of Victorian London and uncover the chilling story of Jack the Ripper. This evening walking tour takes you deep into Whitechapel, where one of history’s most notorious serial killers stalked his victims. Follow your expert guide as you: Visit the actual sites of the Ripper’s murders Explore hidden alleys and cobblestoned lanes Hear the true stories of the victims and the suspects See rare photographs and police reports Learn how the crimes shocked London — and the world Your guide will separate fact from fiction, using historical evidence and forensic insight to paint a vivid picture of life in East London in 1888. ⚠️ **IMPORTANT**: Attendance Confirmation Required To help us manage attendance, please complete the form below if you will be attending. You will only be added to the confirmed list once the form has been completed. **Confirm here:** https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfO_ujT7S1q-3EiZgkxHfPxJGgG8CnlYNCrHqQkLPNXmEC4Gw/viewform?usp=header If you are unable to join, please just send us a message to let us know.

NOTE: Access to this hackathon is limited. Please ensure you register on [Luma](https://luma.com/2lkuky4i). AI Impact Summit Fringe Event Hackathon – Opening India’s AI Future with Bharat AI Mission 19 Feb 2026, 10:00 – 16:00 IST IIT Delhi, Research and Innovation Park, Auditorium New Delhi, India

Art Journaling is a fun and simple way to incorporate creativity into everyday life. An art journal is a great place to experiment and try out different approaches to art without the pressure of creating a masterpiece. It is an artistic form of self-expression – instead of using words alone; you will be using various media and different art techniques to express your creativity. In a busy world, largely driven by technology, taking time to be creative can often seem frivolous and indulgent. But studies show that creative activities encourage positivity and significantly improve our wellbeing. Art journaling is an effective way to de-stress and practice self-care. Join us for these drop-in sessions in Art journaling with Sai, an experienced teaching artist, avid art journaler and professional calligrapher. From simple mark making to elaborate mixed media art you will learn a variety of new skills; gain confidence in your artistic ability and develop an amazing creative habit that is both enriching and nourishing. Whether you have five minutes or half an hour to spare, Art journaling will inspire you to be creative, practice self-care and reconnect with yourself. Each week we work with different media and techniques. Sai provides some resources, however please bring an art journal and some basic supplies with you. Contact Sai directly to book bluepaletteartstudio@gmail.com

Apologies – this event has been rescheduled from 14th due to room booking issues. **We will be at The Mitre pub in central Greenwich.** This meetup is free and casual. We just sit around for a few hours and write together. Bring a laptop, or use a pen and paper or clay tablet and stylus if that's what works for you. The structure of the session is roughly: 2pm: chat 2:20–3:25: writing time 3:25: chat/coffee break 3:40–4:45 writing time 4:45: chat But our Saturdays are very casual, so feel free to drop in and out. **Our Saturday sessions sometimes rotate location. We're going to stick with the Mitre for now, but do check the location of the specific meetup before signing up. If you arrive later, you may need to ask the bar staff to show you through to the room.**

**\*SIGN-UP ON LUMA\*** https://luma.com/u5kxljj6 Join us for a discussion of Rust in the Age of AI, with drinks and brunch! ​Following the [Rust Nation UK conference](https://www.rustnationuk.com/), [Fractile ](https://www.fractile.ai/)and [Red Badger](https://red-badger.com/) are excited to host a brunch discussion exploring how the Rust ecosystem is evolving to respond to rapid developments in Artificial Intelligence. ​We will be hosting a world-class panel discussion, with guest speakers: * ​[Jon Gjengset](https://www.youtube.com/c/JonGjengset) (Helsing) * ​[David Haig](https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-haig-9185957/) (Fractile) * ​[Stuart Harris ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartharris4/)(Red Badger) * ​[Stephen Eckes](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-eckes/) (ai-coustics) ​Afterwards, we will host a networking session with food and drink for attendees. ​**Date and Time:** Friday, February 20th, from 11 AM to 1 PM ​*About Fractile* ​Fractile is building chips, systems and software to radically improve the speed and cost of running frontier AI inference. [They are currently hiring](https://job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io/fractile), including for a Senior Rust Software Engineer. ​*About Red Badger* ​Red Badger is the digital product transformation consultancy for blue chips and scale-ups. Location **Red Badger** **2 Old Street Yard, London EC1Y 8AF, UK**

This event will be for people to meet, go off and film, come back and enjoy the results. Whatever you want to do, be it film, act, direct or even just sort of hang around at the back then this is the event for you! MEET AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE NATIONAL THEATRE. If you are wondering what this group can provide for you, it’s above all else friendship with other like minded people, whether you are a screenwriter, director, cameraperson, actor etc etc. With that in mind, on Saturday we will do the following: 1. We’ll meet at the National Theatre on Southbank. 2. We’ll split into two groups (or more if needed) 3. Each team will try and beat the other teams to a pub in EC1 in London and edit (maybe) the film. BUT 4. Each team must make a 2 minute 30 seconds film on the way with a beginning middle and end, a solid story arc for the main character, etc. Remember to bring: 1. You and your enthusiasm 2. A camera (iPhones dslrs whatever) 3. Someone willing to do an edit after we arrive back at the on their computers All teams will then meet-up at a pub in EC1 and watch what we have filmed, happy with what they have learnt! The first team that finishes gets a Small Prize! Hopefully then, you will stick around to have a great time chatting about film, meeting new people, and forgetting about work until the late hours. Look forward to seeing you there! If there are no more places available on meetup then MORE tickets available on eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/ben-52750032443 Please Check Dates as this isnt a weekly meetup

LOW TIDE FINE ART LONG EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY Learn to create the dreamy effects this type of photography can create. You have the ability to blur clouds, cars, etc or create surreal, dreamy, or dramatic effects on water and sky. For this session we'll shoot the river at low tide. Low tide will give us a unique view of London Bridge and our other locations including the Shard. This type of photography is associated with fine art photography due to the surreal effects long exposures can bring. **Kase Filters** Today we'll be providing the amazingly quick and compact Kase Magnetic filters. Filters will smooth water, blur clouds and make moving objects disappear. If you are interested in buying and would like a 10% discount: Website: [www.kasefilters.com](http://www.kasefilters.com/) Discount code: **10kaalex** WHAT YOU WILL LEARN * Master visual effects using ND filters * How to expose, focus and compose your image * Camera settings for water/cloud movement * Best practise for long exposure photography REQUIRED EQUIPMENT * A tripod * Shutter release * Lens: 18-55mm, 24-70mm or wider EXPERIENCE * Beginners / refreshers CLOTHING * Check the weather and dress accordingly * Wear good walking shoes for walking on the river bed OTHER ESSENTIALS * As usual check the TFL website for any delays that may interrupt your journey Contact * Alex 07956264049 UPCOMING EVENTS [https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/calendar/](https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographiciop/events/calendar/)

**This is a ticketed fundraising event! Get your ticket and make whatever donation you can here:** https://www.outsavvy.com/event/33294/aid-for-rojava-fundraising-night-wmovie-music-dancing All across the world, imperialism, neo-fascism and the capitalists that these forces ultimately serve have had a booming few years. From the genocide in Gaza, to Sudan, to Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Greenland and many more, the powers of the world are making moves and burning bodies. It's enough to make your head spin and it's easy to burn out hearing about it all. It's especially discouraging to see what's happening to one of the more celebrated "bright spots" in global geopolitics of the past decade, namely the Rojava Revolution and, apparently, its imminent end under armed aggression by the Turkish military and the US/Israel-backed Al-Qaeda-turned-technocratic liberals of the HTS militia which currently rules Syria. At the start of January, a full-scale invasion of the Rojava region began. As of the 20th, a [shaky ceasefire](https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/syria-kobani-kurds-sdf-aid-convoy-q74640) is in effect. This fragile situation may be our one opportunity to raise vital funds for humanitarian support to the people of northeastern Syria, who desperately need resources for medical care, food, and transportation to safety. That's why LCC will be hosting a mega-night of fun and fundraising in partnership with The Bath House, Hackney Wick this February, raising money for the people of Rojava. There will be a film screening on the struggle between ISIS and the Rojava revolution at the [Battle of Tishrin Dam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tishrin_Dam_offensive), a Q&A with its director, as well as music and dancing with food and drink available at the bar. The ongoing offensive has resulted in significant casualties, including approximately 1,000 people killed, with at least 152 civilians reported dead and 322 injured as of January 18, 2026. The situation remains dire, particularly in the besieged town of Kobani, where ongoing attacks have led to civilian deaths, hunger, and a humanitarian crisis. What is, or was, the Rojava Revolution? Some resources can be found [here](https://riseup4rojava.org/en/rojava-people-in-arms/), but in a nutshell Rojava is an autonomous Kurdish territory in north-eastern Syria where a broad coalition of forces have, since the start of the Syrian Civil War till now, been attempting to practice directly-democratic, libertarian-communist, feminist, ecological emancipatory politics as part of a generations-long struggle for Kurdish national liberation. The leading force in Rojava, the Democratic Union Party and its armed wing the YPG, have in the past made common cause with the US to [defeat shared enemies like the so-called Islamic State](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/29/magazine/a-dream-of-utopia-in-hell.html). Recent events have shown, once again, that the west is always a false friend, with the [US and Israel reportedly having given the go-ahead](https://hannohauenstein.substack.com/p/rojava-is-the-red-line-its-being) to HTS and Turkey to launch their ongoing invasion of Rojava. The collapse of democratic, autonomous administration in Rojava is not the end of their revolution, which was always, from the beginning, internationalist. It demonstrates that, no matter how genuinely inspiring it is to see a small nation, with few resources, take on the world and build something we can barely dream of in the west, it is ultimately up to those of us living within the great imperialist core to take up that inspiration and put its principles into practice here and now, so that the next time the Kurdish people rise up in freedom, they will have friends to back them that are both powerful and true. In the meantime, we owe it to these comrades to give them every aid they need to survive the present danger, prepare for future ones, and make themselves able to fight on. Donations benefiting the Kurdish Red Crescent can be made to our fundraising page here or on the night via cash or card. The most generous donors will get a shout-out from the stage! Capacity is huge, so come one, come all, share this event and bring your friends!

The first rule of WRITE CLUB is that you do not talk ***during*** WRITE CLUB. This very simple meetup is based on the premise that public and peer accountability enables more productive writing than sitting at home and getting distracted by the fridge. We will write/read for an hour in silence. (I will be writing thought experiments for my other meetup group: [THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS](https://www.meetup.com/thought-experiments-in-pubs)) If you'd like to hang out afterwards, or if you prefer just to hang out, I have another event immediately afterwards in the same place :-) You can find that here: [HANGING OUT AT THE SOUTHBANK](https://www.meetup.com/experimentsin/events/312667892) We'll make use of the fantastic indoor public spaces on London's South Bank (The Southbank Centre, The BFI Cafe, The National Theatre Cafe, etc) to spend time in the company of other people. There are plenty of places to buy refreshments, but you can also bring your own if you prefer. This event will take place in the foyer of The Southbank Centre. You can find us by looking out for a big red flag with THE SUNRISE CLUB emblazoned on it (though this clearly isn't THE SUNRISE CLUB! If you want to find out about that, you can do so [here](https://www.meetup.com/the-sunrise-club/).) WHATSAPP GROUP - [https://chat.whatsapp.com/BpMwnRev0H237KMx4uPnek](https://chat.whatsapp.com/BpMwnRev0H237KMx4uPnek) Looking forward to meeting and writing with you :-) Bonny

Thursdays just got smarter (and sassier). 🧠🍻 Join us at TownHall Short North for Trivia Night with Marquis—where the questions are fun, the competition is friendly, and the vibes are immaculate. Grab your crew, sip something good, and prove you know random facts you absolutely shouldn’t.

It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Here is the secret of being positive and free: Thinking positively is not enough. You also have to get rid of the negative thinking. Your mind is like a garden. You can plant many beautiful flowers in it, but if you don't get rid of the weeds when you plant your flowers, the weeds will soon take over the whole garden. A positive thought is like a flower in your mental garden, and a negative thought is like a weed. You cannot expect to have a positive mindset if you continue to have negative thoughts dwelling and growing there. So, how do you get rid of the negative thoughts? That's what this Meetup is all about. Attend this local meeting and find out! The Meetup event will be led by a consultant who had helped many people live happier in life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics & Scientology life improvement center.

The topic for February is "Transitions" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went? Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence? Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp.

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. If the weather cooperates we will be meeting in the patio. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

Come attend a free in-person seminar where you will find out why you: -Feel isolated -Can't express yourself openly -Get nervous or anxious in front of people -Run out of things to say or feel tongue-tied -Feel introverted -Don't feel comfortable in any social setting -Can't make more friends -Are shy and miss opportunities to connect in a meaningful way And we cover what you can do about any one, some or all of the above. This seminar is the weapon against loneliness, isolation and boredom, come join us! COME TO THIS SEMINAR AND LEARN THE SECRETS TODAY This seminar is brought to you by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center. 1266 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Good Cafe](https://goodcafeeaston.com/)!