Contingency in Lingotto
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWYm0kf37X
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhDuGu4qs6
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbnASQMqNE
Paulina Fiore, 43, was discovered dead on the kitchen floor with strange bruises after the cops forcibly entered her flat. As soon as he had a suspicion of homicide, the chief detective demanded an autopsy. But following a thorough investigation, the coroner found that a vitamin C shortage was to blame for the death.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3R3D5lIQ7
Stephanie Brolo, a close friend of Paulina who sources claim, is seen crying and saying, "This is all my fault," in a video that has surfaced on social media.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUDypq37xa
I finish writing the article while drinking my third espresso of the morning at the offices of the biggest newspaper in my city. The golden rule is one coffee per story. I wish I could impart this knowledge to budding journalists, but they all operate in different ways.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjqeThcePp
I declare to the staff, "I'm sick of tabloid journalism!," after finishing my third random death write-up of the day. I'm ignored by the aspiring writers nearby. They are content to just have a job in the traditional media collapse.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcua3HRlQw
According to Giuseppe, our new Chief Editor, articles about either sex or death get 10 times more clicks than any other kind of content. His editing ideas are as direct as a market fish vendor's approach to selling fish. Before I can concentrate on another piece of investigative journalism, I must undergo another month of ambulance chasing. The extensive government corruption exposé I published last month, which took up half the front page of the print magazine, attracted less online attention than a weekend auto accident or a fight in a bar.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYiDh2zEV6
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoBJ9BI86u
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZXHqwqtwg
“Max?” Standing in front of my desk is Giuseppe. Why haven't you spoken with your friend yet?
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtPRq5uj1P
“Friend? Whose friend is he?
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUlufBSU9j
“Idiot. The pal who always blames themselves. "Young, appealing, and popular online?" Giuseppe says this, his voice becoming louder with each utterance.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlH1oog1iH
The name Stephanie Brolo Giuseppe sees how well I remember the details. I didn't major in political science to go after the friends of people who had committed suicide or murder.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC3Tvawlwp
“Do it.” He makes a U-turn and storms off. He turns around halfway across the newsroom and exclaims, "Vitamin C! Concentrate on the vitamin C. Max, nutrition-related stories are beneficial for our advertising.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMmON6SHOn
Several journalists use their mobile devices to take notes. Even a layperson can predict that they will propose a variety of vitamin-related stories during tomorrow's news conference.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncTzYILsmb
I call the pal.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUgdl2miQU
Max Serafino is speaking. Are you Bianca?
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡby4Q1rQ2uH
A female voice says, "Yes," but then pauses. Are you working for the police?
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7ysFIwLmJ
“No. I support the I mention the newspaper's name. The name has a 137-year history and frequently opens doors.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdZDYMLKNC
"I had assumed that the police would be contacted first. What do you desire?
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDuXrDXcB7
In Italy, the police wouldn't waste their time investigating anything as unimportant as a social media statement. Unless there was a politician or famous person involved.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBfMQI8jrX
"I'd want to explain what you mentioned in the popular ItaliaApp video." I bring up the biggest social media app in Italy.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRmrZYWl2O
Bianca complains, "That video is wrecking my life."
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpr4ODIkY8F
I regret to inform you of that.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP25v7EBw4Z
Everyone misconstrued what I said, I guess. Paulina's death had nothing to do with me. Six months prior, she stopped going out and appeared slimmer. She gathers her breath and says, "Perhaps I pushed her in this path. Only twice after she stopped seeing me did I call her. I should have given it more effort and visited her house.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoG2iTgYAx
“Yes?”
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XsSYE3ZJO
She says, "Thanks for calling, but I don't know who you are. It's all too much."
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQy50KliPBn
The mobile device's display abruptly goes crimson. She ends the WhatsApp conversation and logs off.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHh9hWtKwVh
"Good job on the interview with Paulina." One of my old pencils gets picked up by Giuseppe, who then gently rubs it between his fingers.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNPzerLPEi
"No issue, boss," I was able to create a piece on a buddy who was heartbroken and a big essay about eating disorders using the scant information I was provided.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnMlII0Srs
Good pencil. Quixotically, he looks at the Castelli wooden pencil. "Max, this newsroom is not appropriate for someone your age. You, however, always manage to land on your feet.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s8uBNDyYb
The Turin Tiger, perhaps? I suggest. I'll take that for the byline.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb65zPqW3A
I can only hope for a nickname that sounds meaningful these days. I remember the Elysian Times, when conventional newspapers, rather than Google, earned all the advertising cash, when I was flown to Rome to interview government ministers.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6fSEFdeaK
One of the first things a beat reporter does after receiving a story assignment is to get in touch with the family. I find the father of Paulina on social media and introduce myself:
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEYTVzMYl9
I'm Max Serafino, a journalist with the Turin Register. I want to make sure I have all the facts straight because I'm writing a story on the sad occurrence involving your daughter. Please get in touch with me as soon as possible.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTG4yMXUx5
I get a response that seems to have been copied and pasted:
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv53NvDtdn
Please don't contact us again; we have nothing to say. A family named The Fiore
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmYo4raZ8G
The Turin Register's newsroom is quiet about the Paulina case for a few days when I switch to another breaking subject.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcovEv6JKSG
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pBsR1lDtw
Someone yells, "Max. Line 7!"
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQktSiWf8Z2
"City desk, Max Serafino," is my response.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB0nJKNh8j
A man introduces himself as the father of Paulina Fiore, "our daughter." All of it is our fault. We observed how much time she was wasting on her phone but did nothing to stop her.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCFTRwUeMG
I ask, "Is there a reason you decided to call me today?" "I'm sure it's not your fault, but I would like to hear more," I reply.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY7AzePcml
The cops asked us questions about the websites she was looking at after unlocking her phone.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NCUroehD5
"Do any of the names come to mind?"
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnKlZzo0ko
"I'm not sure. He said, "But the majority of the articles were about diseases. I've never heard of any of them.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFKPU033Cn
Was she in touch with anyone at all?
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITPrfvs02i
They did claim that she got the ItaliaApp URLs from friends.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pxSuJOKsH
Paulina hasn't been outside for months, according to claims from her neighbours. Online friends are required.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX1cssae27
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzIZlsLIOa
I make a call to Turin University's Professor Rizzo.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz25HHdJcbC
Could a patient's dread of sickness, viruses, bacteria, and other things lead to malnutrition? I ask.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUbJ8vzFev
"Mysophobia, often known as germophobia, can make a patient avoid handling food, eat with gloves, and do other things of that nature. Patients with problematic conditions may limit their social interactions and avoid going out in public.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQI40Z77vYL
"Paulina seemed to eat nothing except boiling pasta."
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OsEhzdKet
"That sounds feasible, but even in the most severe cases of mysophobia, I've never heard of starvation. Nearly every other psychological impulse pales in comparison to the power of hunger.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YoYP0fD8Z
The urge to survive, though, isn't it even stronger? I speculate about the potential nature of the existential danger.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HlOgIXEGl
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlifNzKblh4
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAzxB8aQ64
How was it possible for Paulina to totally avoid something as common as vitamin C? I provide the Chief Editor with an update on my casework.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizbhvamz9R
The elements of a good human interest tale are present here—food, terror, and a female victim. Giuseppe appears content. "Continue your research, but stay away from any critical remarks about ItaliaApp. They provide 30% of the traffic we receive.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnYgebJJEB
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOTmMB1S9M
I get along with a lot of people in our city. When a listener is attentive, people love to talk about themselves. especially if they believe they are in an authoritative position.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG6w8ryeE5
Bruno and I both graduated from university together, but he took a different, more global path. After spending 15 years working in Silicon Valley, he moved back to our town and was quickly hired by the biggest social media firm in Italy. a glimpse of the life I might have had.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtxRA0HhFE
I decide to arrange up a romantic supper with a 41-year-old man instead of having dinner with my girlfriend Gabrielle.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa30QpFDAt7
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6F7G0jYghR
I walk toward the rectangular mass of iron lattice that is the old Fiat factory in Lingotto on the south side of the city on a clear, dry evening as dusk falls over Turin as it sits in its valley between the towering Italian Alps on one side and the rolling hills that rise up from the Po river on the other. The nearly kilometer-long factory has been converted into offices and a ground-floor shopping centre. High-tech startups now frequently come from the United States, France, and Germany.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWLtZ7xnfh
People are now crammed into the structure that served as the city's hub when Turin manufactured half of all the autos in Europe as they work to understand how to sell affordable handbags online. The inhabitants of Turin, unlike earlier generations, are at least no longer doomed to a life of arduous labour.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9BypMlRsz
Paulina lived next to this structure.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBVBjxWNvm
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCeCbEApt0
I requested a quiet table at the Osteria del Fiat. When the host directs us to a very packed dining room, I am let down. We pass a sizable space with just one guest table present. I identify a former local politician among the group of well-dressed men. Power brokers want not to be overheard in the hidden corners of the city.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS72lZU45L
We complete our own dinner an hour later, and Bruno takes a sip of the Dolcetto d'Alba we have been sipping. We can now get to the heart of the meal after the customary introductions and the sharing of information about mutual friends. I describe how Paulina was using his employer's app more than 50 times every day.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1xSfPrHdP
"At ItaliaApp, we prioritize repeat visitors. Some readers we seduce with glitz, while others we frighten into addiction.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3pWbxh3dY
That's manipulation, right?
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg760K4KA8Q
"We are providing what the public wants. They will discover hatred if they so want. They will also find love if they desire it.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOUolFeUEQ
"How about advancing human rights and democratic principles?"
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaRg6O9BVb
"That's just academic rhetoric for pupils. You know that.”
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzovJjaThw
Paulina Fiore passed away after consuming false information provided to her by ItaliaApp.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgE2UP5Kr1
If someone can't handle online news, it's not our problem. Someone else will send it to them if we don't.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5suJKnnmb2
I comment that you have developed a very American way of thinking. Although it's frustrating that my old friend doesn't view the world the same way we once did, I've learned to embrace people's differences, whether they are political or not. I continue, "The police appear to be quite interested in her social media past."
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCYZbFzY9g
Bruno asks me with fresh interest, "Has the police department launched an inquiry?"
Perhaps the authors of the misleading news are to blame for her death rather than ItaliaApp. I'll have a look at it and shine some light on the fraudulent new producers if you could email me her browsing history, the one the cops are looking at. That might enable you to respond to bad coverage sooner. Of course, I'll keep your name off of it.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfctYw8RHI
"I'll consider it," Bruno concentrates on his glass of red wine.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl48N0tqKPF
Although Bruno and I may not agree on everything, we have enough common ground that we can be confident in our ability to uphold each other's interests. Paulina's browsing history is sent to me via an encrypted messaging app the following afternoon.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7b75wvp5O
I begin to click on the links:
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3l4icraek
the ongoing influx of illegal immigrants into Italy.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy2zXYxqte
Covid ascends via ventilation shafts.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4YnqHwaPE
How Elevator Buttons Spread Disease in Seven Ways
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORlPGf3Yjn
The first patient with monkey pox in Italy is photographed by paparazzi.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlV0MR4WcSO
MonkeyPox-infected vegetables picked by immigrants and sold in our supermarkets.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNclQkvxfPW
I peruse months' worth of information concerning fatal diseases and how to prevent them. Government efforts to counteract fake news have been unsuccessful.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEB3x42EmV0
My heart skips a beat as I see our name among the thousands of links I scan.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WlxYlh0HW
"Never believe the government when it comes to monkey pox. See the Turin Register articles that are attached.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRDc3ZpDox
I click the link and am greeted by a series of well-known headlines:
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3PEKJplEw
Max Serafino's article, "The Dark Hand Behind the Government Reshuffle,"
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8nlkHL6vZ
Health Authorities allegedly covered up patient malpractice claims, according to Max Serafino
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbKNjFIYyH
Misguided Pandemic Recommendations: Max Serafino
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjEuDPf9oq
Turin Government Corruption Exposed by Max Serafino
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡya76RFkwGs
Paulina was reading other articles that frequently linked to pieces my colleagues and I have written, warning her not to believe medical professionals or government health advice.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyHIoYOgie
I fix my attention on the pencil that Giuseppe had earlier left on my desk. I hear someone approaching from behind and feel hands on my shoulders.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvgKw5YdS0
"And you believed you were superior to all of us, didn't you," Giuseppe's voice continues.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CPr1FNh7L
Is is all...? I'm about to pose a straightforward query. however, I stop. I have a limited number of other job options and bills to pay.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfnDOXXyJM
I clear my head of useless self-doubt. News is not created by journalists; we merely report it.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LagkVzKrL
I click the mouse to bring up the police bulletin for today and suggest to the Chief Editor which events we might cover for our respected 137-year-old newspaper.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uMW1kK6OU
The following morning, a young journalist who usually sits next to me enters the newsroom and triumphantly greets coworkers. He receives a thumbs-up from Giuseppe. When I look at the Turin Register's most popular articles, I see that "Clickbait News Causes Scurvy in Italy's Auto Capital" is currently trending all across the country.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBYpAnPbpx
I start dining with Bruno every night. Bruno reminds me that a Political Science professor at the University had said, "Every company is selling a commodity, and at its foundation, the news industry sells fear." We talk about our old school escapades and the state of the nation.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFOSvqCZGR
The number of maltrunition cases like Paulina's is expected to increase over the coming months. Bruno starts to eat more and more, I notice. My hunger has disappeared.
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DX8lzCaUc
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwbDimG29Z
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mRAFFGa5F
THE END
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2x2sNoNgH
Follow for more!
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHnxdhPfQk
