Now included with WELL Membership: Mastodon
the Open-Source Social Network 
Your WELL membership now gives you access to our Mastodon server and the entire Fediverse, in addition to the rich conversations in our local conferences. The Fediverse is an internet-wide social network. free of advertising, algorithms, and corporate objectives. Join us and see Mastodon Quick Start Guide to join the worldwide conversation today!
NOW in the Inkwell
The State of the News 2025, starting January 9, 2025
As we step into 2025, the landscape of news reporting is undergoing significant transformation, shaped by advancements in technology, shifting audience behaviors, and evolving economic models. Our latest Inkwell discussion delves into the current state of journalism, featuring a panel of esteemed journalists: Dan Gillmor, Wendy Grossman, Janis Mara, John McAlpin, Peter Richardson, John Schwartz, Ben Shapiro, and Paula Span. The discussion is skillfully moderated by Emily Gertz. Join us to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of journalism.
Welcome to a gathering that’s like no other.
When we talk about The WELL, we are usually talking about the conferences. The conferences are where the magic happens: where posts develop into conversations, and members become a community.
For more about why conversation is so treasured on The WELL, and why members of the community banded together to buy the site in 2012, check out the story of The WELL.
If you like what you see, join us!
Featured Recently in The Inkwell
Unlike most conversations on The WELL, you don’t need a WELL member account to participate – this one is open to all!
State of the World 2025, December 26 - January 9,, 2025
Welcome to this year’s “State of the World” conversation, once again hosted on the pioneering online community platform, The WELL. As The WELL approaches its 40th anniversary in 2025, we celebrate the 25th annual discussion about global trends and insights, featuring the renowned author, journalist, design visionary, and world traveler Bruce Sterling, alongside me, Jon Lebkowsky. I’m a co-host at the Plutopia News Network and have had the privilege of hosting several conferences on The WELL, including this one, Inkwell.vue. Over the years, I’ve worn many hats as a writer, editor, net activist, web strategist, and futurologist, and I’m psyched to continue this tradition of exploring the State of the World.
VISIT the archived conversation
Election 2024 Pop-Up, November 4 - 27, 2024
Election Night and the weeks that follow are going to be both tense and intense. Looking for community and (reasonably calm) conversation to help you cope? You’ll find it at Inkwell’s Election 2024 Pop-Up!
The conversation will be led by KALW radio host and WELL member Angie Coiro <coiro>, and feature some of the WELL‘s most avid and well-informed politics nerds, including Larry Person <lperson>, Jennifer Powell <jnfr>, Jon Lebkowsky <jonl> and instigator/organizer/journalist Emily Gertz <emilyg>. It will be a haven where WELL members as well as the public can follow, analyze, worry over and even, possibly, celebrate the 2024 election and its results.