Oct. 6, 2026

■ Paramount closes deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, creating media behemoth (New York Times) / Skydance CEOs acknowledge layoffs will be coming after Paramount-Warner Bros. merger: Read the full memo (Variety) / Leaked audio: What David Ellison told Skydance employees at town hall (Business Insider) / How David Ellison won the battle: Timeline of Paramount’s rocky road to acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery (Variety) 

■ CNN gets a best-case scenario under its new owners (Poynter) / ‘CNN staffers breathed a sigh of relief when Mark Thompson agreed to stay on under Skydance. But Status has learned that he hasn’t yet finalized a new contract — and he’s not the only top CNN executive whose deal expires in 2027.’ (Status) / Bari Weiss tells CBS News staff ‘there is a lot that we still don’t know’ as Paramount merger closes (TheWrap)

■ ABC and Trump's FCC battle in federal court over issues of free speech and jurisdiction (Associated Press) / Judge skeptical of FCC’s move to scrutinize ABC station licenses (The Hill) / Meet the Disney lawyer leading the fight against the FCC (Wall Street Journal) 

■ Trump administration is paying $1.6 million a week to keep Voice of America staff on leave (Washington Post) 

■ Post-Gazette union-busters hit dead end at Supreme Court, must pay back millions to journalists (The NewsGuild)

■ Inquirer employees approve new contract with AI guardrails (New Jersey Globe) 

■ Larson family announces sale of Sedona Red Rock News and The Journal to Arizona-based Wick Communications (Sedona Red Rock News) / Western News&Info’s Northern Arizona publications merge into River City Newsgroup (America’s Newspapers) / In Winchester, the truth about a local news website is the city’s best-kept secret (WHRO) / ‘I’m a 25-year-old who just bought my local newspaper’ (Columbia Journalism Review) 

■ CEO and publisher Sean Giancola steps down after more than a decade at paper (New York Post) / Bob Gruters joins USA TODAY Co. as head of off-platform, omnichannel revenue strategy (America’s Newspapers) / Chris Tribbey named editor of the Midland Reporter-Telegram (HEARST) / WHYY names Fred Vigeant general manager of WPSU (TV News Check) / A new audience deputy for Off-Platform (New York Times) / CNN hires Stinson as audience editor for business and health (Talking Biz News) / Semafor hires Nyanguila as a reporter (Talking Biz News) / Bloomberg TV adds Lee as a reporter (Talking Biz News)

■ Public Media Bridge Fund targets sustainability with new grant program (Current)

■ Sinclair launches national news brand on Substack (Axios)

■ Emmy Awards move to Prime Video in 6-year deal with Amazon (New York Times) 

■ A study of nonprofit newsrooms reveals some cracks in the model’s foundation (Nieman Journalism Lab)

Journalist Safety Training: IWMF Newsroom Safety Across America

From protecting privacy online to staying aware of one’s surroundings during protests, every journalist faces safety concerns.

To build your skillset and gain tips on reporting safely, join the Institute for a one-day, free and interactive journalist safety training event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

🗓️ Friday, Oct. 30 | ⏱️ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 📍National Press Club | 🎟️ Free

The training, in partnership with the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Newsroom Safety Across America Initiative and nonprofit D.C. news platform The 51st, is geared toward helping journalists protect their physical, digital, and emotional wellbeing.

Topics will include risk assessment and mitigation, personal security, active shooter safety planning, protests, legal rights, and mental health awareness. ​​The training is free and open to journalists of all genders and experience levels, including students and editors.

If you’re interested, please fill out the application form no later than Oct. 11. Spots are limited, so register now.

For questions, contact Institute program coordinator Kris Seavers at institute@press.org.

Resources

• Climate on the Ballot: Voters want candidates to talk about it (Oct. 7, noon ET)
• Lunch and Learn: How to promote your work (Oct. 15, 1 p.m. ET)
• Training: Vertical video basics for journalists (Poynter)

This newsletter is written and edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff. Send us your questions and suggestions for topics to cover.

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