The Latest: Biden + Trump debates on CNN, ABC; Headline writing webinar June 21; News publishers’ AI alarm; Austin’s newest publication

May 15, 2024

Editor’s note: As you know, we are working to raise $5,000 for The Latest this week to keep this newsletter full of headlines, tips, and resources free for you and all of our readers — and we are one third of the way toward our goal ! If you are able, please consider making a donation of $10, $15, or $25 using this link .

Thank you to our Latest campaign donors since yesterday's newsletter : Nancy Lewis, Amy Maestas, Veronica Tremblay, Cynthia Vaida, Brett Walton.

Top stories

Biden and Trump agree to two debates in June and September (New York Times) / ‘CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the first presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump on June 27’ (Dylan Byers) / Playbook PM: The unanswered questions about the Biden-Trump debates (POLITICO)

Cityside has assembled a team of journalists for its third newsroom , Richmondside, to begin publishing this summer (The Oaklandside) / New nonprofit news site, The Austin Free Press, launches (Austin Free Press via PR Newswire)

CNN's Mark Thompson tells advertisers plans for new 'branded verticals' beyond politics, CNN Magic Wall app (Deadline)

‘The Verge is launching its third paid newsletter, The Notepad, which will be authored by veteran Microsoft reporter Tom Warren (Reliable Sources)

Bay Area’s KQED to lay off up to 25 employees amid budget shortfall (Mission Local)

How MSNBC’s leftward tilt delivers ratings, and complications (New York Times)

New York Times staff complain of ‘unwillingness to tolerate dissent ’ (Semafor)

News publishers sound alarm on Google’s new AI-infused search, warn of ‘catastrophic’ impacts (CNN) / ‘A small window of opportunity’ as publishers grapple with growing AI use (Poynter) / Google’s invisible AI watermark will help identify generative text and video (The Verge)

The Guardian’s Martin Pengelly is joining The Daily Beast as Washington bureau chief and correspondent (POLITICO) / Maryland Matters names veteran journalist Steve Crane as editor-in-chief (Maryland Matters) / After several years writing screenplays in Hollywood, Jonathan Easley returns to The Hill as a staff writer and author of ‘The Evening Report’ (The Hill)

The Messenger crashed and burned —now the CEO's back at it (Daily Beast)

A tranche of 4,700 subpoenaed e-mails reveals the ways in which fossil-fuel corporations try to influence the media (The Nation)

After a borderland shootout in Texas, a 100-year-old battle for the truth (Washington Post)

‘The Trump trial features abundant press corps collegiality . Reporters bringing others coffee in long lines; reporters saving space in line so others can step away, etc. Shoutout to my terrific colleague, Michelle Price, for lending me her portable laptop charger for the courtroom!’ (Eric Tucker)

TV anchor Gayle King ate a burger before her Sports Illustrated swimsuit shoot (New York Times)

Election 2024: Crafting sharp and responsible headlines for your political stories. Free webinar with Resolve Philly's Modifier. Friday, June 21, 11:30 am ET.

Learn to craft sharp & responsible headlines for your political stories: June 21

Headlines are the most important starting point of a story. A good one both informs and piques a readers’ interest, encouraging them to read on. But in an era of search engine optimization and short attention spans, writing a good one is harder to do — especially when it comes to political stories.

Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute and Resolve Philly's Modifier for a free webinar examining the craft of writing and framing a headline for a political story; the different types of headlines to use depending upon the story; and the pitfalls of using sensationalized or misleading language. Participants will practice writing and rewriting a few headlines to get practical experience in producing responsible headlines for your 2024 election coverage.

Registration is open for this free, one-hour webinar , which will take place at 11:30 a.m. ET on Friday, June 21.

Instructor Aubrey Nagle, Resolve Philly’s director of practice change, will teach participants how to:

Rethink the basics: What is the point of a headline?
Balance SEO needs for story promotion without using misleading language
Be inspired with ideas for word choices that balance engagement and responsibility
Practice writing and rewriting headlines

How to get better at networking

“As with everything else in life, persistence is a key factor in successful networking . It can boost your networking prospects. ... The more persistently you network, the greater your chances of success. With that in mind, dedicate time each week for networking, even if it’s just an hour or two. Discipline and consistency are essential. The method — in person, by phone or email, or via LinkedIn — depends on personal preference, but what matters is that you follow through. Keep going, even in the face of rejection and discouragement. Patience and commitment over the long haul will ultimately train you to master the skill of networking and amass enough social capital to get ahead.”

-- Willy Das and Samantha Dewalt, authors at Harvard Business Review, excerpt from “5 networking tips for introverts and anyone else ”

Resources

This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Bara Vaida, and Holly Butcher Grant. Send us your questions and suggestions for topics to cover.

Get this from a friend? Subscribe, and view the archives.

DONATE TO THE INSTITUTE

The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest. The Institute's tax ID number is 52-1750908.