May 14, 2025

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Thank you to our newsletter donors since yesterday:

Rhema Bland, Jeffrey Day, Katie Fischer, James Noone, Joanne Williams, and Matt Windsor

Top stories

■ NYT publisher blasts Trump for anti-media rhetoric, says free press is 'under direct attack' (The Wrap) / L.A. Times owner maneuvers into Trump’s orbit with Middle East meeting (POLITICO) 


■ In legal win, RFE/RL receives April funding; lawsuit continues for remainder of FY 2025 funds (RFE/RL)


■ CNN’s Mark Thompson provides some additional details for what he calls its ‘first true new streaming service’ (Deadline) / ‘CNN is rebooting its streaming ambitions with a new standalone service — a high-stakes bid to turn its massive digital reach into a sustainable business and outrun the ghost of CNN+.’ (Status) / CNN renews 'Have I Got News for You' for season 3 (The Wrap) 


■ HBO Max lives! Max to change its name back after two years (Variety) / Returning the HBO to Max is latest sign of potential Warner Bros. Discovery split (Hollywood Reporter) 


■ Fox News gets a win in Smartmatic defamation case (CNN)


■ Court sides with New York Times over access to EU COVID vaccine messages (New York Times)


■ AP introduces new customer program on the future of news (Associated Press)


■ National Trust for Local News sells 21 newspapers to a company with a history of gutting local outlets (Nieman Journalism Lab) / National Trust for Local News sheds Colorado papers, will continue to operate printing press (Colorado Sun) / ICYMI: What went wrong at the National Trust for Local News? (Poynter)


■ Maine Community Foundation launches local press initiative (MaineCF) 


■ BBC reveals plan to expand local democracy reporter coverage areas (Press Gazette) / BBC will only work with talent who sign up to new anti-bullying standards, director general reveals (Deadline) 


■ Hoge retiring as managing editor of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Democrat-Gazette) 


■ Ricardo Zuniga named director of global beats (Associated Press) / Kimberly S. Johnson joins The Times as consumer and industries editor (New York Times) / WSJ names Cook senior breaking news editor (Talking Biz News) / Mallory Cheng joins States Newsroom as producer of national podcast coming soon (States Newsroom) / Parenti departs Bloomberg for Northern Trust (Talking Biz News) / Houston Chronicle hires Nostrant to cover energy (Talking Biz News) 


■ What news is (and isn't) according to Americans (Pew Research Center)

CRAFT

Few seats still available: Learn to incorporate AI into your daily workflow



📣 We dropped the price for our upcoming workshop at the National Press Club, “Intro to AI for journalists.” Join us at noon ET for a half-day of training to help you build confidence and practical skills in using AI tools — no technical background required.


🎟️ Tickets are now $50 for the public and $40 for NPC members.

💫 You'll hear from journalists leading AI innovation


We’re bringing together three powerhouse instructors who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with AI in the newsroom:


  • Vania André is the publisher and editor in chief of The Haitian Times, where she’s exploring how AI can support community-centered journalism and multilingual reporting. She brings a wealth of experience in applying emerging tech tools to her journalistic work.


  • Paul Cheung is a leading voice on media innovation and the strategic advisor for Hacks/Hackers. He’s worked at the Knight Foundation and led digital strategy at NBC and the Associated Press. He will guide you through prompt writing exercises to make your work efficient, focused, and strategic.


  • Andrew Wallender is the data editor at Bloomberg Industry Group, where he uses AI and large language models (LLMs) to analyze datasets and streamline investigative reporting. He’ll break down how to use these tools to find better stories — faster.


🧠 What you’ll learn


  • How journalists are using AI today
  • Ethical frameworks for AI-assisted reporting
  • Prompt engineering strategies for better results
  • Intro to LLM-powered tools for data analysis
  • How to start building your personalized AI toolkit


🎟️ Space is limited — register now!

CAREER
 

Reminder: Applications open for 2025 Kozik Environmental Justice Reporting Grants


The National Press Foundation and the National Press Club Journalism Institute will jointly award up to $45,000 in grants to U.S.-based journalists who plan to cover environmental justice. Applications for the 2025 grants are open until May 27, 2025.


Grants up to $15,000 will be awarded to support journalism in any medium that centers on environmental justice and environmental racism in the United States. This could include coverage of the disproportionate harms to disadvantaged communities from pollution, the effects of climate change, or other relevant topics.

The Kozik Grants are funded by a 1991 gift from the late Dr. Franklin Kozik in honor of his deceased son Robert. Three rounds of grants have been awarded, most recently announced in July 2024.

 
 
 
COMMUNITY
Now open. Call for proposals: The Mental Health In Journalism Summit. Submit your session ideas by June 5.

Call for Proposals: Mental Health in Journalism Summit 2025


The Mental Health in Journalism Summit is now accepting session proposals focused on best practices and innovative strategies for a mentally healthy and sustainable journalism industry. The deadline for proposals is June 5.


Submit your ideas for sessions focused on actionable and practical solutions here.


The Institute is proud to return as a partner for the Summit, an online event (Oct. 8-10) dedicated to building collective resilience during uncertain times. Attendees include managers, editors, reporters, freelancers, academics, and mental health experts. Learn more here.

Resources

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


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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.