Feb. 11, 2025

■ ‘PBS is closing its DEI office in response to President Trump’s recent executive order. Note from CEO Paula Kerger’ (Ben Mullin) / Disney makes changes to DEI programs and rebrands employee groups (Axios) / NPR will lead two-day training on 'identity and difference' for station leaders (Current)

■ Not just CBS. How Trump 2.0 is already changing Hollywood and media (Los Angeles Times) / In procedural move, judge denies CBS motion to dismiss Trump ’60 Minutes’ lawsuit (Variety) 

■ When ICE raids go awry, reporting gets blamed (Columbia Journalism Review) / Wikipedia prepares for 'increase in threats' to U.S. editors from Musk and his allies (404 Media) / Fake, viral conspiracies on X stump politicians, media (Semafor) 

■ Iran pardons journalists who reported woman's death that triggered unrest (Reuters)

■ ‘ABC News finds itself, like all television-centered news organizations, in a make-or-break moment — and staffers are nervous.’ (Oliver Darcy)

■ NBC's ‘Dateline’ expands to Telemundo (Axios)

■ YouTube surprise: CEO says TV overtakes mobile as ‘primary device’ for viewing (Hollywood Reporter) 

■ BuzzFeed is taking on Instagram, TikTok, X with a new social platform designed to spread ‘joy’ (TechCrunch) 

■ New York Magazine walkout averted as union reaches deal with management (Hollywood Reporter)

■ The Marshall Project announces St. Louis local news team (The Marshall Project) / The New York Times announces new role for Jason Stallman (New York Times) / WSJ names Jakab its investing columnist (Talking Biz News) / This longtime Arizona journalist is replacing Katie Raml as ABC 15 anchor (Arizona Republic) 

■ Super Bowl sets all-time ratings record for second straight year (Hollywood Reporter) / Adan Manzano: A sports reporter died before the Super Bowl. Police want to know whether someone they call a ‘career criminal’ is involved (CNN)

■ Sunshine Week announces Secrecy Tracker (Wisconsin Newspaper Association) / University of Tennessee agrees to settle public records lawsuit, turn over documents (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press)

■ Assignment editors are TV newsrooms’ critical — and disappearing — role (TV News Check) / Inside the life of a UK Editor and royal correspondent (New York Post)

How ProPublica journalists used pre-reporting to build trust with sources

“Before interviewing people in Portland, Oregon, for example, we spent weeks calling street librarians and medics, service providers, and advocates, including some who had experienced homelessness. We asked for feedback on everything from how we were planning to phrase our questions to how to stay in touch with people — and adjusted our reporting plan in response. They also flagged things we weren’t thinking about. You should also ask what language the community uses to describe issues and discuss this with your editors.”

-- Excerpt from “Want to report on homelessness? Here’s what our sources taught us about engaging responsibly.” (ProPublica)

Resources

• A primer for journalists covering immigrant workers in the U.S. (The Journalist’s Resource) 
• Why any reporter can now source free, quality satellite images of almost anywhere on Earth (Global Investigative Journalism Network) 
• How journalists can better cover credit mobility — and why (Education Writers Association)

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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