The Latest: Personal attacks on journalists; Disney’s OpenAI deal; TIME ‘Person of the Year’; Visual storytelling + imagination

Dec. 11, 2025

■ ‘When Dan Friedman discovered a Goodreads page tied to the email of a top Pentagon official featuring books on “Asian wife sharing," he did what any reporter would do: Ask the Pentagon questions. The next day, a threatening email from Jack Posobiec arrived.’ (Mother Jones)

■ Donald Trump opposes Warner Bros. Discovery retaining ownership of CNN in any merger transaction (Deadline) / Leavitt points to testy exchange with Kaitlan Collins as ‘evidence’ CNN needs new ownership (The Hill) / Original Paramount bid for WBD didn't exclude foreign voting rights (Axios) / Democrats warn their party may try to unravel any Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery deal (Semafor)

■ Accused Charlie Kirk killer makes first in-person court appearance as judge weighs media access (Associated Press)

■ Disney to invest $1 billion in OpenAI under new licensing agreement (CBS News) / The OpenAI deal gives Disney a fair amount of oversight and control over how its IP is used, including a joint steering committee to monitor user creations (Axios) / Bob Iger: Disney’s OpenAI deal ‘does not in any way’ threaten creatives (Hollywood Reporter)

■ AI architects are Time magazine's 2025 ‘Person of the Year’ (Axios) / Time picked a rough day to announce its ‘Person of the Year’ (CNN)

■ ‘Penske Media cuts mark the latest tremors in a brutal year for media jobs , as rolling layoffs and mergers leave newsrooms across the industry in an anxious holding pattern.’ (Status)

■ ‘While The Free Press is flush with holiday spirit, Bari Weiss’ job reinventing CBS News is proving more vexing , amid anchor dreams dashed and the age-old challenge of enacting institutional change.’ (Puck) / Bari Weiss was expected to shake up CBS News. Instead, her first big move sticks to the script . (Poynter) / Tony Dokoupil is named anchor of ‘CBS Evening News’ (New York Times)

■ NewsNation takes global view, names Robert Sherman international correspondent (Variety) / ‘Shelly Banjo to be named deputy editor in chief at Semafor ,’ (Ben Mullin) / Houston Public Media appoints experienced media executive Laurie Ramirez to station manager (Houston Public Media) / WSJ Video new hires announced (Dow Jones via Editor and Publisher) / Williams named biz editor at Defense One (Talking Biz News) / Michael O’Rielly to become Media Institute CEO (TV News Check) / The Guardian appoints Allan Donald as VP of product (Guardian)

■ This photographer is documenting old newspaper newsrooms while they’re still around (Poynter)

■ Philanthropy overtakes advertising as most common revenue stream for LIONs (LION Publishers) / AIR receives five-year, $1.5M Ford Foundation grant (Current)

■ The 2025 gift guide for journalists (Nieman Journalism Lab)

5 lessons on the future of storytelling, design, and journalism

This week, the Institute and Canva partnered to present “The Imagination Era: The future of storytelling, design, and journalism,” an event that convened leaders across media and technology to explore innovation in news. Here are the top insights from the conversation on the future of storytelling:

Imagination is a competitive advantage. As automation evolves, the edge comes from the ability to explore new possibilities, connect dots, and see what isn’t obvious yet.
Visual storytelling is the default. Good design isn’t decorative, it’s part of how audiences judge credibility and usability. From product design to storytelling, visuals shape trust at every touchpoint.
AI is a support system, not a substitute. The future isn’t AI vs. journalists. It’s AI removing friction, speeding up workflows, and surfacing insights. This gives journalists the time and space to focus on interviewing, verifying facts, shaping narratives, and making other editorial decisions.
Inclusion fuels better stories and smarter innovation. Diverse voices lead to stronger ideas, richer stories, and deeper trust.
Experimentation wins. The journalists and newsrooms that will thrive are the ones willing to try, test, learn, and iterate. Courage matters. So does the willingness to fail, adjust, and try again.

ICYMI: The Institute and Canva offered 31 days of free training for journalists in October. See the archives to learn about the latest practical tools that fuel impactful, visual storytelling.

The case for a ‘collective break’

“Traffic in many newsrooms dips over the holidays and at the height of summer. Recognizing that no one was clamoring for our work during this time helped us realize we would not fail to serve our audience by taking care of ourselves. By resting when our audience rests, we ensure we can better meet their needs for the rest of the year . Realistically, much of the pressure we feel to maximize productivity at the expense of well-being is internal, not external. The Appeal benefits immensely from having an incredibly driven team with an unparalleled work ethic. But that means we have to take extra care to maintain the health of our team. We build time into our newsroom’s workflow to prepare for closures so people actually have the time and space to rest without worrying if everything got done.”

-- Excerpt from “How to take a collective break ” (The Appeal)

Fourth Estate Award Gala honors Robert Costa, Ed Mahon, The Associated Press, and 9 USAGM-affiliated reporters

The 2025 Fourth Estate Award Gala took place in the National Press Club ballroom on Dec. 9, 2025, bringing together journalists, communicators, and supporters from around the world to recognize excellence in a year of extraordinary challenges.

The evening honored:

Robert Costa, national correspondent for “CBS Sunday Morning” and chief Washington analyst for CBS News, Fourth Estate Award
Ed Mahon, investigative reporter at Spotlight PA, Neil and Susan Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism
The Associated Press, John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award (domestic)
Nine USAGM-affiliated reporters who remain in prison across several authoritarian countries, John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award (international)

All photos by Melissa Lyttle

You can watch a recording of the program, see additional photos from the gala, and learn more about the honorees and sponsors.

The gala is a fundraiser supporting the National Press Club Journalism Institute, whose work powers journalism in the public interest. Donate now to support the Institute’s work.

Resources

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

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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.