Dec. 11, 2024

■ Time magazine to name Trump ‘Person of the Year’ (POLITICO) / Fox News pipeline to Trump administration keeps growing (Axios)

■ Senate GOP blocks bill to protect journalists after Trump opposes it (CNN) / Bill to protect journalists from revealing sources ‘on life support’ (Washington Post) 

■ U.S. group travels to Syria in search of missing reporter Austin Tice (Washington Post) / ‘Second day reporting in Damascus and it’s amazing to see the way the people I’m interviewing lean into the microphone to give me their full name. This was impossible under the regime. Syrians are finding their voices.’ (Ruth Sherlock)

■ Lawsuits increasingly being used to silence journalists, activists across Europe, new study warns (POLITICO) / Poland to make private TV stations ‘strategic firms,’ allowing blocking of sale to ‘hostile’ states (Notes From Poland)

■ Alex Jones keeps Infowars for now after judge rejects The Onion's winning auction bid (Associated Press) 

■ CNBC creates new business unit to drive multi-platform coverage of key business topics (CNBC) / CNBC plans Q1 launch for targeted streaming service (Variety) / CNBC taps Robert Frank, Julia Boorstin to expand verticals strategy (Variety) 

■ Nexstar to cut about 2% of staff, layoffs expected in broadcasting and sales divisions (The Wrap) / ‘The Hill's editor-in-chief Bob Cusack says in an email to staff that he is leaving after 20 years. He notes that the last few weeks have been "exasperating," referencing the breakdown in contract negotiations with Nexstar.’ (Justin Baragona)

■ The Bulletin newspaper in Bend facing more layoffs under new owners; second time in six months (KTVZ) / More Wisconsin newspapers shutter, but people seem to trust them most (WXPR) 

■ Forbes names Sherry Phillips its new CEO (Talking Biz News) / Junho Lee joins The New York Times (New York Times) / Liam Quinn named editor at large at Bloomberg Government (Talking Biz News)

■ ‘Paul Krugman grew frustrated at The New York Times over editing measures implemented in recent years under Opinion boss Kathleen Kingsbury.’ (Oliver Darcy)

■ New York Times and Tech Guild reach deal (New York Times) / ‘We fought hard for this contract because we love our jobs. … We are setting a precedent for tech workers across the country.’ (New York Times Tech Guild)

■ Oscars to stream live on Hulu in addition to ABC broadcast (Hollywood Reporter)

Understanding the source of writer’s block

“People who experience writer’s block tend to follow rigid rules and inflexible plans that choke up the writing process. Rules like, ‘you must start with a perfect, attention-grabbing introduction,’ or ‘always make three or more points in an essay’ trap writers in endless cycles of overthinking and self-criticism. On the flip side, those who don’t hit a wall approach writing with flexibility. ... They experiment, make mistakes and figure things out as they go.”

-- Muskan Bansal, IJNet-Disarming Disinformation Consultant, excerpt from “Tips for overcoming writer's block” (International Journalists' Network)

Resources

• Climate Peer Network Meeting: Challenges and opportunities on climate solutions journalism (Dec. 12, noon ET) 
• What are my digital protections? How to handle (and prevent) online threats as a journalist (Dec. 13, 11 am ET)
• Guide: Investigating health and medicine (Global Investigative Journalism Network)

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.

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