December 7, 2023

• Biden says ‘we’re not giving up’ on push to secure Evan Gershkovich’s release (Wall Street Journal) 

• Reuters, AFP say Israeli tank responsible for deadly attack on journalists (Voice of America) / CPJ calls for accountability after reports find Israel likely targeted journalists in Lebanon (Committee to Protect Journalists) 

• ‘For the first time in 50 years, Washington Post workers are walking off the job because our company is refusing to bargain in good faith and breaking the law.’ (Washington Post Guild) / ‘More than 750 unionized Washington Post employees staged a 24-hour strike Thursday,...’ (Poynter) / ‘Impact of the Washington Post walkout: A completely unfinished story near the top of the paper's website’ (Max Tani)

• Facebook, X, YouTube, and TikTok allow abuse of female journalists, says rights group (Fortune)

• With more AI experiments, news media faces an existential moment (The Wrap) / Generative AI may need news organizations, journalism to succeed (Voice of America)



• Report for America adds newsrooms, opens applications for reporters (Report for America) / Report for America to place journalist with Louisiana Illuminator to focus on water issues (Louisiana Illuminator) 

• U.S. Sen Vance in letter to Biden admin accuses WaPo writer of encouraging ‘open rebellion’ against US (Fox News) / JD Vance demands DOJ go after Washington Post writer who called for 'resistance' against Trump 'dictatorship' (Mediaite) 

• CNN to host two GOP presidential primary debates in Iowa and New Hampshire in 2024 (CNN) 

• ‘Per several people at Condé Nast, layoffs are happening today at Wired’ (Max Tani)

• Vice Media co-CEO Hozefa Lokhandwala resigns, Bruce Dixon now sole CEO (Variety)  

• Taylor Swift shows Time magazine’s person of the year still matters (Poynter)

Press freedom

• Journalists in Azerbaijan targeted in wave of arrests (Voice of America)

• Iranian journalist Soltan-Ali Abedi jailed for 1 year for corruption reports (Committee to Protect Journalists) 

• Kansas disciplinary panel dismisses complaint against judge who authorized newspaper raid (Kansas Reflector)

2024 National Press Club scholarship applications are open

They include:

• The Scholarship for Journalism Diversity Honoring Julie Schoo is a $5,000 scholarship awarded to a high school senior. The award can be renewed for up to three years at $5,000 per year. (Deadline: Feb. 18)

• The Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $5,000 to support a high school senior who wishes to pursue a career in journalism. (Deadline: Feb. 18)

• The Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship, supports diversity within broadcast journalism. The scholarship is $5,000 per year awarded to a college or graduate student who demonstrates a commitment to a career in broadcast journalism. The award can be renewed up to three years. (Deadline: Feb. 18)

• The Lewis Scholarship provides housing and a monthly stipend to support college student journalists of color with newsroom internships in Washington, D.C. (Deadline: April 7)

• The Dennis and Shirley Feldman Fellowship recognizes a journalism graduate student with a one-time stipend of $5,000. (Deadline: April 14)

TOMORROW: Learn strategies for winning pitches as a freelance writer

Join us for an in-person workshop tomorrow designed for journalists who are interested in pitching freelance stories. This event will take place on Friday, Dec. 8, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. All career stages are welcome!

Doors for the workshop open at 12:30 p.m. with the sessions starting promptly at 1 pm, including:

Pitching — how to craft and freshen your pitches: Editors from Brainfacts.org, The Washington Post, Washingtonian, and WHYY will discuss how to submit pitches that catch their attention.

The business of freelancing: Institute for Independent Journalists founder and experienced freelancer Katherine Lewis will share advice on managing your freelance business for financial success, with tips on marketing, negotiating contracts, and the value of finding your specialization.

Managing the writer-editor relationship: Editors from AARP Bulletin, Industry Dive, POLITICO Magazine, and Slate will shed light on what editors want and need from freelance writers.

Looking to network with other journalists? Continue the conversation with fellow freelancers and editors for an hour of networking after the sessions end.

This event is in-person only and will not be recorded.

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.

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