Feb. 5, 2025

■ ‘60 Minutes’ publishes transcripts, video requested by FCC (CBS News) / ‘The full, unedited transcript shows that "60 Minutes" and "Face the Nation" used slightly different parts of the same answer from Kamala Harris…’ (Ben Mullin) / ‘FCC boss Brendan Carr has curiously spared one major media organization from his wrath: Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Corporation.’ (Oliver Darcy)

■ Small news outlets focused on federal staffers are landing big scoops, and traffic is surging (CNN) 

■ The reshuffling of the Pentagon press corps is a warning (Columbia Journalism Review) / White House won’t rule out Trump attendance at correspondents’ dinner (The Hill)

■ ‘Right-wing media is melting down today over the erroneous idea that POLITICO is secretly funded by USAID. Here's the backstory’ (Will Sommer)

■ ‘Something significant is happening in left-leaning media circles. Readers who are alarmed by Trump's actions … are turning to bloggers, Substack writers, YouTubers and other indie figures …’ (Brian Stelter) 

■ Acosta targets Musk in first netcast since leaving CNN: ‘What is his job?’ (The Hill) / The challenge of covering Elon Musk (Poynter)

■ The final flicker of cable news as we know it (Hollywood Reporter)

■ CNN finds itself at a digital crossroads after years of turmoil (Los Angeles Times) / ‘Fed up with fake news’: CNN juror would have awarded up to $100 million in punitive damages (Variety) 

■ Disney+, Hulu swing to combined profit of $293 million in Q1 (The Wrap) / Disney teases ESPN’s expansive sports streaming future (The Verge) 

■ New York Times reports 350,000 additional digital subscribers (New York Times) / New York Times has spent $10.8M in its legal battle with OpenAI so far (Hollywood Reporter) 

■ Fox News adds a new host: Lara Trump (New York Times) / Sara Sorcher named senior editor for the General Assignment desk (Washington Post) / Newsday taps Leema Thomas as deputy AME for business (Talking Biz News) 

■ Journalists in Lancaster, Penn. win union in blowout (The NewsGuild)

■ How Erin Andrews plans to win the Super Bowl as an entrepreneur and a sideline reporter (Inc.) / Some 30-second Super Bowl commercials this year are selling for $8 million (CNN)

Friday: Join briefing for journalists on public trust and the government

Public trust in the government has dipped to historic lows in recent years after being on the decline for decades, according to a national survey conducted by the Partnership for Public Service.

And as the Trump administration implements sweeping changes across federal agencies, journalists are at a pivotal moment to shape the public’s understanding of these actions and their local impact.

Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute and Partnership for Public Service for a briefing on Friday, Feb. 7, at noon ET. This session will prepare journalists to cover the current political environment with their audience in mind while noting their unique role in how the public perceives — and trusts — the federal government.

About the speaker

Sources: Why quality matters more than quantity

“Journalism isn’t about the number of sources you have, but the quality of your sources. Over time, I have developed really good relationships with a lot of people from all walks of life and all types of work, and not just in one specific area. Even though we are dealing with something fairly specific right now, I think my broader scope has really prepared me for this moment. People have concerns across various sectors, not just within the government. You can have a well-placed source, but if they don’t trust you, they won’t share the whole truth. Ultimately, it all comes down to mutual trust—your source trusting you, and you trusting them.”

-- Marisa Kabas, independent journalist, excerpt from Q&A: Marisa Kabas on scooping the world on the federal funding freeze (Columbia Journalism Review)

Resources

• Covering Child Welfare: A journalist's guide to impactful reporting (Deadline to apply: Feb. 14) 
• 8 tips for covering the U.S. Department of Education under Trump’s second term (Education Writers Association)
• The best VPNs to protect yourself online (WIRED) / We evaluated the data security of five transcription services for journalists (Reynolds Journalism Institute)

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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