April 10, 2023

■ U.S. deems WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich ‘wrongfully detained’ by Russia (WSJ) / '... determination transfers supervision of the case to the State Department's Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. …' (Axios) / World Bank chief calls Russia’s arrest of Gershkovich a brazen act (WSJ) / U.S. Senate leaders demand Russia release American journalist (Associated Press)

■ The new WSJ editor Emma Tucker has to save Evan Gershkovich (New York Magazine) / My friend Evan Gershkovich is suffering for doing a job he loved (POLITICO)

■ Amid backlash, Twitter changes NPR’s account to ‘government funded media’ (Washington Post) / Elon Musk flags BBC Twitter account with 'Government Funded' label (Washington Post) / Musk's feud with the media takes a toll on Twitter (Axios) 

■ The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board blasts ProPublica over its Clarence Thomas investigation (Poynter) / How a trio of ProPublica reporters landed an explosive story on Justice Clarence Thomas (CNN) 

■ Sources: Bret Baier repeatedly proposed devoting an hour-long special to debunk U.S. election fraud myths in November 2020, but never got an answer from Fox News (NPR) / Fox News settles lawsuit with Venezuelan businessman it accused of helping rig the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as it readies for $1.6 billion Dominion trial (Insider)

■ CNN insiders say CEO Chris Licht is standing behind star anchor Don Lemon after reported allegations of misogyny (Insider) 

■ Saveur sold to investment group led by its longtime editor (Axios) 

■ How America's largest newspaper company is leaving behind news deserts (NPR)  

■ Student reporters are filling a crucial gap in state government coverage (Nieman Journalism Lab) 

■ Arkansas Times to stop publishing Spanish newspaper, El Latino (Arkansas Business) 

■ What's next for Salt Lake Tribune chair Paul Huntsman? A new local weekly in SoCal (Poynter) 

■ ‘Article gifting’ proves surprisingly successful for Hearst Newspapers (Nieman Journalism Lab) 

■ Cut Knife, Sask., lost its local newspaper. This sassy cat helps keeps its stories alive (CBC Radio) 

Press Freedom

■ Attacker of Fil-Am photojournalist to face California court (Rappler)  

■ L.A. sues journalist, activist group to claw back photos of undercover officers (Los Angeles Times)

■ U.S. citizen of Iranian descent sentenced to 4 years in prison for crimes related to attempted kidnapping plot of U.S. journalist (CNN)

■ The covert mission to solve a Mexican journalist’s murder (The New Yorker)

The National Press Club is honoring imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with its highest honor for press freedom, the John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award.

Eileen O’Reilly, president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, issued a joint statement announcing the award:

“Journalist Evan Gershkovich has been dedicated and courageous while reporting from Russia during a period of dramatically increased danger for journalists. In an environment filled with risks, he has consistently delivered honest, bold and enlightening news coverage. Evan’s journalism is the cause of his unjust detention by Russian security forces. Journalism is not a crime and Evan should not be jailed for his profession — he should be honored for it. We call for Evan to be released immediately and without conditions.”

Aubuchon honorees do not simply receive recognition and a prize. By selecting Evan Gershkovich, the Club and the Institute are committing to monitor and support his case and to work toward ensuring his freedom, including his freedom to publish. The Club and the Institute will continue to advocate not only for Evan, but also for all the foreign journalists working from Russia and who had expected that their non-Russian passports would provide them some protection.

Past Aubuchon honorees include Maria Ressa, Jason Rezaian, Austin Tice, Marie Colvin, Jamal Khashoggi, Danny Fenster and, last year, Rana Ayyub. The award will be formally presented to Evan, hopefully in-person, later this year at the Press Club’s Fourth Estate Awards Gala.

“In rural communities, there is always going to be at least one leader who knows everyone, and whom most everyone trusts. Finding those people and getting them on our side was crucial to our rural coverage. Many people in these small, news desert towns have an understandable mistrust of — and even hatred for — the media. Their problems and struggles have either been ignored entirely or publicized as their only defining factor. So, when you show up, it’s important to understand that their judgment is not about you; having someone to vouch for you makes it so much easier to connect with a community. We also made sure to share information about ourselves, our jobs and why we wanted to talk to them or get to know people in their town.”

-- The Montgomery Advertiser’s Paige Oliver Windsor & Hadley Hitson, “How the Montgomery Advertiser is building trust and growing audiences in Alabama’s rural communities”

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

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