Jan. 21, 2026

■ Judge blocks government from searching data seized from Post reporter (Washington Post) / ‘New memo from WaPo exec editor Matt Murray after the paper filed two court motions Wednesday demanding the return of reporter Hannah Natanson’s devices after last week's FBI raid’ (Natalie Korach) / FBI’s Washington Post investigation shows how your printer can snitch on you (The Intercept)

■ ‘Hours before a delayed “60 Minutes” segment aired, Bari Weiss personally briefed several reporters about the fiasco, Status has learned — making comments that are not likely to sit well inside the newsmagazine’ (Status) 

■ ‘CNN has started carrying full Trump speeches live again a lot more. The network is currently taking Trump's speech at Davos live, yesterday it aired most of his speech from the White House briefing room relatively uninterrupted.’ (Max Tani)

■ The NPR and Colorado stations that took Trump to court (Columbia Journalism Review) 

■ Alabama Public Television waiting on more information to renew PBS contract (Current) / PBS Utah, KUER lay off 8 employees (Current) 

■ Labor board files for contempt charges on Pittsburgh Post-Gazette after company defies court order and closes newspaper (Communications Workers of America)

■ Daily Herald, longtime suburban Chicago newspaper, notifies state of potential sale (Chicago Tribune) 

■ Prince Harry targeted for standing up to UK newspaper, his lawyer says (Reuters) / Prince Harry emotionally claims Daily Mail publisher made Meghan Markle’s ‘life an absolute misery’ as he takes stand in privacy case (Variety)

■ ‘Executive Editor Matt Murray announces the promotion of Bryan Flaherty to managing editor for content strategy, effective immediately.’ (Washington Post) / Lynne Segall joins Ankler Media as publisher (The Ankler) / ‘Memo from Vogue’s Chloe Malle announcing Mi-Anne Chan as Teen Vogue’s new creative editorial director and Alyssa Hardy as digital director ….’ (Natalie Korach) / Jackie Fox named as RTÉ's new Washington correspondent (RTÉ) / CNBC hires Kim as a reporter in Singapore (Talking Biz News)

■ BBC confirms landmark YouTube deal, including new channels and Winter Olympics coverage (Variety) / ‘Does this channel have more juice in it?’ YouTuber J.J. McCullough on a ‘sustainable’ life as a news creator (Nieman Journalism Lab) / YouTube TV will launch custom multiview and channel packages ‘soon’ (The Verge) 

■ The New York Times is launching its first two-player word game: Crossplay (Hollywood Reporter)

Investigative reporting in the AI era

“Another challenge for investigative reporters is the advent of AI and the lurking dangers of landing fake data and documents, which are increasingly becoming difficult to authenticate. … To offset such disadvantages of a tougher working environment, reporters need to get back to shoe-leather journalism; do more spot reporting and thus, reduce dependency on documents and data which may have come from secondary sources.”

-- Ritu Sarin, executive editor at The Indian Express, excerpt from "Lessons learned over four decades as an investigative journalist In India" (Global Investigative Journalism Network)

Finding support for journalists in recovery beyond Dry January 

Editor’s Note: The National Press Club Journalism Institute is committed to providing journalists resources and connections that support their personal and professional lives. Continuing in 2026, we are collaborating with several groups to widen those networks of support. We invited Bill Nichols to share how the Journalists Recovery Network can help other journalists navigate recovery.

This is less a problem for those of us who are in recovery and more of an issue for those who are wondering if they might have a problem or who may be looking for reliable information to use to make decisions on how they might find healthier ways to deal with stress and, increasingly for reporters and editors, work-related trauma.

And so, what to do?

For those of you in newsrooms wondering or worrying about the role mood-altering substances are playing in your life, Dry January can be a useful tool. See how it goes without alcohol or other substances. Take an honest appraisal of how dependent (or not) you may be. If you’re like most of us who have adopted that path for all 12 months of the year, you very likely may find some startling insights on just how much you’re leaning on mood-altering crutches and how much better you feel without them.

And then if you do think you need further help or advice, reach out for it to people you can trust — not the internet. Your doctor/therapist/psychiatrist. Chances are very high that there’s a recovering person in your newsroom; take a chance and reach out to them. They will be delighted to share their experience, strength, and hope.

Reach out to us at the Journalists Recovery Network. Our group is composed of people who approach recovery from a variety of different angles, and you can find someone you’ll be comfortable with:

• Interested in a 12-step program? We can help. 
• Desperate to begin recovery but want nothing to do with a 12-step program? We’ve got you covered there too.

2026 has already begun with a cascade of news that is continuing to push the brave and committed journalists trying to cover it to their limits. Take time to take care of yourself and take stock. Ignore the noise. Embrace the help that is all around you.

For anyone seeking support with substance abuse, please reach out to the Journalists Recovery Network anytime. Click here for additional resources.

Resources

• Education Writers Association: Covering policies that restrict DEI (Jan. 29, 1 p.m. ET)
• Lenfest News Philanthropy Network: Build your high-impact donor list (Jan. 29, 2 p.m. ET)
• NEFAC 30-Minute Skills: Health care reporting 102 (Feb. 12, noon ET)

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.

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