The Latest: American news consumption; VOA’s overseas offices closing; Covering the pope

Dec. 3, 2025

■ Jamie Raskin files complaint to CBS News ombudsman over ’60 Minutes’ edits to Donald Trump interview (Deadline)

■ Trump to close Voice of America’s overseas offices and radio stations (New York Times)

■ White House launches 'media bias offender' tip line (The Hill)

■ Smartmatic and Fox urge judge to decide defamation case (New York Times) / Murdochs blessed Fox News plan to air 2020 election fraud claims, Smartmatic alleges (The Guardian)

■ York newspapers announce consolidation (York Dispatch)

■ University of Alabama suspends student magazines for Black students, female students (Alabama Reflector)

■ Los Angeles Times journalists approve new contract by 87% after three years (The NewsGuild)

■ WLUK and WCWF in Green Bay announce leadership transition as VP/GM Jay Zollar retires after 26 years of service (Sinclair, Inc) / Mike Wright named GM of KAKE Wichita (TV News Check) / Jodi Schneider joins the Washington bureau (New York Times) / Amy Dockser Marcus joins The Information to cover health (The Information) / WSJ hires Bloomberg’s Clark to cover startups and venture capital (Talking Biz News) / Local 4 brings new reporter from Indianapolis on board (The Detroit News) / Scott Mills exits as CEO of BET (Hollywood Reporter)

■ Day in the life of a CNN correspondent covering the pope (CNN)

■ The Atlantic Across America : Announcing events in every state (The Atlantic) / URL Media secures $5 million Knight Foundation grant to build unprecedented sustainable infrastructure for community media (URL Media) / Expanding local news across Hawaiʻi : A look at our new support for Honolulu Civil Beat (American Journalism Project)

How the right data infrastructure can bolster audience engagement

“Every newsroom needs to own and manage its own relationships with audience members. But collecting the audience data is not enough. It needs to be brought together. When identifying data is connected to engagement and transaction data, you can not only understand what levers to pull to deepen your relationship with your audience, but also send personalized communications directly asking them to take the next step . Integration also allows you to answer questions that span multiple contexts: Which event attendees are also donors? What content topics resonate with your most generous supporters? Who engages across multiple platforms and might be ready for a deeper relationship? These insights are impossible when data remains scattered across disconnected tools.”

-- Joan DiMicco , visiting professor of communication & data sciences at Boston University, excerpt from “How to structure and centralize audience data for a strong, integrated data foundation ” (News Product Alliance)

Incorporating ethical AI guidelines into editorial policies

“Look at your existing editorial policies as a foundation for thoughtfully incorporating ethical AI considerations in your newsroom workflows. Some newsrooms maintain both integrated guidelines and a separate AI policy document. When updating policies, be specific about AI’s role in each section. For example, in your newsgathering section, include practical protocols for how reporters should (or should not) use AI research tools, what verification steps they must follow, and how to document AI assistance. If you’re using AI for fact-checking, map exactly where these tools fit in your workflow, noting their strengths and limitations — whether they’re commercial solutions or custom-built tools. Review any country/regional policies that might apply to your AI use. Many countries are developing or updating data protection laws that could affect how you collect, store and process information with AI tools. Adding a simple step in your process to review relevant regulations in your region can help you avoid potential legal issues down the road.“

-- Excerpt from the Thomson Reuters Foundation guide, “Three steps to an AI-ready newsroom: A practical guide to responsible policies ”

2025 Fourth Estate Award Gala honoring ROBERT COSTA of CBS News December 9 at 6 pm ET at the National Press Club

Ticket sales end tomorrow: 2025 Fourth Estate Award Gala honoring Robert Costa of CBS News

There's still time to get tickets for the 2025 Fourth Estate Award Gala honoring Robert Costa of CBS News and “CBS Sunday Morning.” Join us at the National Press Club on Dec. 9 to celebrate excellence in journalism. Ticket sales will end at noon ET tomorrow, Dec. 4.

The Club also will honor the recipients of the John Aubuchon Press Freedom Awards and the Neil and Susan Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism. Learn more about the evening here.

GET TICKETS NOW

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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.

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The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest. The Institute's tax ID number is 52-1750908.