April 23, 2026

■ FBI said to have investigated Times reporter after article on Patel’s girlfriend (New York Times) / The New York Times decries ‘alarming’ probe of reporter who wrote about FBI director’s girlfriend (CNN) / New York Times editor accuses FBI of trying to ‘criminalize’ reporting (Deadline) / Kash Patel’s lawsuit against The Atlantic will likely fail. That might not be the point. (Vanity Fair) 

■ Kuwait acquits journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin after 7 weeks in detention (AL-MONITOR) / Statement on the acquittal today (National Press Club)

■ Trump's planned appearance bringing renewed scrutiny to annual correspondents' dinner (Associated Press) / Trump’s plans for ‘mic-drop’ media confrontation are leaked (Daily Beast) / ‘CBS’s Bari Weiss and David Ellison will be breaking bread over White House Correspondents’ Association weekend with two of the administration’s most visible press antagonists.’ (Puck) / How we cover the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (New York Times) 

■ Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders overwhelmingly approve Paramount’s megadeal, but vote against exit pay packages for Zaslav and other execs (Variety) / ‘The shareholder vote clears the way for the deal to close, assuming the company can navigate the remaining regulatory hurdles.’ (Hollywood Reporter) / Here's what David Ellison told Paramount employees after WBD shareholders approved the merger (Business Insider) 

■ Tony Dokoupil is the face of the Bari Weiss revolution at CBS News. Will he survive it? (Vanity Fair) 

■ Alabama Public Television governing board to survey state on PBS attitudes (Alabama Reflector) / Twin Cities PBS takes over operations of KSMQ (Current) 

■ NFL pushes back as FCC scrutiny of media strategy grows (Front Office Sports) / DOJ met with TV station executives as part of sports TV probe (Wall Street Journal) 

■ ‘Following Condé Nast’s cuts last week, Status has learned that Us Weekly is slashing its staff by nearly half, a reflection of the bleak state of the magazine business.’ (Status)

■ The billionaire trying to build the ‘next great Washington newsroom’ (Wall Street Journal)

■ Washington enters its TMZ era (New York Magazine)

■ Front Office Sports takes big TV swing with daily syndicated show (Variety) 

■ The BBC is drawing up plans to use AI to save money, but staff are skeptical (Deadline) / Ars Technica publishes its AI policy, saying its editorial text is written by humans, but reporters may use AI tools vetted and approved to assist with research (Ars Technica) / Disney employees have an AI dashboard to track the biggest power users (Business Insider) 

■ AP announces 2 new directors, 1 incumbent at annual meeting (Associated Press) / CNN’s Lisa Respers France promoted to senior entertainment reporter (CNN) / Joshi named Washington bureau chief for The Economist (Talking Biz News) / The Wrap's Calderone hired by NY Magazine (Talking Biz News) 

■ What mapping Charlotte can teach us about local news (Columbia Journalism Review)

News Reimagined: The Creator Journalism Summit at the National Press Club

Journalism isn’t just evolving — it’s being rebuilt in real time.

News Reimagined: The Creator Journalism Summit is where that transformation comes to life. Join us in partnership with URL Media for a one-day experience bringing together journalists, news influencers, and newsroom leaders who are redefining how news reaches audiences, builds trust, and becomes sustainable.

🗓️ Monday, May 4 | ⏰ 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET | 📍National Press Club

🎟 Creators/Journalists: $25 | Newsrooms/Publishers: $75

With support from URL Collective

We’ll kick things off with mainstage speakers Bianca Graulau and Nick Valencia, whose independent journalism has reached millions and reshaped what it means to connect with an audience. They’ll set the tone for a day grounded in bold ideas, real talk, and practical takeaways.

We’ll follow this conversation with tailored instruction from speakers including: Michael Jones (Once Upon a Hill); S. Mitra Kalita (URL Media); Ryan Y. Kellett (The Independent Journalism Atlas); Katherine Reynolds Lewis (Institute for Independent Journalists); Adrienne Johnson Martin (MLK50); Krysta Villeda (Pulso).

Together, we’ll answer questions like: “How do I make money as a creator journalist?”, “What does a strong partnership look like?” and “What does a sustainable and ethical creator-journalism ecosystem look like?” And you’ll leave with practical action items to apply to your brand or outlet. 

Reserve your spot today and be part of the conversation shaping what comes next.

World Press Freedom Day reception at the National Press Club

Join us for a happy hour reception on May 1 in recognition of World Press Freedom Day: A moment to celebrate the essential role of a free press and to stand in clear-eyed solidarity with journalists around the world. 

The evening will highlight both the challenges ahead and the enduring strength of a free and independent press. We’ll also introduce our 2026 Press Freedom Fellowship cohort, journalists who have experienced obstacles but who persist in their pursuit of journalism. 

The event is open to journalists, communicators, and members of the public who support press freedom.

Get tickets now. Proceeds directly support our press freedom work.

Resources

• GIJN Webinar: Introduction to AI for data-driven investigations (May 21, 9:30 a.m. ET)
• Explainer: Federal surveillance tools and tactics (The Journalist’s Resource) 
• How 12 local newsrooms are using AI to build for younger audiences (News Product Alliance)

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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