The Latest: Putin seeks deal to send Evan home?; CNN’s Ward reports from inside Gaza; Student reporters beating out professionals

December 14, 2023

Happy holidays! This is our last newsletter of 2023.

We will return to your inboxes in January 2024.

Top stories

Russian court extends detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich until end of January (Associated Press) / Evan Gershkovich: Putin says Russia seeks ‘acceptable’ deal with US on prisoners (Bloomberg)

CNN's Clarissa Ward gains unprecedented new access to Gaza (Mediaite) / Watch Clarissa Ward report from inside Gaza for the first time since war began (CNN)

Journalists’ deaths surge in Gaza but global 2023 toll drops, watchdog says (Al Jazeera) / Why the war in Gaza has been deadly for journalists (New Yorker)

SoCal newspaper reporters and photographers walk out to protest ‘management's stalling at the’ bargaining table… ‘and unfair labor practices.’ (Southern California News Group)

Washington Post Guild heads back to bargaining table ‘as a result of last week’s historic strike’ (Washington Post Guild) / ‘...thank you to our readers, who supported us from sun up to sun down by respecting the picket line , writing thousands and thousands of letters’ (Washington Post Guild)

Mother Jones to merge with the Center for Investigative Reporting (New York Times)

Punchbowl News strikes deal to buy data start-up (New York Times)

The Southern Illinoisan was sold. Then the new owner eliminated its entire news staff (St. Louis Public Radio)

Hearst Newspapers acquires San Antonio Magazine and announces expansion into Austin (San Antonio Express News)

‘During Conde Nast's company-wide meeting today, CEO Roger Lynch said …no plans to shutter or sell any of the brands . Also …the consumer rev team played a video set to Kool & the Gang's "Celebration," which, given recent cuts, was not particularly well received.’ (Max Tani)

News publishers see Google’s AI search tool as a traffic-destroying nightmare (Wall Street Journal)

State Dept.’s fight against disinformation comes under attack (New York Times) / Misinformation is eroding the foundation of democracy , study shows (ScienceDirect)

'We wanted to keep chasing it': How student journalists at Harvard and Penn are beating big-time reporters to the punch (Vanity Fair)

Press Freedom

Masha Gessen won a ‘political thought’ prize. Then they wrote on Gaza (Washington Post) / New Yorker writer's Gaza essay lands them in hot water (Daily Beast)

Judge finds 'no evidence' of malice in New Hampshire Public Radio journalist's notes on sexual misconduct story (WBUR)

Azerbaijani journalist Hafiz Babali latest arrest in Abzas media crackdown (Committee to Protect Journalists)

“Are you baking for the holidays? The term preheat is acceptable to refer to heating an oven to a specific temperature before cooking. And either frosting or icing can be used to describe a topping of sugar, butter and other ingredients on cookies, cakes and other pastries.”

-- AP Stylebook via X

Beyond college media: Training the next generation of journalists

“If college media is supposed to be the training ground for hard-hitting journalism, students need support and resources from older generations to continue their work. For campus newspapers at universities without journalism classes, working journalists can give their time by leading FOIA or data reporting workshops. Professional newsrooms can donate old equipment or sponsor academic year and summer internships. Professional industry associations like NABJ, ONA, IRE, and others are already on the right track by offering scholarships and reduced rates for membership, conventions, and award submission fees. It’s important to spread these resources equitably across the ecosystem as well, recognizing that some university papers are more supported and resourced than their counterparts .”

-- Alex Perry, former editor-in-chief of The Daily Northwestern and incoming intern at The Washington Post, Nieman Prediction, “College media remains the news industry’s younger, cooler aunt”

🎓 2024 NPC scholarship applications are open 🎓

The National Press Club and the Institute are currently accepting applications for all 2024 scholarships. Opportunities are available for high school, college, and graduate journalism students . Please share with a student journalist in your life — winter break is a great time to work on applications! Learn more here .

Resources

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This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Bara Vaida, and Holly Butcher Grant. 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.