The Latest: Columbia University protests + media coverage; New Voice of America leader; Earth Day reporting tip; White House Correspondents dinner preview

April 22, 2024

Top stories

'Battle over credibility ': Ex-tabloid publisher David Pecker testifies in Trump's hush money trial (MSNBC) / Where jurors in Trump hush-money trial say they get their news (New York Times) / New York courts to release daily transcripts from Trump hush money trial (Axios) / The CNN anchor who narrated a self-immolation outside Trump’s trial (Washington Post)

The media maelstrom around the Columbia University protests and media comparisons to 1968 (Columbia Journalism Review)

The U.S. Agency for Global Media names Freedom House president Michael Abramowitz as new Voice of America director (Voice of America)

Climate change means new industries and new scandals for reporters to learn to cover (Columbia Journalism Review) / The U.S. website making ad-funded journalism about the environment work (Press Gazette)

The 25 most-cited U.S. news organizations lost 75% of their Facebook engagement between first quarters of 2022 and 2024…right-leaning outlets lost more (Washington Post) / Twitter alternative Post News is shutting down . Mastodon and Bluesky are still standing (The Verge)

How TikTok has influenced U.S. culture and shaped news, music, political campaigns, national security and more (New York Times) / U.S.-China Internet war intensifies as House passes TikTok ban (Wall Street Journal) / Five observations on the TikTok bill and the First Amendment (Lawfare)

Axel Springer, a German-based media company, sees the Wall Street Journal as a ‘top acquisition target’ company insiders say (Semafor)

Why did WAMU close DCist? Interviews show management’s contradictory, unclear messaging about its closure of DCist (Washingtonian)

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette faces possible injunction in union row (HuffPost)

A network of local news sites with close ties to the Democratic party are ramping up advertising spending to target progressive voters ahead of the 2024 election (Semafor)

In ‘The Rulebreaker,’ journalist Susan Page pays tribute to pioneering journalist Barbara Walters who survived being both a punchline and an icon (New York Times)

The Arena Group, publisher of TheStreet, Men’s Journal and Parade, appoints Sara Silverstein as chief executive (Arena Group) / Sean McDevitt named Inside Radio managing editor (Inside Radio) / Agence France-Presse’s global editor-in-chief Sophie Huet named deputy global news director for editorial innovation and AI (Agence France-Presse)

New York lawmakers pass $90 million in tax credits for local news outlets (The Wrap) / A bill that would place public notices on a government website , depriving local newspapers of revenue … is now on the governor’s desk in Maryland (Media Post)

This weekend, the annual White House Correspondents dinner will cap off what is informally known in Washington as silly season (POLITICO) / White House Correspondents’ dinner preview : POTUS, politics, media & showbiz converge for D.C.’s party-palooza (Variety)

Press Freedom

‘Through his life and his work, Terry Anderson reminded us that journalism is a dangerous business , and foreign correspondents, in particular, take great personal risk to keep the public informed’ (NPC/JI statement on Anderson’s passing)

New England Journal of Medicine begins limiting access for certain news organizations (MedPage Today) / Trump campaign denies press credentials for several journalists, often after tough questions or articles (Vanity Fair)

Lawrence high school journalism students convince district in Kansas to reverse course on AI surveillance they say violates freedom of press (The Lawrence Times)

‘Paste magazine leaves byline off negative Taylor Swift review ‘due to how in 2019 when Paste reviewed ‘Lover,’ the writer was sent threats of violence from readers who disagreed… We care more about the safety of our staff than a name attached to an article’ (Paste Magazine)

Kozik Environmental Justice Reporting Grants: 2024 applications open. $10,000 to $25,000 grants to support your environmental justice reporting project. Apply by April 24, 2024.

Earth Day tip for reporting on carbon offsets

“Carbon offsetting is a controversial tool in the fight against global heating. Oversight by journalists is essential and has already had a major impact . ... Investigations can be conducted on a number of fronts: whether carbon offset projects are valid, who is benefiting, and who is not. There is potential for collaboration between journalists in the Global North and Global South because most offset projects are created in the developing world but used by companies in the developed world.”

-- Toby McIntosh, senior advisor for GIJN’s Resource Center, excerpt from “Reporter’s guide to investigating carbon offsets ” (Global Investigative Journalism Network)

Ethics in an age of disinformation series: Join us for final two webinars

How journalists can champion news literacy and empower communities

Join a robust discussion among experts whose work focuses on news and information literacy and finding ways to help the public fact-check information.

This virtual session, taking place at 11:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 24 , invites journalists, educators, community leaders, and the public to explore practices to help empower individuals to “stop the spread” of harmful information through ethical, personal decision-making.

How journalists can spot and disarm current tactics to influence voters

This discussion will offer a practical look at current tactics used by disinformation specialists to disrupt the 2024 election and what journalists can do to counter them.

This virtual session, taking place at 11:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 1 , will empower journalists with the tools to challenge election-specific disinformation and lies with tact and authority while respecting audiences who may be vulnerable to such campaigns.

Tips for job hunting from the Washington Post

“For workers facing a potential layoff or for those who already have been cut, the stress of job hunting can be overwhelming. [The Washington Post’s] Help Desk can assist you in navigating the process, such as by informing you of what to do before returning your work devices, helping you prepare for an AI interview, and offering best practices for getting noticed by your next employer… Take a look at these apps and tools to help you land your next gig.”

-- Danielle Abril , excerpt: "From work devices to resumes: Resources to help you navigate a layoff" (Washington Post)

Resources

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.