August 5, 2021

Top stories

■ 'Judge us by what we publish, not by the questions we ask': Albany editor talks with the New Yorker about how Gov. Cuomo holds on to power (New Yorker) / Reporter who said Gov. Cuomo bullied her cooperated with AG probe: ‘My experience was not unique’ (Fox News)  / CNN’s Cuomo conundrum: A star anchor with a brother in trouble (New York Times) / Why CNN anchor Chris Cuomo's ethical failures hurt all journalists (Detroit Free Press) / CNN president Jeff Zucker will stay longer than this year, but how much longer is unclear (CNBC)  ■ ‘In the past week, we have been made aware of three employees who were coming to the office unvaccinated. All three have been terminated,’ said CNN president Jeff Zucker in email to staff (New York Times)  ■ CNN has postponed the return-to-office date & is now targeting mid-October. (Oliver Darcy) / CBS delays return to offices until October (Variety) / Amazon delays return to office date to January 2022 due to COVID-19 (The Wrap)  ■ Sewell Chan of L.A. Times to lead Texas Tribune newsroom (New York Times) / ‘I want to thank Sewell for being “all in” and approaching each team he worked with and project he took on with urgency, curiosity and professionalism,’ said L.A. Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong (L.A. Times) ■ Peter Doocy and Jen Psaki’s daily clashes have become a White House briefing room ritual (Washington Post) / Meet Jen Psaki's army of White House press staffers (Insider)  ■ Read the letter President Joe Biden sent, dated Aug. 3, in support of the Capital Gazette and the freedom of the press in the aftermath of the June 2018 mass shooting at the newspaper office and the recent trial verdict. (Capital Gazette)   ■ Man admits he sent death threats to NY reporter who covered Catholic Church sex scandals (syracuse.com) ■ ’I will mourn my daughter forever. But I was one of the lucky ones,’ writes CNN reporter (New York Times) ■ TV journalist comes out, reveals engagement to Texas weatherman. ‘Being gay saved me’ (Charlotte Observer) ■ Who says kickers are flakes? This one wants to be a journalist (L.A. Times)  ■ Democracy dies in darkness. It turns out, foxes steal newspapers in darkness, too. (Washington Post) ■ Photographer Christopher Lee was at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Here's what it was like to return to the story for TIME's Mike Fanone cover (TIME) ■ In photojournalist’s copyright case, Judge evaluates use of 9/11 footage in 16 films (Hollywood Reporter)  ■ Patricia Kennealy-Morrison, pioneering rock journalist, fantasy novelist and partner to Jim Morrison, dies at 75 (Variety)  Press freedom ■ News photographers file civil rights lawsuit against New York City police department (NPPA) ■ The mistake investors make by ignoring crackdowns on press freedom (Bloomberg)    ■ ​​Human rights reporter sentenced to 3.5 years in Chinese prison (CPJ)  ■ Sign this petition to help free Austin Tice, who was taken in Syria nearly 9 years ago while covering the conflict for McClatchy, the Washington Post (Change.org)

Education reporters have witnessed and documented the pandemic’s enormous effects on students, parents, teachers, administrators, and their communities. With so many voices – and quickly changing policies going into the next academic year – how can an education reporter lift the voices of those most impacted?  In “Think Outside The Classroom: How to diversify education sources and the stories we tell,” a distinguished panel of veteran education reporters and editors will share their techniques for finding and shaping stories driven by the voices of those underrepresented in education coverage, including families of color, students with disabilities, rural residents, families experiencing homelessness, and others facing circumstances that impact their learning.  Registration is open for this virtual discussion, which will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. Participants will learn how to:   Move from authority-driven sourcing and framing to community-driven sourcing and framing Avoid tokenism and stereotypes: Listen for and represent the truth between the extremes of success and despair in underrepresented communities Cover dailies and in-depth stories with sensitivity, respect, and completeness The Institute is offering this program at no cost thanks to a generous grant from the Gannett Foundation.

Manager's Minute: I’m head of a big group. How involved should I be in day-to-day operations?

Jill Geisler, Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity at Loyola University Chicago and Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership, on how to balance the bigger picture strategic goals with daily operations.

Get more career advice: Read Jill's columns | Watch Manager's Minute videos

NBC News’ Lester Holt, whose seasoned career in journalism over four decades and role as anchor of “NBC Nightly News” has earned him the title as most-trusted anchor in America, will receive the National Press Club’s most esteemed prize, the Fourth Estate Award, at a gala in his honor on Oct. 20, 2021 in Washington, D.C. Holt will be the 49th recipient of the Fourth Estate Award, which recognizes journalists who have made significant contributions to the field. Previous winners include Susan Zirinsky, Marty Baron, Dean Baquet, Wolf Blitzer, Gwen Ifill, Andrea Mitchell, Amanda Bennett, Walter Cronkite, Christiane Amanpour, and many others.  The 2021 Fourth Estate Award Gala will occur in two parts, with the presentation of the National Press Club’s press freedom and investigative journalism awards during a virtual celebration, followed by an in-person celebration of Lester Holt live at the National Press Club. The fundraiser, attended by hundreds of members, guests, and media luminaries, raises the majority of the operating expenses for the Club’s nonprofit affiliate, the National Press Club Journalism Institute. Sponsorships opportunities are available. The Institute advocates for press freedom worldwide, equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire civic engagement, and provides scholarships to aspiring journalists. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

Resources Local Media Association Digital Revenue Summit 2021 (Aug. 9-12) Trusting News: Earning trust with communities of color (Oct. 25-Nov. 19)  News Philanthropy Summit (Nov. 3-4)

This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Holly Butcher Grant and Julie Moos. Send us your questions and suggestions for topics to cover. Get this from a friend? Subscribe, and view the archives.

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