February 8, 2022

Top stories

■ ‘This is my fault’: Former New York Times editorial page editor James Bennet takes the stand as Sarah Palin trial delves into New York Times editing standards (Washington Post) / ‘Bennet took the blame for the erroneous phrases he inserted into the story. He said he wanted to make sure the editorial was published by a deadline around 8 p.m., when it could make it into the next day's print edition, he testified.’ (Insider) ■ 'At the end of his testimony today, Bennet explained something that may not make sense to non journalists: why the NYT does not apologize in its corrections.’ (David Folkenflik) / ‘The NYT policy against apologizing over corrections isn't as callous as it may seem. It's a solution to the problem that arises when you apologize for *every* mistake. "We regret the error" sort of loses its sincerity when it's attached to every correction.’ (Erik Wemple) / NY Times fact-checker missed assertion about Palin in 2017 editorial (New York Post) ■ ‘Jurors have been tasked with deciding whether Bennet and the Times acted with “actual malice” when they used the disputed wording in the editorial—meaning that the former editor knew what he had written in piece was false—or that he published the piece with “reckless disregard” for the truth.’ (Daily Beast) / Opinion: Palin trial exposes the allure of 'both sides' journalism (Washington Post) ■ Why didn't Vanity Fair break the Jeffrey Epstein story? (New Yorker) ■ Women spoke up, men cried conspiracy: inside Axel Springer's #MeToo moment (Financial Times)  ■ RIP, Jeff Zucker's masterful morning show: ‘I’m convinced the best show he ever produced was one almost no one saw: his morning meeting, which took place every weekday’ (Time.com) / ‘I would like to see CNN evolve back to the kind of journalism that it started with, and actually have journalists, which would be unique and refreshing’ (Variety) ■ Top editor exits after clash with CBS News boss over rescue of Afghan journalists (New York Post)  ■ 'I'm doing the things I never had a chance to do:' Why leaving journalism and coming back was the right decision (Poynter)  ■ NBC says Leslie Jones is 'free' to live-tweet the Olympics (Los Angeles Times) / ‘She is a super fan of the Olympics and we are super fans of her.’ (AP) Press freedom ■ Olympics put China's press intimidation on full display (Axios)  ■ Helmets and body armor: How Ukraine's press corps is prepping to cover a possible war (Committee to Protect Journalists)   ■ Surge in journalist murders in Mexico fuels public outcry (CBS News) / President Lopez Obrador won't stop attacking Mexico's journalists (Forbes)

“The practice of keeping a journal helped build my powers of observation, as well as the skill of articulating the abstract and ephemeral. A writer’s job, as I see it, is to take the raw material of life and imagination—both of which are messy, hard to pin down—and transpose it to convey life on the page. It takes practice and discipline to build these skills, not to mention curiosity and drive.” -- Daphne Palasi Andreades, author, via PEN America’s PEN Ten

Manager's Minute: How do I get people to read my emails? Jill Geisler, Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity at Loyola University Chicago and Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership, with advice for sending important, readable emails.

Watch next: What are your top communication tips to bring the team together from afar? Get more career advice: Read Jill's columns | Watch Manager's Minute videos

National Press Club scholarship applications open for journalism students

Aspiring journalists can apply now for any of four National Press Club scholarships for students committed to a career in journalism.  Applications are open for each of the four scholarships offered in 2022, valued at $50,000 total. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 18. The Scholarship for Journalism Diversity Honoring Julie Schoo is a $5,000 scholarship awarded to a high school senior. The purpose of the scholarship, named for the former executive director of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, is to recruit promising future journalists who will bring diversity to American journalism. The award can be renewed up to three years, for a total of $20,000 toward educational expenses. The Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $5,000 named for a long-time National Press Club member who died in 2008 and endowed a scholarship in aid of high school seniors who wish to pursue a career in journalism.  The Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship, established in 2021, supports diversity within the field of broadcast journalism while honoring longtime radio journalist Wes Vernon, a former National Press Club member. The scholarship is $5,000 per year awarded to a student who demonstrates a commitment to a career in broadcast journalism. The award can be renewed up to three years, for a total of $20,000 toward educational expenses. The award is open to any student at any stage in their career pursuing an education in broadcast journalism. The Dennis and Shirley Feldman Fellowship recognizes a student pursuing graduate studies in journalism with a one-time stipend of $5,000 to help defray tuition costs. Application instructions, including eligibility requirements, are available here. Applications will close at 5 p.m. ET Friday, March 18, 2022.

National Press Club news National Press Club begins accepting entries for annual journalism awards  AMA President Gerald Harmon plans to address COVID-19 crisis as it enters its third year (Feb. 24, 11 a.m. ET) Special event with Club member Jason Rezaian about his podcast, 544 Days (March 16, 6:30 p.m. ET)

Resources 8 signs I've used to track my growth as a photographer Saving American journalism talk with Evan Smith and Errin Haines (Feb. 10, 8 p.m. ET) How to avoid libel in your reporting (Feb. 16, 12 p.m. ET)

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. If you value this newsletter, consider supporting The Latest with a tax-deductible, recurring gift to the Institute: Even $5 a month will help fund the technology and time it takes to provide this important service.

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SUPPORT THE INSTITUTE 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.