News and information to help journalists serve the public and stay safe.
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Ressa, a Fulbright scholar, Princeton graduate and former CNN bureau chief, has been the target of repeated efforts by the government of President Rodrigo Duterte to silence her.
Her conviction on June 14 prompted
an outcry from press freedom organizations
across the world, including the National Press Club and the National Press Club Journalism Institute. She could face up to six years in prison.
Each year, the Club gives its Aubuchon award to one journalist from the United States and one from overseas who bravely push to disclose the truth in trying circumstances. The award is named after a former Club president who fervently advocated for press freedom. The Club will announce the domestic award honoree in the coming weeks.
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“Now more than ever, news organizations must bridge the gap between themselves and the public,” the station says on its News Literacy page. “In this ongoing series, we share with you how we cover the news, and we work to dispel the misunderstandings people have about journalism.”
We emailed Donatelli to find out how the series has been received and how connecting with the public is affecting its journalistic decisions.
Has the response prompted you to make any changes about how you present the news?
Donatelli
: We’ve examined and changed the way we cover the news as a direct response to feedback we receive on social media. The biggest example of this is
how we report the state’s coronavirus stats every day
. Like the other stations in town, we used to blast the raw numbers at our readers as soon as they came out every day at 2, and that was a frustrating experience for readers who were craving more nuance and depth. Now we plug those numbers into a series of charts and graphs, and we layer in context provided by the data as well as comments from health officials.
How has the confluence of news events — pandemic, unemployment, racial justice -— been reflected in the questions your audience raises with you? What interests or concerns them most about the news coverage?
Donatelli
: There’s a rising sense of frustration mixed with a genuine desire to know more. Some readers have very real concerns, for example, about whether the stories we’re doing on coronavirus accurately reflect reality as they attempt to navigate a new and sometimes scary world. We discuss those concerns and try to factor them in. Sometimes they become stories.
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The National Press Club Journalism Institute is spotlighting
the next generation of journalists
, students who graduated from college or Master’s programs this spring into
a challenging job market
. We hope they’ll meet future bosses and colleagues here, who will reach out and support them in building journalism’s future together.
School
:
University of Southern California
Location
:
Los Angeles, CA
Languages
:
Fluent in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian
Journalism hero
: Anderson Cooper
What's been your best moment in journalism?
Wenz
: The conversations. My curiosity about wanting to know who was in charge of singing the “Friends” theme song brought me to Allee Willis, the songwriter. I ended up being the last person in the world to
interview her
before she unexpectedly passed away in December (video below). My curiosity as a journalist brought me to someone so unique and special, with a story that is quite unimaginable. This is why I love doing what I do. I truly believe everyone has a story.
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What's the wackiest story you've worked on?
Wenz
:
This story
was about a "Cuddle Sanctuary." Basically, it's a group of people who come together to get cuddled. I decided to sit in on one of the cuddle programs. It definitely added to my story but I would not recommend attending.
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Advice from
Jill Geisler
, Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity, Loyola University Chicago, Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership
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When is the last time you wiped down your workspace?
If your pandemic routine is anything like ours, you’re washing your face masks and hands, well, all the time. Cleaning phones, computer screens, your watch face, or other surfaces? Not as frequently.
One tip: Select products
based on your end game
: Cleaning removes germs; disinfecting kills germs; sanitizing reduces the number of germs.
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This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Holly Butcher Grant, Jim Kuhnhenn, and Julie Moos.
Send us your questions and suggestions
for topics to cover.
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