The Latest: The Onion buys InfoWars; Dotdash Meredith layoffs; ‘eXodus’ to Bluesky

Nov. 14, 2024

Top stories

■ Satire publication The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars at auction with Sandy Hook families' backing (Associated Press) / The press release announcing The Onion's acquisition of Infowars.’ (Max Tani)

■ The election proved the media is in crisis . Here’s what it needs to do to regain its relevance (CNN) / Viewers flee MSNBC, and flock to Fox News , in wake of election (New York Times) / Where did Election Night TV viewers disappear to ? New data suggests they flocked to YouTube (Hollywood Reporter) / Trump talked twice as much as Harris on the campaign trail. A detailed analysis shows the gap in speaking times across various platforms. (New York Times)

■ How Pete Hegseth went from Fox News host to Trump’s Defense Secretary pick (CNN)

■ Dotdash Meredith cuts 53 jobs as print business remains 'challenged' (The Wrap) / Los Angeles radio station KFI-AM (640) news division gutted by layoffs (Los Angeles Times)

■ Trump may usher in massive TV station land grab (Hollywood Reporter)

■ Disney’s earnings outlook rises as streaming unit posts gains (Wall Street Journal)

■ Craig Melvin is named Hoda Kotb’s replacement on ‘Today’ (New York Times) / Liz Seymour named managing editor for The Washington Post (Washington Post) / Nexstar appoints Bill Sammon as senior vice president of Washington, D.C., editorial content for The Hill and NewsNation (Nexstar) / CNN promotes David Chalian to senior vice president and Washington bureau chief (CNN) / ABC News elevates James Longman to chief international correspondent (Variety) / Grist names Katherine Bagley as editor-in-chief, restructures editorial team (Grist) / Elizabeth Hoekenga Whitmire joins The Post as newsletters director (Washington Post) / Austin daily hires Karoline Leonard as tech reporter (Talking Biz News)

■ How Chris Wallace cut the cord (Puck)

■ Dow Jones launches Factiva Smart Summary (Dow Jones) / Newsletter platform beehiiv launches multi-million dollar journalism fund (Axios)

■ Why the Guardian is no longer posting on X (The Guardian) / Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia to stop publishing on X (Semafor) / eXodus to Bluesky (Oliver Darcy) / Bluesky gains 1 million new users after U.S. election (Associated Press)

■ Young people don’t read news? Research from Newsworks suggests otherwise (The Media Leader) / Should all schools have student newspapers ? (New York Times) / Norwich University student newspaper in standoff with administration (VTDigger)

■ The Wall Street Journal’s campaign to free Evan Gershkovich (Columbia Journalism Review)

Press freedom

■ Trump expected to shake up White House briefing room (Axios) / Trump threatens New York Times , Penguin Random House over critical coverage (Columbia Journalism Review) / Trump vs. media moves back to the White House (Wall Street Journal)

■ The PRESS Act, shielding journalists from U.S. government spying , stalls as Senate Democrats juggle legislative priorities before ceding control on Jan. 3 (Wired)

■ Two Somali men sentenced to 30 years for kidnapping of American journalist (The Hill)

■ Rights groups condemn Bangladesh for canceling accreditation of 167 journalists (Associated Press)

3 tips for framing LGBTQ+ stories this year and beyond

Trans people and DEIB programs are in the crosshairs of state leaders, legislatures, policy makers, and school boards. Journalists must be prepared to responsibly report and share the impact of these efforts.

Here are some reporting tips shared by journalists covering these issues during a webinar produced by the National Press Club Journalism Institute with support from the Trans Journalists Association earlier this year.

When you are sourcing trans and LGBTQ+ stories, explain your reporting process to help build trust . Give sources the room to not answer questions they aren’t comfortable with. Let them know the risks of facing harassment for talking with you.

If you are covering policy, such as health, sports, or other legislation, find out what instigated the legislation and who the lawmaker worked with to draft the bill . Who funded it? Include the many different voices of people who have been directly impacted by that legislative effort. Ask yourself: What question hasn’t been asked or what story the media is missing on the topic.

To find voices for your stories, look to social media groups and organizations that support trans and LGBTQ+ individuals . If you are looking to interview people under the age of 18: Many news organizations will require you to get parental consent, so look for parental groups that support trans and LGBTQ+ kids.

Watch the discussion or read more advice .

Self-care Tip: Take intentional breaks to improve your work

“I schedule time off in order to do my best work. ... We journalists are knowledge workers. Our bodies are more than containers for our brains. We must care for them with healthy food, exercise, and rest, in order to be at our most creative, productive, healthy and happy. Reams of research has found that pushing ourselves beyond a 40 or 50 hour workweek does nothing but increase burnout and work mistakes . For professionals who create our own schedules, this means being intentional about when we don’t work — as well as when we do.”

-- Katherine Reynolds Lewis , award-winning independent journalist, author, and speaker, excerpt from “Scheduling rest is crucial for good journalism ” (Reynolds Journalism Institute)

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This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Holly Butcher Grant, Elliot C. Williams, and Mitch Harle. 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.