The Latest: L.A. Times buyouts; End of comments?; Remembering the Capital Gazette shooting victims; News publishers’ Instagram growth

June 28, 2023

■ U.S. ‘very stridently’ asking Russia for better access to detained reporter Evan Gershkovich, White House says (MarketWatch)

■ FCC chair ‘exploring options’ on new streaming regulations in response to Congress (Next TV)

■ L.A. Times opens up buyout option to all editorial staff amid layoffs (The Wrap) / Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corp. offers buyouts to reporters (Current)

■ ‘A memo to New York Times staffers today demonstrates how the Times’ efforts to distribute print copies around the country have been hobbled by the hollowing-out of local news . It points out that printing plants in Los Angeles and Buffalo will be shutting down later this year.’ (Erik Wemple)

■ Cyberattack hits Black news website (journal-isms.com)

■ Two Alden papers, the Boston Herald and The Denver Post, will end commenting (Media Nation)

■ BIA lowers 2023 U.S. local ad estimate to $161.7B (TV News Check)

■ Penn State's Daily Collegian student newspaper could lose all university funding by 2025 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

■ USA Today resumes its bestseller list for books after monthslong hiatus (Associated Press)

■ Live news is coming to Max: Warner Bros. Discovery to add CNN on streaming service (Bloomberg)

■ The AP debuts new website designed to attract more ad spend (Adweek)

■ Ranked: News publishers' Instagram growth from 2021 to 2023 (Press Gazette)

Press Freedom

■ Husband of jailed Iranian journalist says wife denied meeting with lawyer (VOA)

■ National Press Club statement on the continued online harassment of Wall Street Journal reporter Sabrina Siddiqui (NPC/JI)

■ Dozens of Polish media outlets jointly condemn attempts by authorities to restrict journalistic freedom (Notes From Poland)

■ Generative AI might make it easier to target journalists , researchers say (VOA)

“When it comes to encouraging boredom in disability-led coverage , make a list of stories that integrated disability when it wasn’t the main thing. Maybe it was a mention of paratransit services in a city council article, maybe it was a brief mention of disabled student graduation rates in a broader piece about your state’s education data. Whatever the story may be, and they’re out there, write down three takeaways about how disability was integrated into the story in a way that wasn’t akin to a hammer over the head. Then, take what you write about and select three broad story ideas where you can make disability a part of the story without making it the focal point.”

-- John Loeppky, freelance journalist, “How to look inward for innovation in disability-led journalism”

“In whatever manner you want to mark this transition, I hope you approach it with love and joy for yourself. Getting laid off made me feel like one of many cogs getting deleted inside a giant corporate machine, but being able to gather and laugh with my chosen family and friends did help me feel like a person again . It helped me feel really grateful for what I have, which is a community that will be there for me, especially in these uncertain times. If you’ve been laid off, I hope that you have that, too.”

-- Eli Chen, science and radio journalist, “Why I threw a 'layoff shower' for myself”

The Lewis Scholarship: Share with a student journalist today

The National Press Club and the Institute are currently accepting applications for the Fall 2023 Lewis Scholarship. This opportunity, which began in 2023, provides free housing and a monthly stipend to support student journalists of color who plan to intern at news media outlets in Washington, D.C.

➡️ Applications are due July 20 ⬅️

The Lewis Scholarship has an estimated value of $10,000 and will be awarded to one undergraduate student journalist of color each fall, spring, and summer semester. The scholarship will provide a stipend of $1,000 per month and free housing provided through Washington Intern Student Housing for the duration of the student’s internship, usually four months.

Resources

This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco 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.