The Latest: MAGA media + tariffs; AP Fund for Journalism; Broadcast TV’s troubles; ‘Stop AI Theft’

April 8, 2025

■ Broadcast television is in trouble . Stations are asking Washington for help (Los Angeles Times)

■ Trump and Paramount agree on mediator in ‘60 Minutes’ lawsuit (New York Times) / Paramount-Skydance merger deadline extended 90 days as FCC approval remains in limbo (The Wrap)

■ Major publishers call on the US government to ‘Stop AI Theft’ (The Verge) / Will AI save the news ? (New Yorker) / Audiences are still skeptical about generative AI in the news (Poynter)

■ US student journalists go dark fearing Trump crusade against pro-Palestinian speech (The Guardian) / Journalism advisory organizations issue rare alert to student news outlets (Nieman Reports) / Student journalists grapple with publishing protesters’ names (Inside Higher Ed)

■ MSNBC taps Crooked Media and NBC News veteran Madeleine Haeringer to lead digital efforts (Hollywood Reporter) / Indian journalist Mitali Mukherjee named director of the Reuters Institute (Reuters Institute) / Kenya Young named Louisville Public Media CEO (Current) / David Herszenhorn named European affairs editor (Washington Post) / Siobhán O’Grady named Ukraine bureau chief (Washington Post) / Marshall Ramsey hired to launch new Ole Miss news operation (University of Mississippi)

■ Gannett launches a standalone true crime subscription powered by local journalism (Nieman Journalism Lab)

■ AP Fund for Journalism announces board of directors, 1st program with nearly 50 local newsrooms (Associated Press)

■ Which types of people aren’t big fans of ‘impartial’ news ? People who don’t have power (Nieman Journalism Lab)

How journalists can be more efficient in their FOIA requests

Advice from Nate Jones, FOIA director at The Washington Post.

Never file a "fishing expedition" request. Do your front-end reporting by reading documents and talking to people to find out what records actually exist. Then file.

Always request records, not "information." Describe the record as specifically as possible including date created, title, and custodian of the records so that agency officials can find it as easily as possible.

If the agency asks you to narrow after you've filed a well-crafted request, get on the phone with an official and ask them to describe the responsive or potentially responsive records and request only what you are really interested in. See if you can "horse trade" to get an earlier estimated date of completion for your records in exchange for narrowing the request.

Read our recent Sunshine Week interview with Jones for more FOIA tips.

Understanding reporting security risks in your newsroom

“Newsrooms may see more subpoenas seeking their communications and reporting material. … Journalists should be cognizant of the documentation that they generate and keep. An unflattering private message to a colleague, for example, could be unearthed in court — as was the case earlier this year when a jury found CNN guilty of defaming a security contractor. ... One area of vulnerability is third-party providers that journalists might use during their reporting. That includes communications platforms like Gmail and Slack, as well as transcription services like Otter. Newsrooms should understand those platforms’ document retention policies and how they would respond to a subpoena . Newsrooms can try to negotiate with these third-party providers to get assurances on these issues.”

-- Angela Fu , reporter at Poynter, excerpt from "Legal experts advise journalists to strengthen reporting security in the face of rising press restrictions " (Poynter)

Resources

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.