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November 5, 2020
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The 2020 Virtual Fourth Estate Award Gala will be the first of its kind, historic in the evening’s long tradition of honoring journalists who have made significant contributions to the field. This year’s gala will present the elegant face-to-face experience you expect but from the comfort and safety of your own home. 

Ed Yong, the staff writer at The Atlantic who has been shaping our collective understanding of the coronavirus and its impact, will receive the National Press Club Journalism Institute’s 2020 Neil and Susan Sheehan award for investigative journalism. His in-depth analytical writing has explained everything from the mask debate to long-haulers to how the coronavirus has seeped into America’s fault lines, and why the United States has been hit more severely than most other countries. Through 5,000-word features, interviews, Twitter updates, even advice to young journalists, Yong has shown compassion and integrity that best reflects the Sheehans’ work.

Join us on Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. to celebrate Yong and Fourth Estate honoree Susan Zirinsky (CBS News President), Aubuchon press freedom honorees Linda Tirado (freelance author and photographer) and Maria Ressa (Rappler CEO). Tickets are available for purchase.
Help your team stay healthy:

  • Start with the assumption that they deserve to take breaks. Model it, and stop feeling guilty about it. Your boss and your company truly don’t want you to risk your physical or mental well-being, just like you don’t want your team to risk theirs.
  • Revisit your priorities. What are tasks that must be done right now and what can wait? Let people know which tasks can sit for a bit.
  • Develop an “away” communication strategy that lets people know you’ve left your desk but are reachable for urgent issues. (And define what rises to the level of “urgent.”)
  • Ask everyone to block off time on their calendars that is just for them and is protected from hijacking — even if it’s dinner with family or a 15-minute walk to clear their heads. And do the same thing for yourself. 
  • Finally, give everyone permission to take timeouts — say it out loud (and repeat it) so the overly-doubtful or dutiful know it with certainty.

Advice from Jill Geisler, Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity, Loyola University Chicago, Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership

Click here to read Jill’s previous posts.
Election stress keeping you up at night?

We all know that sleep is an important component to physical and mental well being, from improving brain function to heart health. But in times of turbulence, falling — and staying — asleep can be an uphill battle. 

Here are simple steps to take control over your sleep routine and get some rest.

  • An obvious culprit of sleeplessness is caffeine. Try to avoid consuming caffeine at least four to six hours before bedtime. (You may also want to abstain from alcohol late at night.)
  • Live on a brightly lit street? Artificial light can interfere with your body’s internal clock, so it may be time to invest in blackout curtains or an eye mask to help you fall asleep.
  • Find your perfect sleeping temperature. Setting the thermostat too hot — or cold — can be disruptive, which is why some experts recommend a room at 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Incorporate exercise throughout the day — except right before bed.
  • Avoid doomscrolling through social media or news sites at least 30 minutes before trying to fall asleep. This can help avoid raising your levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
  • Enjoy an herbal tea or light snack at the end of the night. Chamomile — a natural sedative — is a great addition to your nighttime routine.
  • Don’t put yourself to bed until you are actually tired. And if you do wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back asleep within 20 minutes, consider getting out of bed and doing something else until you are tired again.
  • Challenge yourself not to look at the clock while you fall asleep. Constantly checking the time is not productive and can add to your stress levels.
  • Bonus tip: If you find yourself sleepy during the day, try taking a 30-minute nap to reset.

Read on for more self-care tips, or share how you are taking care of yourself right now.
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.

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