Jan. 6, 2026

■ ‘Five years ago today, I pulled on a bulletproof vest to cover what should have been a ceremonial vote count at the U.S. Capitol. When the MAGA mob swarmed me, calling me vermin and traitor, my nervous system went into a survival mode … I got out alive. But I didn't stay unscathed.’ (Kate Woodsome) / WTOP reporter recounts the Capitol riot of Jan. 6, five years later (WTOP) / For one reporter, Jan. 6 evokes sad memories of a precious place (Roll Call) / A reporter's memories from inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6: Building tension, then chaos (Newsday) 

■ ‘After carrying out a military operation that deposed Venezuela's authoritarian leader, the Pentagon is choosing to ice out journalists in favor of sycophantic media figures.’ (Status) / Trump administration thanks the media for keeping quiet before the strike that captured Maduro (Associated Press) / Venezuela detained and deported members of the foreign press (New York Times) / National Press Club condemns detention of journalists in Venezuela (National Press Club)

■ New York Times case against Pentagon will move quickly (New York Times)

■ Feds appeal 'overbroad' block on excessive use of DHS force on journalists (Courthouse News Service)

■ What the dissolution of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting means (Columbia Journalism Review) / ‘NPR's statement on CPB's closure.’ (Scott Nover)

■ Tony Dokoupil’s ‘CBS Evening News’ debut included a big flub, but you won’t see it on streaming. Here’s why (Hollywood Reporter) 

■ Ex-New York Times editor claims senior staff are 'militant' about their anti-trans stance (PinkNews) / 'The New York Times responds to a recent Q&A with a transgender former editor from the Times that was published by Trans News Network and went viral on Bluesky…' (Benjamin Ryan)

■ Ron DeSantis destroyed the Pulse memorial. A major newspaper is fighting his secrecy. (LGBTQ Nation)

■ Sun Sentinel journalists ratify historic first contract (The NewsGuild) 

■ Will Welch to leave GQ after 7 years as its top editor (New York Times) / Lynch departs Reuters for CBS News (Talking Biz News) / Longtime local journalist David O. Williams joins Vail Daily as business editor (VailDaily.com) / The New York Times is staffing up in video (Nieman Journalism Lab) / A Q&A with journalist Andrew DeMillo, new editor at the Arkansas Advocate (Arkansas Advocate) / CT Mirror hires new education reporter, business team members (CT Mirror) / Caroline Ammerlaan named CEO of Hearst Magazines Netherlands (Hearst via Editor and Publisher)

■ Can two Detroit papers survive a split? (Columbia Journalism Review)

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AP style and the em dash

“Some people love them. Some people loathe them. ChatGPT’s deep, emotional attachment to the em dash means we’re about to see a whole lot more of them. So let’s at least use them correctly. The AP Stylebook allows em dashes in several specific situations (true nerds know that they’re called em dashes because they’re roughly the width of a capital M): 

• To signal abrupt change (The deal looked final — until regulators stepped in.)
• As one option to set off a series within a phrase (The committee included editors — print, digital and broadcast — from across the newsroom.)
• Before attribution to an author or composer in some formats (The medium is the message. — Marshall McLuhan)
• After datelines (WASHINGTON — The White House said Tuesday …)
• To introduce a list (The memo outlined three priorities — staffing, budgeting and accountability.)”

-- Ren LaForme, managing editor of Poynter.org, excerpt from "6 things you think are AP style rules that aren’t actually AP style rules" (Poynter) 

Resources

• AI, intellectual property, and the emerging legal landscape (Jan. 22, noon ET)
• On Demand: Stay ahead of 2026 digital reporting trends with new investigative tools workshop (Journalism Courses by Knight Center) 
• Video: Covering the education of English learners amid federal policy shifts (Education Writers Association)

This newsletter is written and edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Holly Butcher Grant, and Elliot C. Williams. Send us your questions and suggestions for topics to cover.

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