January 25, 2024

• Business Insider laying off 8% of staff (New York Times) / ‘The BI job cuts are part of a refocus on “business and tech” and away from politics’ (Anna Nicolaou) 

• Forbes to lay off 3% of staff after union stages 3-day work stoppage in protest (The Wrap) 

• Los Angeles Times owner appoints Terry Tang as interim editor (Los Angeles Times) / Chaos, fury engulf Los Angeles Times in historic cuts to newsroom (The Wrap) / ‘The L.A. Times newsroom today. What’s missing’ (Noah Goldberg) / Amid L.A. Times layoffs, readers wonder what can be done to save journalism (Los Angeles Times) / Here's how to help laid off journalists in Los Angeles (Poynter) 

• ‘It has been a week from hell in media…. Journalism matters. Journalists matter’ (Daily Beast Union) / ‘...It’s one of the most chaotic periods I’ve seen in the news industry in years…’ (Sara Fischer) / ‘Pain sponge’: The new hell of being PR chief at a major media company (Ankler) 

• Journalists at New York Daily News walk off job for a day (New York Times)

• Vice’s Refinery29 and BuzzFeed’s Tasty are up for sale as digital media contracts (Wall Street Journal)

• CUNY journalism program goes tuition-free (Axios) 

• Local media outlets report digital ad revenue trending up, survey shows (Local Media Consortium)

• Fox Corp. must face $2.7 billion Smartmatic defamation lawsuit, judge rules (The Wrap) 

• Trump's live appearances pose a riddle that news executives still haven't solved (Associated Press) 

• The rise of the TikTok news anchor (The Economist) / Gen Z gets breaking news first through social media like TikTok, report says (Digiday) 

Press Freedom

• ‘We continue to demand the Russian government cease its cruel pattern of sweeping up innocent American journalists to serve as high-profile pawns in its quest to gain diplomatic leverage with the U.S. government. Journalism is not a crime.’ (NPC/JI) 

• SPJ co-authors legal brief supporting First Amendment right to record and publish livestreamed court hearings (Society for Professional Journalists)

• Ramita Naval on reporting from the West Bank as the Israel-Hamas war rages in Gaza (Frontline) / From opposite sides of war, a hunt for elusive facts (New York Times)

Considerations for reporting on polls

"When covering an individual poll, put its findings into perspective by noting historic trends and what other recent polls have found. Consider combining poll results and reporting averages to give audiences the most accurate picture of public sentiment."

-- Denise-Marie Ordway, journalist, excerpt from The Journalist’s Resource, “'Horse race' coverage of elections: What to avoid and how to get it right”

TOMORROW: How to use poll data to accurately inform the public during election coverage

As election 2024 gets under way, one thing is certain: Polling is poised to dominate media coverage for better or worse.

Learn which polls to trust and which ones to question during a free National Press Club Journalism Institute webinar, which will take place at 11:30 am ET on Friday, Jan. 26. Whether you are new to using polls in your reporting or are an experienced journalist looking for a refresher, this conversation is for you. Registration is open.

Reduce Stress and Boost Wellness: In-person moving meditation class

Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute’s Bara Vaida for a gentle movement and breathing class aimed at reducing tension in the body, relaxing the mind, and encouraging connection with fellow hard-working journalists. Vaida is a 500-hour, Yoga Alliance-certified yoga instructor, with specialized training in meditation, stress-reduction, and therapeutics.

This one-hour, monthly gathering will take place in person at the National Press Club, beginning Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 5:30 p.m. ET. Registration is open, with fees set at $5 for National Press Club members and $15 for nonmembers.

• Actors Chris Evans, Mark Kassen to discuss civics education at Headliners Luncheon (Jan. 29, 12:30 pm ET)
• NPC Headliners: Health & Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (Feb. 8, 12:30 pm ET)
• The inauguration of Emily Wilkins, 117th president of the National Press Club (Feb. 9, 6:30 pm ET)

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

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