April 24, 2023

■ ‘Has there ever been a more stunning 24 hours in the world of media?’ (Oliver Darcy) / Cable news in chaos after 3 major departures (Axios) / ‘This is the craziest day in cable news history.’ (Brian Stelter)

■ Tucker Carlson, Fox News' most popular host, out at network (Associated Press) / READ: Fox News news release (Fox News) / VIDEO: Fox News announces Tucker Carlson's exit on air (Mediaite) / ‘The biggest "tell" in Fox's press release about Tucker Carlson's exit is that he is not getting a final show. No chance to say goodbye on his own terms or point people to his next home. … ’ (Brian Stelter) / ‘Fox News Tonight’ to replace Tucker Carlson’s show (New York Times) / Tucker Carlson’s Fox News exit was not a part of Dominion’s defamation settlement, sources say (The Wrap) / ‘One America News founder and CEO Robert Herring would like to extend an invitation to Carlson to meet for negotiation to become a part of the OAN team.’ (Brian Stelter)

■ Tucker Carlson’s last words on Fox News reveal he didn’t see it coming (Daily Beast) / Sources: the decision to fire Tucker Carlson came straight from Rupert Murdoch and is related to ex-Carlson producer Abby Grossberg's discrimination lawsuit (Los Angeles Times) / ‘It was a firing’: Tucker Carlson’s exit from Fox was NOT voluntary, sources say (Mediaite) / Tucker Carlson accused of promoting a hostile work environment in lawsuit (New York Times) / Tucker Carlson’s Fox exit sparks reactions across the board: ‘Earth-shaking moment in cable news’ and the ‘end of an era’ (The Wrap) / Lawmakers are worked up about Tucker Carlson's exit from Fox News (POLITICO) / Fox News' stock drops following Tucker Carlson's exit (Newsweek)  

■ Media insiders would often gossip about which anchor was about to leave Fox News. None of them guessed Tucker Carlson. (Insider) / Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News, and what matters is why (Nieman Journalism Lab) / ICYMI: How Tucker Carlson stoked white fear to conquer cable (New York Times) / How Tucker Carlson became the voice of white grievance (Washington Post) 

■ CNN fires longtime host and anchor Don Lemon (Washington Post) / ‘... Here is the note from Chris Licht.’ (Oliver Darcy) / ‘ … I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play. ….’ (Don Lemon) / Don Lemon says he was fired by CNN without warning. Network blasts 'inaccurate' statement (Los Angeles Times) / CNN disputes Don Lemon's claim he was fired without a chance to talk it over with management (Insider)

■ ‘It's possible that Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins may address Don Lemon's departure from CNN tomorrow on 'CNN This Morning,' according to a person familiar with the matter. (Brian Steinberg) / ‘Some guests were reluctant to appear on-air with Lemon, per CNN bookers. Network research found that audience sentiment on Lemon had dipped following his Nikki Haley controversy.’ (Michael Grynbaum)

■ NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell forced out after sexual harassment claim from CNBC reporter Hadley Gamble (Variety) 

■ ESPN corporate comms VP Mike Soltys cut after 43 years in Disney layoffs (The Wrap) / ESPN lays off employees, with more cuts to come (Washington Post)  

■ Time names Sam Jacobs editor-in-chief, making him the youngest EIC since Henry Luce – in 1929 (The Wrap)

■ Mike Bloomberg plans to leave his company to Bloomberg Philanthropies — with enormous implications for charity (Fortune) 

■ ‘F--k him, he loses’: The inside story of how Disney's attempt to buy BuzzFeed fell apart (Vanity Fair) / Why the end of BuzzFeed News feels like a betrayal (Vanity Fair) 

■ Palestinian reporter breaks barriers by reporting in Hebrew on Israeli TV (CNN)

■ Axel Springer files criminal complaint against former top editor (Financial Times)

■ Nonprofit group looks to buy most of Maine's newspapers (Associated Press) 

■ A California journalist documents the far-right takeover of her town: ‘We’re a test case’ (The Guardian) 

■ Gail Christian, trailblazing news correspondent, dies at 83 (New York Times) 

■ Your guide to the 2023 White House Correspondents' dinner week parties and events (POLITICO) 

Press Freedom

■ U.S. envoy tells Lavrov at U.N. to release US journalist (Agence France-Presse via France 24) / Evan Gershkovich, the assault on democracy, and the press (Columbia Journalism Review) / Russia 'will not forgive' U.S. denial of journalist visas (Associated Press) / Opinion: What a KGB arrest of a journalist in 1986 tells us today (Washington Post) 

■ Prominent Chinese journalist faces espionage charges (Washington Post) / National Press Club statement on detention of Chinese journalist Yuyu Dong (NPC/JI) 

■ Supreme Court to decide if officials can block constituents on social media (Washington Post)  

■ Loyola New Orleans drops misconduct charges against student journalist disciplined for routine newsgathering (The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression)

Participants will gain: 

• Knowledge of recent cases of press freedom violations within the U.S. 
• Insight into the personal and professional impacts of facing hostility from law enforcement or sources
• An understanding of their legal rights when faced with threats 
• Advice on preparing for work in the field

Panelists include:

Matilda Bliss and Veronica Coit, two journalists with the citizen journalism publication Asheville Blade who were arrested on trespassing charges while documenting a sweep of a homeless camp in 2021. Body cam footage was just released indicating they were targets. Their trial is scheduled for April 19. 

Dion Rabouin, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained while doing a routine person-on-the-street interview outside of a bank in Phoenix. The mayor eventually personally apologized for Rabouin’s mistreatment.

Seth Stern, director of advocacy at Freedom of the Press Foundation, which oversees the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.

Steve Reilly, a Washington, D.C.-based investigative reporter for The Messenger, will moderate the discussion. Reilly is a member of the National Press Club and serves on its Press Freedom Team.

Former longtime NBC and CBS News international correspondent Marvin Kalb was the moderator of The Kalb Report, which won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Festivals. Photo: Alan Kotok

Former NPC President Michael Freedman won the John Cosgrove Award for continuing contributions to the Club following his term in office. Freedman also is executive producer of The Kalb Report. Photo: Alan Kotok

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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