The Latest: CNN’s top job; GOP debate; Newsroom raid documents; Texas Tribune cuts; Working with vulnerable sources

August 23, 2023

■ Russia authorities request extension of detention of jailed WSJ reporter (WSJ)

■ Marion County Record: Unsealed documents detail how authorities justified the raid of a Kansas newspaper (CNN) / After Kansas newspaper raid, lawmaker proposes taking warrant power away from magistrates (Kansas Reflector) / Marion Kansas newspaper raid: Why did this happen? The editor has an idea. (Slate)

■ Fox News unveils tech plans for first GOP presidential debate (TV Technology) / How Fox News plans to have Trump ‘appear’ at its GOP debate (Daily Beast) / Let’s debate the debate: Does tonight even matter ? (Poynter)

■ Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump reunite to try to upstage Fox News (Washington Post) / ‘Tucker says that Trump approached his team about this interview’ (Alex Thompson)

■ Analysis: Fox News is trying to sugarcoat its right-wing propaganda . Some news outlets are falling for it (CNN) / Inside the Marine Corps' fight with Fox News over a false Gold Star family story (Military.com)

■ Wisconsin Democrats want to ban sham lawsuits as GOP senator continues fight against local news site (AP)

■ “Texas Tribune laid off staff today, citing changes in the industry and an unsteady economy.’ (Max Tani)

■ Journalism professor finds similarities between coverage of World Trade Center Cough Syndrome, COVID-19 (Arizona State University)

■ Marc J. Spears on how the Boston Celtics beat helped him build a Hall of Fame career in journalism (Yahoo! Sports)

■ From newsroom to delivery room , how these journalists are helping families (Forbes)

■ What happened to Wirecutter ? (The Atlantic)

Advice for working with vulnerable sources

“Assess whether your source is able to advocate for themself. While you can take extra care with a vulnerable source, as a journalist your primary loyalty is to your audience and to the story you are trying to tell . You cannot also be primarily responsible for looking out for your source's best interest. If your source does not seem able to advocate for themself, encourage them to rely on another trusted person. When that's not possible, discuss with your editor whether your source is truly capable of consenting to participate in the story.”

-- Kelly McBride, NPR public editor and chair of the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership at The Poynter Institute, “How to interview vulnerable sources without exploiting them”

How to tell if your team needs a reset

“Your first step is to reflect on what feels off . You can think about it in two broad categories. First, is the problem that your team has lost sight of your purpose and the goals you’re working toward? If so, your reset will need to focus on realignment. The other possibility (and it could be both) is that you don’t feel like a team anymore. Maybe team members feel disconnected, invalidated, or frustrated — so much so that even minor issues are creating friction. In that case, your reset must focus on revitalizing your team dynamic.”

-- Liane Davey, Harvard Business Review contributor, “Questions to ask when your team’s vibe is off”

See you at ONA23 in Philadelphia

The Institute team will be at the Online News Association’s annual convention in Philadelphia this week.

We hope you’ll stop by Booth 20 to say hi, or schedule some time to chat. We’d love to meet you and learn more about how we can support you and your important work!

Resources

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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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.