The Latest: NYT nears 10M subscribers; NAJA rethinks name; AP’s Kat Stafford awarded NPCJI’s investigative reporting award; Puck raises $10M+

August 8, 2023

■ OpenAI funds development of new journalism ethics initiative at NYU (Axios)

■ Atlantic EIC Jeffrey Goldberg has been pushing Variety co-Editor-In-Chief Ramin Setoodeh to retract claims made about Tim Alberta in its Licht profile (Semafor)

■ Tucker Carlson’s media venture may be coming into some major Peter Thiel cash : Report (Vanity Fair)

■ Media startup Puck raises more than $10M (Axios)

■ New York Times revenue rises 6.3% (New York Times)

■ The Atlantic's ad business takes a short-term hit as it focuses on profitability (Axios)

■ The dualities of Trump coverage (Columbia Journalism Review) / Here’s the format for the first RNC debate (Semafor)

■ Hotel used by journalists struck by Russian attack on Donetsk town (Financial Times)

■ Canada media seek probe of Meta's news block (Agence France-Presse)

■ Nikole Hannah-Jones on bringing 'The 1619 Project' to television: ‘We have to tell the story that needs to be told’ (Hollywood Reporter)

■ The local-news crisis is weirdly easy to solve (The Atlantic)

■ Pacific County sheriff says agency will no longer do interviews with Long Beach newspaper (KING-5)

■ ‘Pink slime’ news sites turn to print ahead of Ohio referendum (Associated Press via Nieman Journalism Lab) / People share misinformation because of social media’s incentives — but those can be changed (Nieman Journalism Lab)

■ Susi Elkins returns to public media as SVP for PBS (Current) / Tim Carter named executive producer of CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta (CNN Press Room)

■ ‘Big news! We, the staff of CalMatters, are unionizing ! We’re taking this step with 92% of staff in support. Here’s our mission statement.’ (CalMatters Guild)

Kat Stafford of The Associated Press honored with Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism from National Press Club Journalism Institute

Kat Stafford, a national investigative writer with The Associated Press, will receive the National Press Club Journalism Institute’s 2023 Neil and Susan Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism.

Stafford is a leading voice on representation and equity; her investigative work analyzes how structural racism has fueled inequity through the lens of politics, government, health, and environmental justice. Among her journalistic work this year, she reported and published a series exploring how the legacy of racism in America has laid the foundation for health inequities Black people face throughout their lives.

"The Institute is pleased to recognize such deep reporting that puts a face on racial equity issues that so many people seem to want to brush aside,” Journalism Institute President Gil Klein said. "Kat’s vision and reporting in this year’s ‘From Birth to Death’ series, which examined health care inequities for Black families in five communities throughout the country, added to her career accomplishments representing the best of investigative journalism."

Each year, the Neil and Susan Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism recognizes work that best reflects the Sheehans’ extraordinary commitment to the principle that a vibrant democracy depends on an informed citizenry and a free press. The award promotes the practice of investigative journalism exemplifying compassion, courage, and integrity.

“I am thrilled and honored to receive this incredible award,” Stafford said. “Throughout my career, I have worked to shed light on structural racism and inequities that continue to impact Black Americans and people of color across our nation. This honor reaffirms the vital need for investigative journalism to remain committed to telling these truths in an unflinching, truthful manner.”

The Institute will confer the 2023 Sheehan Award during its annual Fourth Estate Award Gala later this fall. Details to come on the gala soon.

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Great leaders focus on outcomes over productivity

“If all managers are trained to do is manage employees based on hours worked, you’re clearly not getting the best out of your teams. We need to shift to the hard work of building outcomes-driven organizations, a process that requires creating clear, prioritized objectives and ways to measure progress. Outcomes-driven management also creates the potential for more inclusive organizations . For too long, hustle culture — rewarding those who show early and stay late — has provided a favorable advantage to those without caregiving responsibilities, as well as those who can afford to live closer to the office. By prioritizing actual output over the visible trappings of work, organizations can improve business results and create a more level playing field.”

-- Brian Elliott, author and co-founder of Future Forum, “It's time to retire the phrase hybrid work”

3 ways to build trust with rural communities

“When journalists — especially those who live in towns and cities — cover rural communities, they have specific challenges to navigate. As with any community that is new to them, they need to understand some cultural norms and pitfalls . They also are often met with questions — and high levels of suspicion — about their basic goals and integrity. … Here are three key things to keep in mind if you’re looking to better serve rural communities: Recognize your role as a member of ‘the media’; lean into complexity and nuance; and get to know the people you aim to serve.”

-- Trusting News and American Press Institute staff

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.