The Latest: Russia detains WSJ reporter; ABC News layoffs; Texas Observer saved; ‘The heart and soul of Rolling Fork’

March 30, 2023

■ ABC News layoffs: Executive team cut following Disney restructure (Variety) / ‘ABC News layoffs underway. About 50 positions eliminated , including some very senior veteran ABC News people in talent, investigations & news gathering operations. … More news layoffs expected in coming months, per sources.’ (Joe Flint)

■ Former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg calls the network a 'big corporate machine that destroys people ' (NBC News) / Emails revealed in Dominion lawsuit show Fox News CEO frustrated with certain correspondents , says ‘this has to stop now’ (TV Newser) / SPJ on Fox News lawsuit allegations: 'No responsible journalist can accept or excuse this behavior ' (SPJ)

■ CNN preaches patience as ratings tank during turnaround (Associated Press)

■ Newsrooms ponder whether to pay for Twitter blue checks (Buzzfeed News) / New York Times, Los Angeles Times, POLITICO, Buzzfeed among newsrooms that won’t pay for Twitter verification (Oliver Darcy)

■ AMLO accuses media of 'sensationalism' after deadly Mexico migrant fire (Washington Examiner / Reporter at briefing asks if Biden admin feels 'responsibility' for deadly migrant center fire in Mexico (Mediaite) / Lawyer: Mexican official ordered migrants not to be released (Associated Press)

■ Texas Observer will continue publishing after board reversal (The Texas Tribune)

■ 'The heart and soul of Rolling Fork,' Perkins keeps community going in crisis (Clarion Ledger)

■ Bryant Gumbel to become first Black journalist to receive Sports Emmy lifetime achievement award (TheGrio via Yahoo! News)

■ Alliance for Women in Media Foundation announces winners of the 48th annual Gracie Awards (AWMF)

■ Millennials aren’t killing ‘objective’ news — the market is (New York Magazine)

"Here's something about being a good copy editor: First, don't get started right away. Open the manuscript and read 25, 30, 35 pages with your hands behind your back. Start by listening before you start fixing . Because if you're listening to what the author is doing, then you will remember that your job is to enhance the writing, not to change the writing."

-- Benjamin Dreyer, Random House executive managing editor and copy chief; author of New York Times bestseller Dreyer’s English, from an NPCJI program on copyediting

Exploring Craft: A master class in copyediting from the author of Dreyer's English

“Diversity may be the principle that gets the most attention, but equity and inclusion — meaning who has access to the room and who has a voice once they’re in that room — are often the toughest to achieve and sustain. That’s why, to me, the more important ‘D’ is development : How are we helping individuals grow and feel proud of their work? … Access starts with making sure people from every community know that a career in journalism — and a ramp to other opportunities in media, marketing and technology — is available to them. Then it’s up to us, as leaders of organizations, to support and cultivate newsrooms that inspire DEI.”

-- Yvette Miley, executive vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion at NBCU News Group, “Equity doesn’t exist without access ”

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