September 30, 2020

Top stories ■ New debate rules to include ‘kill switch’ (Norah O’Donnell) / Debates commission says it will roll out format changes for Trump and Biden’s remaining showdowns (Politico) ■ Chris Wallace calls debate ‘a terrible missed opportunity’; tells New York Times, 'I’m just sad with the way last night turned out' (New York Times) / Perspectives: Chris Wallace tried — and failed — to control Trump. Something needs to change. (Washington Post) / Chris Wallace strains to control debate as Trump flouts rules (Wall Street Journal)  ■ Presidential debate ratings down hard from 2016's record high (Deadline) ■ Right-wing voices are dominating Facebook after the first presidential debate (Washington Post) ■ 'Bob has a really very interesting archive on Biden,' says Woodward's wife (New York Times) ■ Matt Drudge rumored to be seeking investors for Drudge Report (New York Post) / Drudge Report ‘paid a price for jumping off the Trump train’ in 2020 (New York Times) ■ Fox News tops broadcast networks for first time (The Hill) ■ Six whistleblowers allege misconduct by government media boss (Politico) ■ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Elizabeth Warren drop out of The New Yorker Festival in solidarity with magazine's union (CNN) ■ NYT will ‘re-report’ blockbuster podcast after main character’s terrorism hoax charges (Daily Beast) / Times starts review of ‘Caliphate’ podcast after hoax charge (New York Times) ■ Axios weathers COVID with sponsored newsletters, prepares to launch locally (Wall Street Journal) ■ College Media Association is investigating its president after 43 NYU students resigned from Washington Square News (Poynter)  ■ SNL is back this weekend with Jim Carrey as Joe Biden, Chris Rock as host and a whole lot of restrictions (Washington Post)

What does it take to turn your memories into a memoir? When is the right time to write a memoir about your life? How do you report on your own experiences and fact-check them? How do you determine what you don’t know and decide what to leave out? And when, and how, do you tell the people closest to you about their role in the narrative?  These issues will be discussed in a 45-minute program with memoirists Mindy Greiling, author of “Fix What You Can: Schizophrenia and a Lawmaker’s Fight for her Son”; Abby Maslin, author of “Love You Hard: A Memoir of Marriage, Brain Injury, and Reinventing Love”; journalist Angela Greiling Keane, managing editor, states and Canada at POLITICO, whose family played a role in both memoirs; with moderator Aly Colón, Knight Professor of Media Ethics at Washington & Lee University.  Registration is open for the program, which will be held on Oct. 2, from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Check in with introverts on your team If you’re not sure whether you have introverts on your team, ask people what they need from you. Don’t assume you know who is an introvert and who is an extrovert. Assumptions — and silence — can lead to misunderstandings. Check in individually with the introverts on your team. They’ll likely share more one-on-one than in a group setting. And since they may do their best work in writing, and lean more heavily on email or Slack, it may take a little prompting to talk face-to-face (even virtually). After a long day of Zooming, introverts will prefer quiet time to a Happy Hour, so give everyone permission to recharge however works best for them and make it safe to skip those extra social plans that may otherwise feel like one-too-many obligations. Advice from Jill Geisler, Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity, Loyola University Chicago, Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership Click here to read Jill’s previous posts.

Self-care: Feeling disappointed? Here’s how to cope Disappointment is so, well, demanding.  Whether it’s feeling let down in a one-time situation or by the ongoing reality of, say, not knowing when you’ll return to the newsroom as you knew it, the emotional roller-coaster of disappointment takes its toll on a person’s mental and physical health.   Disappointment occurs when thoughts and expectations don’t align with reality. Here’s what experts recommend when coping with disappointing circumstances: Allot a specific amount of time to feel disappointed, angry or sad. Naming the feelings, which may come in waves, will help you honor your emotions. Avoid all-or-nothing thinking by reframing situations as objectively as you can. Ask yourself whether the situation is one in which you can — or should — change your expectations. Practice acceptance of situations completely out of your control. Trust your ability to take action, even in small ways, and exert control. Redirecting your energy to actionable efforts can provide a sense of working toward an outcome more aligned with your expectations. Read on for more self-care tips, or share how you are taking care of yourself right now.

Resources ONA20 Everywhere (Oct. 1-16)  Digital investigations for journalists: How to follow the digital trail of people and entities (Oct. 5-Nov. 1) Election SOS scenario planning guide  A contested election could last for weeks. Here’s what experts think journalists should know.   Solutions and resources for journalists facing online harassment

This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Holly Butcher Grant, and Julie Moos. Send us your questions and suggestions for topics to cover. Get this from a friend? Subscribe, and view the archives.

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

SUPPORT THE INSTITUTE 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 civic engagement. NPCJI is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club. Support our important work with a tax-deductible contribution today.