Susan Zirinsky, president and senior executive producer of CBS News, will receive the 2020 Fourth Estate Award, the National Press Club announced Thursday. The Fourth Estate Award is the Club’s most esteemed prize and recognizes journalists who have made significant contributions to the field. Zirinsky (pictured) is the 48th recipient of the award and will be recognized during a Nov. 18 virtual gala in her honor.
"Susan Zirinsky is the personification of journalistic perseverance, tenacity, and integrity," said National Press Club President Michael Freedman. "Susan leads by example, displaying the courage of her convictions and making a positive difference – at CBS News and throughout the profession. She is a role model not only for women but for everyone who is dedicated to journalistic ethics and excellence."
An acclaimed journalist and highly respected senior executive producer at CBS News, Zirinsky began her career in the CBS News Washington bureau two weeks after the Watergate break-in. Over the next four decades she produced a wide variety of award-winning documentaries and programs, and she covered a range of historic stories, from the Gulf War to the student uprising in Tiananmen Square, from the White House for 10 years to the 9/11 attacks, and from the Paris terrorist attacks to the mass shooting at a Parkland, Fla. School.
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Maria Ressa, a fearless journalist convicted in the Philippines on trumped-up charges of cyber libel, with the 2020 international John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award;
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Linda Tirado, an author and freelance photographer who was badly injured while covering the Minneapolis protests after George Floyd’s death, with the 2020 domestic John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award; and
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Ed Yong, the staff writer at The Atlantic who has been shaping our collective understanding of the coronavirus and its impact, with the 2020 Neil and Susan Sheehan award for investigative journalism.
The gala — attended by hundreds of members, guests, and media luminaries annually — raises the majority of the operating expenses for the Club’s nonprofit affiliate, the National Press Club Journalism Institute. Tickets sales are open ($50/public, $25/National Press Club members). Learn how your employer or company can sponsor the celebration.
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Safety for journalists has taken on a renewed sense of importance as newsrooms grapple with the convergence of hostility toward those in the field and systemic racism that pervades even the most revered journalistic institutions. It seems journalists have more reason than ever to be allies for each other as the industry confronts itself while serving conflicted communities.
This program will be moderated by Jill Geisler, who will join Alex Marquardt, Sarah Matthews, Abby Phillip, and Michael Santiago to discuss “Journalists in peril: Creating a safer, equitable future together,” drawing on their experiences at CNN, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and their knowledge of journalism, allyship and equity.
Registration is open for this program, which will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020.
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Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity, Loyola University Chicago
Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership
People are usually promoted to management because they’ve done well at their frontline jobs. But what made them good reporters, photographers or producers doesn’t necessarily make them good managers. It takes a whole different set of skills to excel as a leader, many of which they have to develop on their own: strategizing, coaching, motivating, providing feedback, resolving conflicts, and making tough ethical and personnel decisions.
With all that on their shoulders, what parts of their jobs bring the most joy? It varies from person to person, but here’s what I learned when I put out a call on social media, asking managers to tell me what makes them happy.
“I love seeing what great things can happen when someone, or a team I’m managing, is trusted to do what they do best. It’s so fulfilling to achieve a common goal that accompanies individual and team growth. Personally, I also love learning from those I manage. They challenge my thinking and make me better in constructive ways.” — Kelsey Proud, Managing Editor, Digital at WAMU
“News Managers have two jobs. Keep the story straight and simple, and motivate your team to run ‘through’ walls. Running ‘around’ walls means avoiding something. If they are great, they will face and deliver a challenging question every single day. Directly through the wall. If this job is too easy, you are not doing it right.”— Benjamin Price Hart, News Director, WISN-TV, Milwaukee
“I think management is twofold. It’s helping young journalists grow in all aspects of the job according to the various titles and positions. But it’s also helping them grow as people. Instructing them in ways that grow their confidence in themselves, and helping them learn what it means to feel strong in their own decisions and instincts. It’s caring about the person and the profession.” — Traci Wilson, Manager, 8 News Now, Las Vegas
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Let’s face it: Planning time to check in with a friend or family member can sometimes feel more stressful than like stress relief. We’re Zoomed out at the end of the day, busy with kids or partners, and, frankly, may not be able to muster the emotional energy for a deep conversation.
Leaning on others during tough times is a protective factor against the effects of stress — and that goes for all parties in a conversation. But if you’re tapped out, articulating your needs and being receptive to someone else’s can be hard.
A simple text exchange can be a good way to check in while you both reap the benefits of that emotional connection. Even if it’s been a while, simply reaching out and saying hi lets the person know you’re thinking of them, which can have a positive impact on you both.
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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.
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