The Latest: Covering today, informing tomorrow
September 9, 2020
Top stories
■ Bob Woodward criticized for sitting on Trump coronavirus admission to sell books (Newsweek) / ‘Isn't there a journalistic imperative to publish this information in a timely manner... especially during a pandemic?’ (Scott Nover) / ‘Is this traditional practice still ethical?’ (David Boardman) / 'Watergate isn't Watergate if it isn't reported and published in real time' (Kelsey D. Atherton) / ‘The choice isn't between Woodward publishing this revelation in September and, say, March. It's between Woodward publishing this in September or not at all’ (Erik Wemple) / Woodward book excerpt: Trump says he knew coronavirus was ‘deadly’ and worse than the flu while intentionally misleading Americans (Washington Post) / 'Play it down': CNN airs tape of Trump talking with Woodward for new book (CNN)
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. 
Attending a virtual conference for the first time this fall? The Journalism Institute reached out to four journalists to learn their strategies for maximizing remote event experiences.
  • Rebecca Aguilar is Secretary Treasurer and Diversity Committee Chair for the Society of Professional Journalists. She created a video on how to build your network during a virtual journalism conference.
  • Juliet Beverly is the BrainFacts.org Content Manager and recently attended the #NABJNAHJ20 Convention.
  • Tara Puckey is the Chief Staff Officer at the Radio Television Digital News Association, where she facilitates leadership seminars and training programs.
  • Celia Wexler is an award-winning former journalist and nonfiction author who is presenting at the SPJ 2020 Journalism Conference this weekend on “Watchdogging Congress.”
 
Prepare, prepare, prepare 
 
Aguilar: Before the conference starts, read over thoroughly what it has to offer. Make sure you know who is speaking, what time, and start making a schedule of what you will attend. 

Know the #hashtag the conference will be using to keep track of the conversations on Twitter or other social media platforms.

Before the conference, find many of the speakers and moderators on social media and start following them. This will help in watching what they are talking about, who is talking about them, and expanding your virtual network. 

Set boundaries with your employer
 
Beverly: I think it's true for a lot of journalists that once they find out a conference was canceled for in-person, that perhaps the notion was well, maybe I'll attend some sessions and still work. Maybe their employers expected them to still work since it was virtual and not in person. Make sure you can establish some boundaries for yourself and have that conversation with your employers, your editors, because you do need the concentrated time.
 
Manage expectations
 
Puckey: Understand that this is a whole new experience. Comparing it to in-person events is only going to leave you feeling like you’ve missed out on something.

Have serendipitous ‘hallway’ conversations between sessions
 
Aguilar: Sure you can’t meet face-to-face but that does not mean you can’t network with those attending the virtual conference including the moderators and speakers. Use the conference hashtag #SPJ2020 to see what everyone is talking about on Twitter and other platforms. 
 
Beverly: I thought all of those little run-ins that you have with people that you wouldn't have met before would be gone. And they weren't; they were chats, reception halls and people establishing their own Zoom rooms so that you can watch a virtual party but have a side conversation. 

‘Get out of the way’
 
Wexler: My experts are very good, and this session should be quite tech heavy. So my strategy is to briefly introduce them, and get out of the way. If they'd like me to check for questions, and ask them, I'll do that. I pray the technology will make that possible.

Upcoming journalism conferences:
Advice from Jill Geisler,
Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity, Loyola University Chicago
Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership

In the best case scenario, we succeed at work because of, not in spite of, our managers. The best supervisors see their jobs as far more than hitting targets and making rules. Their idea of winning isn’t about their personal success, it’s about yours. Don’t take my word for it. Read the responses that came from a variety of managers when I sent out a social media request for them to share what they love about their roles.
“I feel very proud when I guide an employee on a project by asking questions and let them find their answers… and the final product is far better than anything I could have thought of, had I just told them what to do…Provoke ideas.. and let them run. The evidence that it’s working is seen in dozens of stories and projects this year that have been remarkable and relatively free of my hands. That’s what gets me out of bed every morning, in spite of the fatigue of 100 days of protests and the never ending coronavirus.” — Gayle Yvonne Simons, News Director, KATU-TV, Portland
“The best thing about leadership for me is being able to help people find opportunities to express themselves in the ways that are best for them. In journalism, that can mean internally — in mentoring conversations or general story-development talks — or externally, as in clearing the way for someone’s voice to be heard (or, more metaphorically, seen) in a public-facing, storytelling way. In either instance, the ability to pass on what I have been given for so long — the extreme privilege of being able to find, assemble and deliver facts and context (and hopefully insight into the human experience) to the public — is to me the best part of being a manager and a leader.” — Ted Anthony, Director of Digital Innovation, Associated Press
“I like setting the tone, and in my business (mostly software start-ups) that means mutual respect and trust at all levels. No “bro” culture, no favoritism. Everyone has a secret power to bring to the table. As long as we create the right culture, those secret powers can supercharge your team.” — Connie Phelps, Sr. VP Strategy, Braid Health, California
Click here to read Jill’s previous posts.
Do you qualify as an ally? Join Jill for the next Freedom Forum Institute Power Shift Project program on September 15 at 1 p.m. EDT. Registration is now open.
Sources. Supervisors. Newsletters. Personal messages. Spam. 

Email (and the stress it causes) adds up quickly, dooming us to scroll (and scroll, and scroll) — which can take a toll on mental health and add stress. 

Consider this: The average person spends more than a quarter of their week reading and responding to email. How much of that is important and relevant? (Hint: Much less than half, at 38 percent.)

Here are some methods to manage the email madness: 

  • Unsubscribe from newsletters you don’t read (even if you really did mean to). Instead, schedule a time to scroll through all updated content on the original site. 
  • Act after reading every email. That may be to respond, schedule action, archive or delete. Once you’ve acted, remove the email from your inbox. 
  • Use folders … or develop your search skills. Creating folders can be helpful when categories are broad enough to make filing decisions quickly (think action items, waiting, reference, archives) but can be harmful when it takes more time to find something than a simple search. 
  • Use filter and rule functions to direct incoming traffic based on keywords, subject lines, or sender. This can keep high-priority email (from your supervisor or for a specific project) separated, or can help direct newsletters to a folder for you to read as you have time. 
  • Delete and block unwanted promotions, and report and delete spam. While you’re at it, start your cleanup by searching and purging emails that are no longer relevant (email from previous jobs, for example).
  • Read and reply to email at set times each day. Choosing a few times to go “off the email grid” can turn off the Pavlovian need to respond that comes from email notifications. 

Read on for more self-care tips, or share how you are taking care of yourself right now.
The National Press Club Journalism Institute, the National Press Foundation, and the RAND corporation are offering journalists a new way to prepare for the unexpected in Election 2020 news: Gaming your coverage plan.

Registration is open for this free program, which will be held on Friday, Sept. 25 from 5-7 p.m. ET. 
RAND gamemaster David A. Shlapak will present players with scenarios based on current and likely events, and each team will make coverage decisions, not knowing what the next roll of the dice will bring. 

The game will surface journalists’ assumptions and test decisions as reporters and editors balance competing goals, commit limited resources, and assess tradeoffs. The game’s timeline will begin in September, continue through Election Day, and end on Inauguration Day. 
National Press Club news
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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