January 18, 2022
Top stories









Press freedom





Since the murder of George Floyd by police, there has been renewed attention to police misconduct and growing momentum for holding law enforcement accountable. But journalists struggle to get access to public records that could be used to reveal police conduct. The outcome of police discipline proceedings across the country are among our nation’s best kept secrets.

Register now to join the National Press Club Journalism Institute for an hour-long program at 11:30 a.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 24, to learn how to break into this hidden system.
Advice from Jill Geisler, Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity at Loyola University Chicago and Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership

I bombed on Wordle. 

In the same week I nailed one on the second try, I broke my winning streak.

With a newbie’s pride and joy, I had posted 5 winning scores on Twitter.

I felt like a leader in Wordle World.

But now I failed. My word-nerd ego took a hit. Who wants to broadcast their loser status? It was SO tempting to keep it to myself.

But how forthcoming is that? Does that jibe with what I teach about leadership — the importance of handling, not hiding from, mistakes or misfortune?

So I tweeted my big fat failure grid with this message above it:
Then “likes” and replies quickly appeared from other language-loving media folks:

  • “That was me yesterday!”
  • “My pattern looked just like this today. Too many options for those first two letters and final letter.”
  • “I couldn’t get today’s either. Same letters as you correct.”
  • “Maybe the most on brand tweet of today.”
  • “I think I’ve gotten the word twice. Perhaps thrice…yet I continue to come back. I’m going to believe it is all about *perseverance*”

We often teach writers not to let perfect get in the way of the good. It’s the same for leadership. You may want people to see you as a high-performer and worry they’ll lose confidence if you show any sign of weakness, including ‘fessing up to errors.

You’re not going to be perfect. Own your mistakes. Learn from them. Give people a chance to support you.

And persevere.

Resources
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.

If you value this newsletter, consider supporting The Latest with a tax-deductible, recurring gift to the Institute: Even $5 a month will help fund the technology and time it takes to provide this important service.  

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.