The Latest: CNN fallout; New York Times-Sarah Palin trial begins; Paywalls coming down; ‘Gaslit’

February 3, 2022

■ ’At today's WH and State Dept press briefings, reporters pressed for evidence to back up U.S. gov't statements about recent events in Syria and Russia, respectively. In response, officials suggested those reporters might be more inclined to believe ISIS/the Kremlin . Yikes. Aboard AF1, a reporter asked WH press secretary Jen Psaki for evidence to back up the claim that Qurayshi denotated a suicide bomb.' (Felicia Sonmez) / 'I was the reporter who asked about whether the U.S. would provide evidence to back up statements about a suicide bomb .' (Ayesha Rascoe)

■ CNN probe eyes Jeff Zucker’s ties to Andrew Cuomo (Rolling Stone) / Jeff Zucker, Allison Gollust's cozy ties with Andrew Cuomo deeper than previously known (New York Post) / Jeff Zucker, Allison Gollust personally pushed for Andrew Cuomo-Chris Cuomo interviews (Washington Post) / How the fallout from Andrew Cuomo’s resignation spread to Jeff Zucker (New York Times) / Ex-CNN chief Zucker was ousted to bolster case against Cuomo : sources (New York Post)

■ CNN reporters grill WarnerMedia CEO on Jeff Zucker's departure (CNN) / Jake Tapper blamed Chris Cuomo for Zucker ouster in tense meeting with Warner boss Jason Kilar: ‘The Bad Guy is winning ’ (Mediaite) / Here is the full exchange last night between Jake Tapper and Jason Kilar at a meeting in CNN’s DC bureau (Michael Grynbaum) / Dylan Byers obtained an audio recording of Jason Kilar's confidential meeting last night in CNN's D.C. newsroom which featured fear, anger, and profound loyalty to Jeff Zucker (Puck News) / ‘In the course of a more than hour-long Q&A session, three things became clear: CNN’s top staff believe that Zucker’s punishment was unnecessary; they are dubious about Kilar’s motives for the decision (and wonder if his own fraught relationship with Zucker played a role); and they are at a loss to understand how the network will function in the absence of a leader who was intimately involved in nearly every aspect of the network’s programming.’ (Puck News)

■ Jeff Zucker’s complicated CNN legacy: Leaked insider texts say he ‘destroyed’ the network (The Wrap) / Jeff Zucker's legacy is defined by his promotion of Donald Trump (Washington Post) / Zucker leaving CNN may change the long-term plans for CNN+, sources say (CNBC) / Jeff Zucker's hasty CNN exit complicates WarnerMedia-Discovery deal (Variety)

■ Opinion: Democrats with a dirty secret — they watch Fox (POLITICO)

■ California senators propose public fund for journalism (The Hill)

■ Cincinnati Enquirer drops paywall (Cincinnati Enquirer) / Austin American-Statesman drops paywall (Austin American-Statesman)

■ The dilemma facing journalists covering the Beijing Olympics: 'Perhaps never in history have the rules of the road for covering the games been so murky and the potential dangers so great for journalists’ (CPJ) / NBC opens Olympics with ‘worst hand imaginable ’ (New York Times) / All the gear sports photographer Nick Didlick is bringing to the 2022 Olympics (Pop Photo) / Photographer’s camera tumbles down ski run at Winter Olympics (Peta Pixel)

■ Texas meteorologist launches weather forecast using sign language (Adweek) / Vox Media enhances the podcast experience for the deaf and hard-of-hearing (Editor and Publisher)

■ Getting personal about climate change made me a better reporter (L.A. Times) / Oklahoma TV reporter experiences her 1st significant snowfall (KFOR)

■ I met my website's commenters . And I kind of...like them? (Washingtonian)

■ 'Gaslit' teaser: Sean Penn and Julia Roberts transform into John and Martha Mitchell for Watergate series (Variety)

Press freedom

■ Sarah Palin’s libel trial against New York Times begins, a culture clash with lasting legal potential (Washington Post) / ‘This wasn’t a political hit job ’: New York Times lawyer tells jury ‘regrettable’ editorial didn’t defame Sarah Palin because it knocked Bernie Sanders, too (Law and Crime) / Opinion: Sarah Palin's trial will expose shoddy journalism from the New York Times (Washington Post) / Sarah Palin's NYT suit is about much more than defamation (MSNBC) / Is the legal standard for libel outdated ? Sarah Palin could help answer. (Washington Post)

■ Lawsuit alleges DC police leaders flagged FOIA requests from journalists and activists (Washington Post) / D.C. police delayed or denied public records requests from critics on ‘watchlist,’ says lawsuit (DCist)

■ Mexico’s violence against journalists nearly claimed another victim, saved only when his attacker’s pistol malfunctioned in the Caribbean resort city of Cancun (AP/ABC News) / Column: If killings of Mexico’s journalists continue, democracy will die with them (L.A. Times)

“The language and images we use can perpetuate stereotypes. Question if it is necessary to mention someone’s gender, marital status, or appearance in a report, for example. By using the same language for women and men and portraying them in the same way, we can reduce sexism and stereotyping by gender.”

-- via A freelancer’s guide on gender and identity

Managers: 3 reasons why that perfect job candidate turned you down

A promising job candidate turned down your offer. You’re frustrated, of course, especially if that person politely declined but didn’t elaborate on their reasons, even when you pressed.

Job candidates, even as they appear to be walking down the aisle to you, are doing a whole bunch of calculations. The sharpest ones are vetting you as much as you vet them.

Here are key reasons that good candidates may decide against taking a job , even when the salary offer is acceptable:

Watch next: How to read code words about your boss

-- Jill Geisler, Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity at Loyola University Chicago and Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership

Get more career advice: Read Jill's columns | Watch Manager's Minute videos

Resources

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