June 30, 2021

Top stories ■ A TV news crew was reporting on a crime spike. Then robbers demanded they hand over their camera (Washington Post) / CBS 17 reporter runs into missing venom-spitting snake on home’s porch (CBS 17)  ■ Bill Cosby sexual assault scandal: Full coverage of how we got here (L.A. Times) / Charlie Rose wants former makeup artist’s abuse suit tossed by judge (Page Six)  ■ Students protest as UNC Board meets in closed session to consider tenure for Pulitzer-winning New York Times writer Nikole Hannah-Jones (WRAL) /  ‘It should have been communicated how this meeting would go, that tenure proceedings are always held in closed session, and an attempt made to de-escalate. Instead Black students were shoved and punched because they were confused about the process. This is not right.’ (Nikole Hannah-Jones) / ‘Why has the tenure case of Nikole Hannah-Jones galvanized so many of us to stand together?’ (Daily Tar Heel) / As board prepares to vote on Hannah-Jones tenure, struggle continues over direction of UNC (NC Policy Watch) / Imminent Nikole Hannah-Jones decision brings UNC board's diversity issues to light (WRAL)  ■ ‘Given a second chance’: ABC11’s Tisha Powell on why she’s leaving the news business (WTVD) ■ ’Chicago Trib editorial page editor quits after bosses turn down request to join ranks of those getting buyouts.’ (David Folkenflik)  ■ NY Post media columnist Keith Kelly to retire after 23 years (The Wrap)  ■ Tucker Carlson says the NSA wants him off the air. Does Fox News believe it? (NPR) / NSA denies Tucker Carlson's spying allegations, Tucker doubles down (Daily Beast) / Rep. Kevin McCarthy calls for investigation into Carlson’s allegations (Jake Sherman) ■ Publishers will start bringing newsrooms back to the office after Fourth of July weekend (Digiday) ■ I write about the law. But could I really help free a prisoner? For years as a journalist, I’ve covered attempts to exonerate incarcerated people. But a letter from Yutico Briley led to a different kind of story. (New York Times)  ■ Given a second chance, photographer lives life through a new lens (Jersey's Best)  ■ In Jill Biden’s Vogue cover, there’s optimism and rebuke (Washington Post)  ■ An NFT of the World Wide Web sells for $5.4 million. (New York Times)  / How a Florida newspaper ended up on the moon -- and then became USA Today's first NFT (USA Today) ■ A flight attendant drafted her novel on cocktail napkins. It took off. (New York Times)

Numbers, like those in polling and survey audiences, population samples, and research cohorts, are not inherently objective or neutral. They are a sample of real humans and the product of myriad factors. And just because big data is big does not mean that it, or algorithms that stem from large data sets, are representative or unbiased. How do journalists fairly use numbers in reporting? What does it really mean for a sample to be representative? In what ways can reporters vet numbers quickly and reliably for potential bias? Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute and the National Association of Science Writers for a program that will answer these questions and leave participants with new tactics to: Detect deep bias in numbers before they use them Surface hidden traps and avoid them Accurately represent the people and lives reflected in the data The panelists will be: Fernand Amandi, managing partner of Bendixen & Amandi, the nation’s leading multilingual and multiethnic public opinion research and strategic communications consulting firm Caroline Chen, health care reporter at ProPublica, and 2019 winner of the June L. Biedler Cancer Prize for Cancer Journalism for her series with Riley Wong on racial disparities in clinical trials Dr. Kyler J. Sherman-Wilkins, assistant professor in the Sociology and Anthropology department at Missouri State University and a Mellon Emerging Faculty Leader for 2021 Registration is open for this program, which will take place on Wednesday, August 11 at 11:30 a.m. ET. This program is free to attend; donations will support the Institute’s programs.

Your team deserves feedback and coaching, even if you succeeded without it Giving feedback costs you nothing; it’s a renewable natural resource that I sincerely believe goes untapped. Most employees want more of it, especially feedback that is custom-tailored for them. From a boss who knows them well enough to understand their strengths and weaknesses. From a boss who levels with them about how they’re doing so they don’t have to guess. From a boss who ties their success to the organization’s overall strategic goals, so the employee knows why their impact matters to the mission. Be that boss.  Read next: Great bosses avoid 'one-size-fits-all' feedback How do I provide feedback when I'm barely keeping up with all my work? Managers: What's the secret to being 'approachable'? Advice from 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

Events and resources What makes a story good? Lessons for all public writers  Emerging Leaders Institute for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in News (Apply by July 23)  POSTPONED: NPC Headliners Newsmaker with Reps. Green (D-TX), McCaul (R-TX) on efforts to free Austin Tice

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.

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