January 27, 2021

Top stories ■ Legendary photographer dies from COVID (Village Sun) / Corky Lee was ‘the unofficial photo laureate of the Asian-American community’ (Jennifer 8. Lee) / ‘His work captured the richness, humanity and complexity of the Asian diaspora’ (Sewell Chan) ■ NBA reporter and analyst dies of COVID (CNN) / 'He was one of very few Black faces I came into contact with covering games.' (CBS Sacramento) / 'The last time I spoke to Sekou Smith we said we loved each other.' (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)  ■ New York Times names Cliff Levy to a top editing role to oversee ‘Caliphate,’ ‘The Daily’ team (New York Times) / Read the memo to staff (Cliff Levy) / Fired New York Times journalist: 'I felt like my whole body was in a shoe that was just a little too tight.’ (Lauren Wolfe) / Former NY Times editorial page editor Bennet joining The Economist (TalkingBizNews) / I left my career in prestige media because of the shitty men in charge and they are still in charge (Jennifer Barnett)  ■ Tribune CEO Terry Jimenez announces that non-union employees will be getting a bonus while union employees have to bargain over one (Morning Call Guild)    ■ McClatchy offered a fired editor her job back, with conditions. She declined (BoiseDev) / Letter from McClatchy News VP to Boise readers (Kristen Roberts)  ■ The next Washington Post editor: ‘Publisher Fred Ryan has told people he wants an editor who can lead for at least a decade. Contender Kevin Merida has told people as of this week, he hasn't gotten any recruiting outreach from the Post’ (Vanity Fair) / Susan Goldberg name now in the mix along with Kevin Merida, Steve Ginsberg, Anne Kornblut and Margaret Sullivan (Axios/Punchbowl) / The Post has its first full-time Instagram Editor (Washington Post)  ■ Why Gannett CEO Mike Reed thinks the company can reach 10 million paid digital subscribers within 5 years (Poynter) / Nextdoor is quietly replacing the small-town paper (One Zero)  ■ Trumpism at Voice Of America: Firings, foosball and a conspiracy theory (NPR) / President Biden's first White House sign language interpreter has ties to the far right (Time)  ■ “I think a picture should be like a bento box: Everything has its place and its purpose, and it all works together when you bring it in together,” says photographer Brendan Smialowski. “But that’s not the reality of photojournalism.” / On Sanders meme photo: “I’m jealous of myself … I wish other work got this type of attention and I wish journalism got this type of attention. But that’s not reality. And it’s not my place to tell people, you know, how to consume what we do.” (New York Times) ■ Photographer says he shot the highest-resolution images ever taken of snowflakes. See the photos. (Artnet) / How seriously should we take social media snowfall maps? (Washington Post)   ■ We created a speaker rider because journalism didn’t have one (Open News)  ■ Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman to recite poem before Super Bowl (Hollywood Reporter)  ■ Conquer ‘Moby-Dick,’ finish ‘Infinite Jest’: Avid readers share their resolutions for 2021 (Washington Post)  ■ High school renamed for Black journalist, suffragist Ida B. Wells (KVAL)

10 newsletters to help your writing Stephen King famously said: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.” Whether you’re striving to improve your craft or aim pitches better, here are 10 newsletters to add to your reading list.    Chip in Your Inbox: Every week, writing coach Chip Scanlan provides lessons and insights about writing in this newsletter. Craft Talk: This weekly newsletter on writing and publishing is an extension of the #1000wordsofsummer project from New York Times bestselling author Jami Attenberg. The Freelance Beat: This newsletter — comprising blog content from Chicago-based freelancer Tatiana Walk-Morris — offers advice for freelance journalists seeking to get published. Memoir Monday: A collaboration among Catapult, Granta, Guernica, Narratively, The Rumpus and Literary Hub, this newsletter delivers the best creative nonfiction to your inbox once a week. Nieman Storyboard: From Harvard’s Nieman Foundation, this newsletter dives into the craft of narrative nonfiction across all platforms. Notes: This monthly newsletter on Dana Sitar’s advice to “keep editors happy” comes with her free guide, “How to Write Anything (Well).” Opportunities of the Week: Journalist Sonia Weiser explores pitching opportunities for freelancers in this newsletter. (Read our previous Q&A with Weiser on the Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund.) The Reading: This newsletter from writer and critic Yanyi answers reader questions on craft and covers topics like writing about identity. What It Is I Think I’m Doing: In addition to “cultural criticism,” author Kaitlyn Greenidge interviews other writers in this Substack newsletter. The Write Life: This bi-monthly newsletter includes writing resources and advice for writers at all levels.

Visual journalists have been on the front lines of the pandemic, injured at protests and attacked at the Capitol insurrection. Holding a camera makes those who are reporting on events a visible target for law enforcement or people angry at the media. And working remotely is not an option when you’re the community’s eyes and ears at the scene. So how do we care for photojournalists facing more pressure than ever under exhausting and dangerous circumstances?  Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute and the National Press Photographers Association for honest answers to this question from visual journalists who understand the challenges and importance of capturing history. Registration is now open for this program, which will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST on Friday, February 12, 2021. The panel will feature:  Nicole Frugé, director of photography, San Francisco Chronicle Rich Glickstein, recovering photojournalist, trauma therapist and social worker  Michael Santiago, staff news photojournalist, Getty Images Edward Wilson, chief photographer, WRAL Moderator: Akili Ramsess, executive director, NPPA

Introverts show interest differently, watch for the signs Introverts make up about half of the U.S. population, according to various estimates, but they are less likely to be managers. Extroverts step forward and speak out, but that doesn’t make them smarter than their introverted colleagues. Introverts get their energy from the life of the mind; don’t confuse their understated approach with shyness, aloofness, or lack of ideas. Help them succeed by knowing what they need from you, and providing it.  Advice from Jill Geisler, Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity, Loyola University Chicago, Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership Click here to read Jill’s previous posts.

Self-care: Relax and enjoy the giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji livestream Snap out of the mid-week malaise with the Giant Panda Cam. Earlier today the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute offered a chance to spend time with Xiao Qi Ji at a livestream event from inside the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat. ICYMI, watch here:

Read on for more self-care tips, or share how you are taking care of yourself right now.

Resources Covering extremism post-Capitol riots (Jan. 28, 2 p.m. EST) Journalism sustainability relies on trust (Jan. 29, 11:30 a.m. EST) Next Gen journalism safety trainers (Feb. 27 application deadline)

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.

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

SUPPORT THE INSTITUTE 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 civic engagement. NPCJI is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club. Support our important work with a tax-deductible contribution today.