January 14, 2022

This newsletter will be off Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. day. We will return to your inboxes on Tuesday.

Top stories

■ These mass shooting survivors were called journalism heroes. Then the buyouts came. 'It felt like death all over again in a lot of ways when people would leave to take buyouts' (Washington Post)  ■ NPR’s former chief broadcast engineer seeks $5 million for alleged wrongful dismissal (InsideRadio) ■ How NPR's Steve Inskeep cracked the code for interviewing Trump (Washington Post) / 'Jen Psaki announces President Biden will hold a press conference next Wednesday, one day ahead of his one year anniversary in office. 4 p.m.' (Kaitlan Collins)  ■ Legendary Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein has some advice for today's reporters (CNN) / Years before Watergate, a young Carl Bernstein fell in love with local journalism (Washington Post) ■ 'You don't want someone copying Ben': The New York Times is on the hunt for its next media columnist (Vanity Fair) / Opinion: Journalism is broken and I alone can fix it! (POLITICO)  ■ You caught me: Pope congratulates reporter who saw him at record shop (Reuters)   ■ 'Jeopardy!' just passed '60 Minutes' to become the most-watched non-sports show on TV (The Wrap)  ■ Absurdle: The machiavellian version of Wordle (The Guardian) / Wordle is our new drug (Washington Post)

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.

“News of solutions to problems can be uplifting and inspiring, however, as journalists, we need to make sure we interrogate the solution we’re reporting on to ensure it’s genuine. Drawing attention to problematic solutions could do more harm than good.” -- via A freelancer’s guide to solutions journalism

Manager's Minute: How do you draw the line between manager and friend? Jill Geisler, Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity at Loyola University Chicago and Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership, explains how managers can hold people accountable while remaining friendly. Watch next: Should I follow my staff on social media? Get more career advice: Read Jill's columns | Watch Manager's Minute videos

Resources What can (and should) journalists do to prevent election subversion and another January 6? (Jan 20, 3 p.m. ET) Reframing Perceptions: Asian American women journalist trailblazers (Jan. 20, 7 p.m. ET) Enhancing newsroom diversity efforts through source data and auditing (Jan. 27, 12 p.m. ET)

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.

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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 a more representative democracy. As the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest.