Reporters Without Borders
Substack / Corey Hutchins
“Very unfortunate news”: Colorado Community Media closes 2 papers →“Many who spoke about CCM stressed that the papers are important to each community they serve and that those who work there are tirelessly dedicated. And they offered genuine hope that the organization can find not only a sustainable path forward, but one that sees the outlets thrive. Almost everyone, however, expressed varying degrees of outrage about the high salaries that National Trust executives have earned while CCM’s journalists are paid less than they could make by working fast-food jobs in Denver.”
The Hollywood Reporter / Alex Weprin
The Washington Post / Maegan Vazquez
Trump’s lawsuit barred by the First Amendment, pollster’s team argues →“‘Fraud’ does not exist when someone believes dishonest behavior took place and they lost money. If it did, courthouses would overflow on Monday mornings with claims against National Football League referees,” Friday’s filing states. “… America’s history and tradition protects political commentary; it does not subject ‘false’ reports to liability.”
Bonner County Daily Bee / Laura Guido
New Idaho bill would cost you $100K, five years in jail for lying about someone →“The penalty under the bill would be up to a $100,000 fine, up to five years in prison, or both prison and a fine. The bill would also allow the attorney general or county prosecuting attorney to pursue prosecution if the statement is made about a state elected official or state employee in regard to their official conduct.”
The New Yorker / Jon Allsop
The new Trump-family megaphone →“The on-again, off-again nature of Trump’s love affair with Fox—including offs sparked by only the slightest spasms of journalistic independence—proves that the President expects familial levels of loyalty from everyone in his political movement, and often sees it reciprocated.”
The Guardian / Kate Lamb and Rebecca Ratcliffe
Columbia Journalism Review / Feven Merid
CrimeTube: Big-name cases have had a change of venue—and a new bench of star reporters covering them →“Walking the line between facts, expertise, opinions, speculation, and vitriol for tens of thousands of viewers is a difficult proposition. Both operations are still modest––Baker has part-time staffers who work on operations, production, project management; the Matthiases have a part-time producer and personal assistant––and pale in comparison with the layers of managerial and legal support network news can offer staff. Still, they see their jobs as filling a legitimate void in the media space for the things people seem to want: an open forum, direct access to experts, a deep dive into frightening and stratified worlds.”
Associated Press / David Bauder
AP sues 3 Trump administration officials, citing freedom of speech →“‘The press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government,’ the AP said in its lawsuit, which names White House chief of staff Susan Wiles, deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich and press secretary Karoline Leavitt. ‘This targeted attack on the AP’s editorial independence and ability to gather and report the news strikes at the very core of the First Amendment,’ the news agency said.”
Harvard Public Health Magazine / Michael F. Fitzgerald
Journalists Pay Themselves / Lex Roman
Should you use Facebook ads to grow your newsletter? →Lex Roman ran an experiment and got 54 new subscribers with $180 and stolen memes. “Facebook ads may be cheaper for local news (over national, international or interest-based news.) Brian Skinner who writes Marin Buzz, a local newsletter, reported that he’s getting new subscribers at $0.23. He said he thinks the hyper-local target makes a difference in the cost.”