News
Journalists Critical Of Their Own Companies Cause Headaches For News Organizations
The following information is from a news article published by the Associated Press: In recent months, NBC News, The New York Times, and National Public Radio have all faced upheaval due to journalists applying their critical scrutiny, typically used to report on the world, to their employers.
Whistleblowing is not exclusive to any particular business. However, the opposing perspective ingrained in several journalists, which is often an integral aspect of their profession, along with shifts in how activism is perceived across generations, have resulted in a high likelihood of these instances persisting.
NBC recently rescinded its intention to employ Ronna McDaniel, the former chief of the Republican National Committee, as a political contributor. This reversal occurred when a group of its most prominent personalities staged a revolt. A senior editor at NPR was suspended and resigned after criticizing his company’s tolerance for varied opinions. Additionally, an internal investigation at the Times, which was initiated due to their coverage of Gaza, has concluded.
AP – VOR News Image
Journalists Critical Of Their Own Companies Cause Headaches For News Organizations
Journalism as a vocation appeals to individuals who oppose authority and perceive themselves as purveyors of truth. According to Tom Rosenstiel, a professor at the University of Maryland and co-author of “The Elements of Journalism,” many people believe that criticism is the most effective approach to improving an organization.
“We are instructed to scrutinize those in positions of authority,” stated Kate O’Brian, the president of news for the E.W. Scripps Co.
It is inherent to their nature.
Was it truly unexpected to witness Chuck Todd, who has spent years interrogating politicians on “Meet the Press,” employ the same approach with his superiors when they hesitated to hire McDaniel? MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, Joy Reid, Joe Scarborough, Jen Psaki, Nicolle Wallace, and Lawrence O’Donnell all participated in a protest that was remarkable because it occurred on the network’s own television broadcasts.
Uri Berliner, an editor at National Public Radio, faced minimal internal backing for his grievances, ironically strengthening his argument. He asserted that NPR had become too biased in pushing a liberal perspective, and he made his grievances public by publishing an essay in a different news medium after his superiors failed to address his concerns.
NPR management refutes his statement. However, Berliner swiftly gained admiration from conservatives who shared the same conviction.
The history of journalism is replete with numerous instances of significant internal protests. In the 1970s, female journalists initiated legal action against The New York Times and The Associated Press to compel them to address gender discrimination. Journalists from the Los Angeles Times uncovered a business agreement in which their employer agreed to distribute revenues with a sports arena as part of a special publication. A Chicago television news anchor resigned in objection to her station’s decision to employ talk show host Jerry Springer as a pundit.
AP – VOR News Image
Journalists Critical Of Their Own Companies Cause Headaches For News Organizations
The death of George Floyd in 2020, which Minneapolis police’s actions were to blame for, served as a turning point that forced news organizations all over the country to address their coverage of racial issues, both historical and current, sometimes under pressure from their employees. Additionally, it prompted an examination of the absence of diversity in newsrooms.
Other factors contribute to the increasing tendency of journalists to publicly express grievances that they may have previously only shared with colleagues in informal settings. Joel Kaplan, a former reporter for the Chicago Tribune and the associate dean for graduate studies at Syracuse University’s Newhouse communications department, suggests that it’s possible that a distant hedge fund, rather than a local family, is in charge of their outlet.
The emergence of a new generation has also empowered numerous young journalists. Within his classroom, Kaplan observes a growing number of young journalists who are challenging conventional ideas of neutrality, which hinder them from freely expressing their viewpoints. According to him, numerous individuals assert their entitlement to express their ideas and advocate for causes.
“Currently, there are journalists who function as advocates,” stated Rosenstiel. This indicates a conflict of values within the field of journalism.”
Discussions regarding the extent of media attention on the Trump administration had a comparable stimulating impact.
“Certain journalists express disinterest in covering conservatives due to their perceived lack of commitment to truth,” Rosenstiel stated.
A counter-reaction to the previous counter-reaction
Certain traditionalists, such as former Washington Post editor Marty Baron, have expressed deep concern over some of these alterations. Engaging in conflicts with young employees on their way of expressing thoughts on social media left him disheartened, ultimately contributing to his decision to resign.
In his 2023 book, “Collision of Power,” he expressed a sense of alienation from his colleagues during a staff meeting on journalism.
Journalist Wesley Lowery, a highly influential figure in this field, has argued that certain proponents of objectivity prioritize avoiding controversy and maintaining a certain image rather than focusing on the rigorous standards of journalism.
“At the peak of the debate, Ajay V. Singh, a Harvard student, expressed that by striving for objectivity, we suppress the voices of marginalized individuals,” “By suppressing the voices of the marginalized, we shift the control of the ‘truth’ narrative to those in positions of power.”
AP – VOR News Image
Journalists Critical Of Their Own Companies Cause Headaches For News Organizations
Journalists at The New York Times have regularly been at the forefront, questioning their organization. After the newspaper disavowed a column by U.S. Senator Tom Cotton about Floyd-related protests in response to a staff demonstration in 2020, the editorial page editor resigned. Occasionally, members of the Times staff have expressed strong criticism of the newspaper’s reporting on matters related to gender.
However, the CEOs seemed impatient with the ongoing discussion over another controversial matter: the conflict in Gaza.
An internal inquiry was initiated to identify the source responsible for leaking information to an external media, the Intercept, about a podcast centered around an article from late December discussing Hamas and sexual violence. The podcast needed to be completed. Some staff members were angry at the Times’ perceived retaliation against employees who engaged in a common practice among its reporters: writing stories based on leaked material.
However, the Times’ management perceived the conduct as a breach of trust, specifically sharing preliminary versions of content that were never published.
Joe Kahn, the Times executive editor, stated in a memo to staff on April 15 that reporters, editors, and producers should engage in open and honest discussions and debates about the most effective approach to challenging journalism. These exchanges should enhance the quality of the story rather than become the focus of the story itself. He said the investigation ended without identifying the person responsible for leaking the documents.
Amidst this context, there is another fact: The public is now more interested in the media itself and its news coverage than before, which has created a demand for the kind of content that Kahn was referring to – and this story.
According to Rosenstiel, due to the high level of interest and the strong presence of media in the debate, there will certainly be an abundance of sources for such material.
“Newsrooms,” he stated, “are frequently populated by individuals who are frequently dissatisfied.”
SOURCE – (AP)
News
Britain Must Be Ready for War in 3 Years, Warns New Army Chief
The new head of the Army has stated that Britain must be prepared to fight a war within three years.
Gen Sir Roland Walker has issued a warning about a variety of risks in what he calls a “increasingly volatile” environment.
However, he stated that war was not inevitable and that the Army had “just enough time” to prepare to prevent conflict.
He stated that the Army’s fighting capacity would be doubled by 2027 and tripled by the end of the decade.
Gen Walker warned that the Britain was under threat from a “axis of upheaval” in his first speech as Prime Minister on Tuesday.
Among the primary concerns confronting the Britain in the next years, as noted by the general in a briefing, is an enraged Russia, which may seek vengeance on the West for helping Ukraine, regardless of who wins the war.
He stated: “It doesn’t matter how it finishes. I believe Russia will emerge from it weaker objectively – or completely – but still very, very dangerous and seeking some form of retaliation for what we have done to assist Ukraine.”
Britain’s Government Defence Review and Military Challenges
He also warned that China was determined to retake Taiwan, and Iran was likely to seek nuclear weapons.
He stated that the threats they posed may become particularly acute in the next three years, and that these countries had formed a “mutual transactional relationship” since the war in Ukraine, sharing weaponry and technology.
However, he stated that the path to conflict was not “inexorable” if the UK re-established credible land troops to assist its deterrent strategy for avoiding war.
In his speech, he described his force of slightly over 70,000 regular troops as a “medium-sized army” and made no direct call for additional resources or men.
However, he pushed the British Army to adapt swiftly, focussing on technology such as artificial intelligence and weaponry rather than numbers.
His ultimate goal is for the Army to be capable of destroying an opponent three times its size.
This would entail firing quicker and farther, he said, aided by lessons learnt from the Ukraine war.
The general’s speech at the Royal United Services Institute land warfare conference comes only one week after the government began a “root and branch” defence review to “take a fresh look” at the challenges facing the armed services.
Defence Secretary John Healey launched the assessment, describing the existing status of the armed forces as “hollowed-out” and stating that “procurement waste and neglected morale cannot continue”.
According to the most recent Ministry of Defence (MoD) numbers from April 2024, the Britain’s regular Army forces total 75,325 troops (excluding Gurkhas and volunteers).
That figure has been declining in recent years, as recruiting has failed to match retention. The previous Conservative administration lowered the planned headcount from 82,000 to 72,500 by 2025.
Members of the NATO military alliance have agreed to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence by 2024, but several countries are unlikely to fulfil this goal.
The Britain presently spends 2.3% of its GDP on defence. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously stated that the defence review will include a “roadmap” for increasing this to 2.5%, however he has yet to provide a date for this promise.
Source: BBC
News
Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal
PARIS — Katie Ledecky is looking for clean Olympic races. On Wednesday, Hope had pretty much reached her limit.
The American swimmer hopes to add to her six gold medals as she competes in the 400, 800, and 1,500 meters at the Paris Games. Her program starts with the heavy 400 on Saturday, featuring Ariarne Titmus and Summer McIntosh.
Katie Ledecky | ESPN Image
Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal
The 27-year-old Katie is competing in her fourth Summer Olympics, but the first since a doping scandal involving almost two dozen Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned chemical before the Tokyo Games — yet were permitted to compete with no consequences. The controversy has raised serious worries regarding the effectiveness of anti-doping initiatives.
Katie Ledecky | Vogue Image
“I hope everyone here is going to be competing clean this week,” Ledecky claimed. “But what truly counts is, were they training cleanly? Hopefully this has been the case. Hopefully, there has been worldwide testing.”
The International Olympic Committee has expressed concern over the ongoing US investigation into possible doping by Chinese swimmers. While awarding the 2034 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City on Wednesday, the IOC urged Utah officials to do whatever they could to stop the FBI investigation.
“I think everyone’s heard what the athletes think,” Katie added. “They seek transparency. They want more answers to the remaining questions. At this point, we are here to race. We are going to race whoever is in the lane next to us.
“We are not paid to conduct the tests, so we trust those who follow their regulations. That applies both today and in the future.
Katie Ledecky | ESPN Image
Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal
SOURCE | AP
News
London Heatwave Alert: High Temperatures Set to Soar to 29C Next Week
As the summer holidays begin, London may experience an official heatwave with temperatures reaching up to 29 degrees Celsius.
The Met Office predicts a long period of sunny and dry weather for London after a soggy spring and summer.
After a cloudy day on Saturday, temperatures are expected to reach 27C on Sunday, with lots of sunlight.
On Monday and Tuesday, temperatures are forecast to peak at 29 degrees Celsius. Monday is forecast to offer more sunlight, while Tuesday may see some gloomy weather.
Temperatures are expected to remain in the high 20s next week, with lows of approximately 18C.
According to the Met Office, a heatwave is “an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity.”
In the United Kingdom, a heatwave is proclaimed when daily temperatures meet or surpass a certain level for at least three consecutive days.
In London, the heatwave threshold is 28 degrees Celsius.
The Met Office reported that the UK is experiencing hotter and wetter weather on average due to climate change.
The UK experienced its warmest May and April on record this year, despite damp and dismal conditions in many areas.
According to the Met Office’s State Of The UK Climate 2023 report published on Thursday, the UK experienced historic levels of extreme weather last year.
In the United Kingdom, 2023 was the second warmest year on record, bringing storms, flooding, strong heatwaves, and rising sea levels; only 2022 was warmer.
It was 0.8°C higher than the average from 1991 to 2020, and 1.66°C higher than the 1961 to 1990 average.
However, 2023 will be a “cool year” in comparison to 2100, based on the planet’s warming trajectory.
The government’s plan to adapt to the hazards presented by climate change is currently being challenged in the High Court by campaigners who allege the Tory administration’s July 2023 National Adaptation Programme (NAP) fails to adequately address 61 concerns.
Source: The Standard
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