Editorial Content

Interview Tyrants?

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Article in Columbia Journalism Review by Joel Simon, 6/1/26

Headline:  “Should Journalists Interview Dictators?”

Subhead:  “Encounters on the line between control and conditions.”

“. . .The trope of the dictator interview—presenting a despot as a celebrity, a figure of popular fascination with whom a reporter has managed to secure time—crystallized in the sixties and seventies, when Oriana Fallaci, an Italian journalist and provocateur, confronted Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, among others. In 1979, not long after the triumph of the Iranian revolution, she interviewed Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and—famously—ripped off her chador, calling it a “stupid medieval rag.” Barbara Walters took the opposite tack, humanizing and personalizing repressive leaders such as Fidel Castro, whom she first interviewed in 1977, and Mu‘ammar Gaddhafi, with whom she spoke a dozen years later. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.cjr.org/feature/should-journalists-interview-dictators-dan-rather-jon-lee-anderson-christiane-amanpour.php

“60 Minutes”-Fired

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Article in Poynter by Tom Jones, 6/2/26

Headline:  “Opinion | Scott Pelley is fired, deepening the crisis at ‘60 Minutes’ “

Subhead: “After publicly challenging network leadership, Pelley became the latest casualty in a sweeping remake of CBS News“

“Scott Pelley is out as a correspondent at ’60 Minutes,’ according to multiple reports.

On Monday, Pelley blasted new ’60 Minutes’ executive producer Nick Bilton in a staff meeting and accused CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of ‘murdering’ the iconic news show.

The Wall Street Journal’s Isabella Simonetti reported Tuesday night that Bilton sent Pelley a note to say he was being terminated for cause. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.poynter.org/commentary/2026/scott-pelley-fired-60-minutes-cbs-news/

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Article in Status by Oliver Darcy 6/2/26

Headline:  “Clock Strikes Midnight for Pelley”

“The ’60 Minutes’ correspondent was fired by email Tuesday night after a dramatic showdown with CBS News leadership, throwing the show into an unprecedented and existential crisis. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.status.news/p/scott-pelley-fired-60-minutes-bari-weiss-nick-bilton

Slicing the Post

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Article in Status by Natalie Korach, 5/25/26

Headline:  “Bezos’ Subdivided Post”

Subhead:  “The Washington Post is preparing to significantly shrink its K Street headquarters, Status has learned, marking a stark reversal for the building once touted as a symbol of Jeff Bezos’ vision for the paper’s future.”

“. . .The Post is preparing to slash a significant portion of the very headquarters Bezos once championed as a symbol of the paper’s future, Status has learned. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.status.news/p/washington-post-offices-sublease-jeff-bezos

News Access or Not?

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Article in Poynter by Tom Jones, 5/19/26

Headline: “Opinion | Why The New York Times is suing the Pentagon — again”

Subhead: “The news outlet says the Pentagon’s latest press-access restrictions are unconstitutional and retaliatory after an earlier court loss”

“For the second time, The New York Times is suing the Department of Defense, claiming it’s a violation of the First Amendment for journalists to be required to have an escort while working inside the Pentagon.

“This is just the latest volley in a continuing conflict between the press and President Donald Trump’s Defense Department, led by Defense Secretary and former Fox News talking head Pete Hegseth. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.poynter.org/commentary/2026/new-york-times-pentagon-lawsuit-escort/

Euphemisms in the Media?

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Article in FAIR by Gregory Shupak, 5/19/26

Headline:  “‘Buffer Zone’ Is Media’s Euphemism for Israeli Occupation”

“Since October 2023, Israel has occupied vast stretches of territory in Gaza, Syria and, most recently, Lebanon. Corporate media have been reluctant to use clear, direct language to characterize US-backed Israeli land grabs in each of these places, preferring to describe Israel’s policies with euphemistic terminology.

“ ‘Buffer’ is chief among these. For instance, a Wall Street Journal article (4/9/26) told readers that ‘Israeli forces now hold buffer zones inside Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.’. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://fair.org/home/buffer-zone-is-medias-euphemism-for-israeli-occupation/

Hope for Journalism

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Article in Poynter by Tom Jones, 5/18/26

Headline: “Opinion | Why one longtime media reporter still has hope for journalism”

“On ‘The Poynter Report Podcast,’ David Bauder reflects on four decades covering media upheaval and why he still believes in the work”

“There’s plenty to be depressed about when it comes to the state of journalism these days.

“Layoffs. Dwindling resources. A decline in audiences. And public distrust in the media partly sowed by a president who has done nothing but attack the press for the past decade.

“But it’s not all doom and gloom. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.poynter.org/commentary/2026/poynter-report-podcast-david-bauder-journalism-business-hope/

Local News Knows Prices

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Article in Media Matters by Allison Fisher, 5/12/26

Headline: “If you want to see how the costs of high fuel prices are adding up for Americans, look to local media

Subhead: Reporter: “Many are worrying about how they will adjust their budget just to buy gas”

“President Donald Trump’s war with Iran has caused oil prices to surge, spiking gas prices across the country. Local news outlets have spotlighted the various impacts these record high prices have had on Americans and the people and industries we rely on, from farmers and truckers to first responders, small businesses, and even our schools, among many others. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.mediamatters.org/fuel-files-rising-gasoline-oil-and-fertilizer-prices/if-you-want-see-how-costs-high-fuel-prices-are

Good, Real-News

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Photo courtesy of CJR Reed Brody

Article in Columbia Journalism Review by Susie Banikarim, 5/8/26

Headline:  “Amy Goodman’s Good Example”

Subhead:  “A documentary that resonates, why the press needs to pay more attention to Truth Social madness, and an impressive investigation from the Post and Courier.”

“. . .Goodman, now the host of Democracy Now!, is the star of Steal This Story, Please! But it is more broadly a film about independent journalism and why it matters, now maybe more than ever. Goodman turns out to be an ideal guide: relentless, fearless, and a natural storyteller with a matter-of-fact clarity of purpose and no apparent interest in self-aggrandizement or martyrdom. . .”

Read the full story at:

https://www.cjr.org/laurels-and-darts/amy-goodmans-good-example-documentary-truth-social-post-courier-investigation.php

Atlantic Won’t Cave

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Article in Poynter by Tom Jones, 5/8/26

Headline:  “Opinion | The Atlantic isn’t backing down”

Subhead:  “The publication’s editor-in-chief says a lawsuit and potential FBI probe will not deter its journalists from publishing the truth.”

“If the FBI and its director Kash Patel thought they could intimidate The Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick with lawsuits and federal investigations, they have been given a resounding wake-up call.

The Atlantic is making itself clear. They are standing behind their reporter. They are standing behind their journalism. They won’t be backing down.

Last month, Fitzpatrick wrote a bombshell story based on conversations with dozens of sources. Those sources described Patel as erratic, suspicious of others and prone to jumping to conclusions before he had the necessary evidence. The story included allegations of “excessive drinking” as well as “conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences” while Patel has been in charge of the FBI. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.poynter.org/commentary/2026/the-atlantic-kash-patel-lawsuit-fbi-investigation/

Infowars – Gone?

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Article in FAIR by Ari Paul, 5/6/26

Headline: “You Don’t Know What It Is, Do You, Mr. Jones?”

“Silence had never sounded so sweet, blankness had never looked so beautiful. A visit to the far-right conspiracy outlet Infowars website had no ‘Jesus Returns’–sized headlines about government-tainted water turning the frogs gay, or fresh anti-vaccine claims. No promotions for host Alex Jones’ supplements, either, or videos of him screaming gibberish about politicians eating babies. Just a white screen and two very small words: ‘Off Air’. . .”

Read the full story at:

https://fair.org/home/you-dont-know-what-it-is-do-you-mr-jones/