Good morning. Here are 10 media stories.
- Embattled CEO apologizes…again
The popular online message board Reddit has convulsed with controversy in recent days, leading chief executive Ellen Pao to issue two apologies addressing the dismissal of a well-liked administrator on the site. “Large sections of the site were temporarily taken offline by users last week. The action was a protest by users after they discovered last Thursday that Victoria Taylor, a well-liked and publicly visible Reddit employee, was dismissed with no warning to the community at large.” (The New York Times)
- CNN scores Hillary Clinton interview
Hillary Clinton’s plan to thaw relations with the press will officially begin today when she appears on CNN for the first nationally televised interview of her campaign. The interview with senior political correspondent Brianna Keilar will air at 5 p.m. ET. “Presidential interviews usually aren’t game-changing events – almost every other 2016 candidate does them regularly — and tomorrow’s sit-down, in Iowa City, isn’t likely to be a landmark moment in the campaign. Make no mistake, Clinton is not ushering in a new era of access and transparency.” (Politico)
- The AP unearths Cosby scoop
The Associated Press on Monday landed a huge scoop when it published a story based on court documents showing that comedian Bill Cosby testified to obtaining Quaaludes to give to women he wanted to have sex with. Cosby’s lawyers fought to keep the documents private on the grounds they would “embarrass their client.” Judging by the reaction to the story, they were right. (The Associated Press)
- Journalists aren’t apologizing to Chris Christie for Bridgegate coverage
In response to complaints from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie about the way they covered the Bridgegate scandal, journalists told Erik Wemple that they had no intentions to apologize. In an interview on Fox News, Christie accused the “liberal media” of placing their stories in a new context rather than apologizing, “which is what they should say.” Here’s New York Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet: “I think our coverage of the governor has been fair. So can’t imagine a reason for an apology, but happy to hear if he has a complaint.” (The Washington Post) | Olivia Nuzzi, a political reporter for The Daily Beast, offered this sarcastic mea culpa: “Dear Chris Christie: Sorry we did our jobs.” (The Daily Beast)
- Los Angeles Times adds a reporter to cover Black Twitter
The Los Angeles Times on Tuesday became the first major American newspaper to hire a reporter to cover Black Twitter, the loosely affiliated nucleus of culturally conscious black Twitter users. Dexter Thomas, a doctoral candidate at Cornell University, will also develop stories based on other online communities. (Poynter) | Thomas talked to All Digitocracy about the new job. “Black Twitter didn’t exist until someone decided it was something that could be studied,” he observed. “But that doesn’t mean that what Black Twitter is talking about isn’t important, but it was influential even before we called it Black Twitter.” (All Digitocracy)
- Female Guardian staffers share stories of online harassment
In a video posted Monday, five Guardian writers and editors read vitriolic emails from readers that contained death wishes, sexually demeaning language and racist statements. (The Guardian) | Online harassment of female journalists has been a recurring problem with no easy remedy. Last year, Slate reporter Amanda Hess wrote “Why Women Aren’t Welcome on the Internet,” a look at the issue that included a harrowing account of her own harassment. (Pacific Standard) | The staff of Jezebel publicly called their parent company to task last year after users began using the comments section to post GIFs of violent pornography. (Jezebel)
- Women’s World Cup nets record ratings
Fox’s Sunday evening broadcast showing the U.S. women’s national soccer team trouncing Japan to win the World Cup garnered a record number of viewers for any U.S. soccer game, Brian Stelter reported Monday. “The Sunday evening broadcast was watched by 25.4 million viewers on Fox, according to the network. It also drew 1.27 million viewers on Spanish language network Telemundo, for a combined audience of 26.7 million viewers.” (CNN) | Despite the ratings win, the women’s World Cup winner receives $33 million less prize money than the men’s winner. (BuzzFeed)
- Business Insider extols North Korean airport
Business Insider has toned down the language in a glowing story written by reporter Benjamin Zhang that offered effusive praise for a newly opened airport in the heavily propagandized country of North Korea. The article, previously headlined “North Korea’s stunning new airport puts many Americans to shame” is now titled “North Korea says it has a great new airport” (Gawker)
- Front page of the day, selected by Kristen Hare
The Burlington County (New Jersey) Times leads with U.S. Soccer player Carli Lloyd. (Courtesy the Newseum)
- Job moves, edited by Benjamin Mullin
Dexter Thomas will cover Black Twitter at the Los Angeles Times. He is a a doctoral candidate at Cornell University. (Poynter) | Lauren Hirsch will cover initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions at Reuters. Previously, she was a reporter for Mergermarket. (Talking Biz News) | Pilar Marrero will be senior political correspondent for impreMedia. Previously, she was director of communications for L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solís. (Media Moves) | Job of the day: Vox is looking for a race and identity editor. Get your résumés in! (Mediagazer) | Send Ben your job moves: bmullin@poynter.org.
Corrections? Tips? Please email me: bmullin@poynter.org. Would you like to get this roundup emailed to you every morning? Sign up here.
