MOVING THE RATIO TO 50/50
Ros Atkins is an anchor for the BBC's "Outside Source." The child of a feminist, he took issue with the lack of female expert sources and sought to change the ratios. In just a few months, he was able to bring his own show's female-to-male expert sources ratio from 37 percent to 51 percent female.
Other BBC properties took note, and via a simple monthly counting exercise began to truly move the needle on this important issue.
Poynter's Al Tompkins talked to Atkins. You can read more about their conversation and Atkins' efforts here.
CNN THREATENED AGAIN
The New York City offices of CNN were evacuated Thursday night after a bomb threat was called in. Officials cleared the building, live programming ceased and taped shows replaced them as staffers worked remotely and then broadcast live from in front of the building. The all-clear was given less than two hours later.
CNN's Brian Stelter led his daily newsletter: "Honestly I'm reluctant to start off this edition of the newsletter with Thursday night's bomb threat at CNN NYC, because these attempts at intimidation are infuriating and unacceptable."
HOW TO RUN ME, INC.
This week the Leadership Academy for Diversity in Digital Media is taking place at Poynter. Roland S. Martin is the host of the daily digital show #RolandMartinUnfiltered, the host and managing editor of TV One Cable Network, a senior analyst for “The Tom Joyner Morning Show,” a book author and an international speaker.
But primarily, he said, he serves as the “biggest shareholder of Me, Inc.”
Poynter's Mel Grau sat in on his session. Here's her summary.
CHARACTER STUDY
Hunter Lee, a news assistant at The Long Beach Press-Telegram, reached a journalism milestone that few achieve. He was promoted to march in a local Christmas parade as Petey, the news organization’s “larger-than-life newspaper mascot, complete with white gloves and comically large blue shoes.” Lee grappled with the “cesspool of body odor” in the 12-year-old costume, the sensory deprivation of the large suit and children heckling him to dance from the next float up. “I dabbed on them haters,” Lee says. Then his pants fell down.
- BuzzFeed: Reporters At Bloomberg News Are Worried About Michael Bloomberg’s Potential Presidential Run (our top pick)
- The Roanoke (Virginia) Times: Edlich: Why I subscribe to the newspaper
- The Guardian: 'Killed for speaking the truth': tributes to nine journalists murdered in 2018
Poynter's ICYMI page is updated throughout the day.
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On Poynter.org:
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Misinformers are moving to smaller platforms. So how should fact-checkers monitor them? By Daniel Funke and Alexios Mantzarlis.
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How to keep your personal information safe from creeps on the internet. By Ren LaForme.
Upcoming training:
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Becoming a More Effective Writer: Clarity and Organization. Deadline: Jan. 4.
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The Craft of the Personal Essay. Deadline: Jan. 18.
From PolitiFact.com:
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A fact-checking milestone: Factcheck.org turns 15.
By Bill Adair. -
Timeline of Michael Flynn's turn, from Trump aide to Mueller witness.
By John Kruzel.
PolitiFact is a property of the Poynter Institute.
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