If you read this newsletter, then you enjoy reading about the media — the news, the gossip, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

And if you like reading about the media, then you’re going to enjoy hearing about it, too.

That brings us to our exciting news. This is a big day for us at the Poynter Institute. Today we launch our new podcast based on this newsletter and hosted by me.

“The Poynter Report Podcast” will focus on the latest media news, trends and issues, with a new episode every two weeks.

One of the great things about working at Poynter is our connection to some of the leading voices and experts in the business. And that’s our plan with this podcast — to tap into the experts to get their relevant and pertinent thoughts. We’ll take what we do with our newsletter and go even deeper. Our aim is to make you a little smarter about the news and media industry.

For example, we couldn’t be more excited about our first episode featuring a conversation with the NPR television critic and noted media analyst Eric Deggans. In our half-hour conversation, we talked about how the media is covering this presidential election, the influence of Fox News, what lies ahead for CNN and the current state of television. That includes our thoughts on “Saturday Night Live,” as it begins its 50th season.

We’ll respect your time, keeping the episodes in the 20- to 30-minute range. Keep an eye out in this newsletter for the latest news and updates on guests and topics.

And let me be clear about something. This isn’t just for media insiders and those in the business. Like this newsletter, we aim to appeal to all media consumers.

Poynter president Neil Brown, Ren LaForme, the editor of this newsletter, and I began having conversations about this podcast last spring when we were approached by our neighbors across the street — The University of South Florida St. Petersburg. It made for a perfect marriage with the school handling the production and Poynter in charge of the content.

Elliott Wiser, a professor for the Department of Journalism & Digital Communication at USF St. Petersburg and longtime media executive, will serve as executive producer, along with my colleague LaForme. And the production is being handled by USF, including students Madelyn Siner and Noah Chase.

I believe you’re really going to enjoy our new project. Check out the first episode (embedded above, and also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music), and let me know what you think.

Reporter controversy

Journalist Olivia Nuzzi, shown here at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington in April of 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Catching up on this since my last newsletter. New York magazine announced high-profile Washington reporter Olivia Nuzzi is on leave after she disclosed having a personal — although apparently not physical — relationship with one of the people she has covered. That person? Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The story was broken by former CNN reporter Oliver Darcy in his Status media newsletter.

New York magazine issued a statement saying, “Recently our Washington Correspondent Olivia Nuzzi acknowledged to the magazine’s editors that she had engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign while she was reporting on the campaign, a violation of the magazine’s standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures. Had the magazine been aware of this relationship, she would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign. An internal review of her published work has found no inaccuracies nor evidence of bias. She is currently on leave from the magazine, and the magazine is conducting a more thorough third-party review. We regret this violation of our readers’ trust.”

Nuzzi wrote a major piece about Kennedy last November. Kennedy has since dropped out of the race and endorsed Donald Trump. Nuzzi recently wrote about Trump, as well.

Nuzzi told The New York Times’ Katie Robertson in a statement that “some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal.” Nuzzi added, “During that time, I did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source.”

Nuzzi also told Robertson, “The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict. I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I’ve disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York.”

The Kennedy camp said in a statement, “Mr. Kennedy only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece.”

New York magazine editor David Haskell told his staff in a note late last week that he learned about the personal relationship between Nuzzi and Kennedy only days earlier. He said editors had not found any bias in the article she wrote about Kennedy at the time, but added, “I made clear to Olivia, she had created at the very least the appearance of a conflict, and, by choosing not to disclose this to her editors, had violated our policies and potentially damaged our readers’ trust.”

Puck’s Dylan Byers wrote that it was a “digital affair,” which included texting and photos.

Kennedy, 70, is married to actress Cheryl Hines. Nuzzi, 31, is the ex-fiancee of Politico reporter Ryan Lizza, who helps write the Politico Playbook newsletter. In last Friday’s Playbook, Lizza wrote, “Because of my connection to this story through my ex-fiancée, my editors and I have agreed that I won’t be involved in any coverage of Kennedy in Playbook or elsewhere at POLITICO.”

So, you might ask: What’s the big deal? A reporter wrote about someone and then, if you believe everyone involved, there was nothing personal going on until after the story was published. Why, then, is that a problem?

First, as Haskell wrote in his note, even the appearance of a conflict raises questions. Knowing what we know now, one can’t help but wonder if Nuzzi’s reporting and story — not just on Kennedy, but all political stories — were impacted by her feelings or relationship with Kennedy, regardless of when those feelings became public.

Aside from her profile of Kennedy, Nuzzi has written about Kennedy’s political rivals and colleagues. As The Washington Post’s Will Sommer notes, “Nuzzi has also written critically and robustly about Kennedy’s former presidential rivals. In July, she skewered Biden’s mental state in a lengthy profile, arguing that the state of the president’s health had been covered up in a ‘conspiracy of silence.’ For years Nuzzi has had access to Trump, with the former president inviting her to inspect the wound on his ear from his assassination attempt for a piece reported at Mar-a-Lago that ran earlier this month in New York magazine.”

Nuzzi is highly regarded in Washington political/journalism circles, but this scandal might be a little hard to shake off.

Yay or nay on another debate?

Vice President Kamala Harris says she’s up for another debate against Donald Trump. In fact, Harris said over the weekend that she accepted CNN’s invitation for another debate next month.

But Trump says it’s “too late” for another debate because early voting has already begun in some states.

Harris dominated the first debate against Trump earlier this month, but it still isn’t clear if she got much of a bump in polling because of it. For that reason, one could see why Trump wouldn’t want to tangle with her again.

Meanwhile, seeing as how well the first debate went for her, Harris would welcome another chance to show the contrast between her and Trump, who was easily unraveled and baited into losing his cool by Harris’ jabs.

Don’t be surprised if Harris continues to pressure Trump into another debate, hoping that his ego won’t allow him to turn down her repeated dares.

Speaking of Trump …

Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Wilmington, N.C., on Saturday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

In an interview with Sharyl Attkisson for a syndicated program called “Full Disclosure,” Trump says if he loses the 2024 election, he doesn’t see himself ever running for president again.

“No, I don’t. No, I don’t,” Trump said. “I think that that will be it. I don’t see that at all. I think that hopefully we’re gonna be successful.”

If he were to lose this time, I’m not sure it would even be his choice to not run again. It’s hard to see Republicans nominating Trump after two straight presidential election losses. In addition, four years from now, Trump will be 82.

Media tidbits

• Must-watch video of the day: On Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” NBC News national political correspondent Steve Kornacki broke down some fascinating numbers in the latest NBC News poll that shows Kamala Harris with a major jump.
• My Poynter colleague TyLisa Johnson with “What the landmark ‘1619 Project’ taught Nikole Hannah-Jones.”
• The Washington Post’s Terrence McCoy with “Elon Musk blinks first, bowing to pressure in Brazil to reopen X.”
• The New York Times’ Jessica Testa with “How Big Should a Little Magazine Be?”
• The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch with “NFL broadcasters are getting more access to teams: Here’s how they’re using it.”

Hot type

• “CBS News Sunday Morning” correspondent Anthony Mason profiles the legendary rock band:  “Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament and Eddie Vedder on the road.”
• The Tampa Bay Times’ Lane DeGregory with “Tragedy struck for Catholic newlyweds. Months later, a miracle?”

More resources for journalists

• Understand critical aspects of the swiftly evolving AI landscape at Level Up.
• Check out our dynamic, in-person workshop for new newsroom managers.
• Try our free Grant Writing for Journalists self-directed course.

Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at tjones@poynter.org.

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