Good Friday to you. As I do most Fridays, I send you into the weekend with my recommendations for some excellent journalism to read, listen to and watch.
But first, some media news, starting with an interesting hire at CNN.
CNN names COO
CNN is bringing in a bigwig to help work on the network’s problems. David Leavy — a longtime right-hand man of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav — has been named COO of CNN Worldwide. He has been with Discovery (including the new Warner Bros. Discovery) for 23 years.
In its announcement, CNN said Leavy will “assume responsibility over commercial, operational and promotional activities across CNN Worldwide,” and that he will report to chairman and CEO Chris Licht.
The Wall Street Journal’s Isabella Simonetti and Joe Flint reported that Leavy was working with Licht on finding a COO and the two developed a closer business relationship that led to Leavy getting the job. Simonetti and Flint wrote, “Leavy joins CNN at a critical time for the all-news channel, which is celebrating its 43rd anniversary on Thursday. Since taking over as CEO last year, Licht has been experimenting with new programming to counter a ratings slide, including a new morning show that has struggled to gain traction.”
They added, “While Zaslav has praised Licht’s leadership and decision-making, the move to appoint Leavy as the network’s chief operating officer will give Licht the chance to focus more on programming and digital strategy.”
Deadline’s Ted Johnson also mentioned how the move frees up Licht to focus on programming and, Johnson added, “it also puts a close lieutenant of Zaslav into a hands-on role at the network.”
Mediaite’s Colby Hall wrote, “It’s a brilliant move, as some insiders see it, a sign of troubled waters to others. Undoubtedly, it’s an admission that CNN and Licht need some operational support.”
Hall added, “Leavy, a heavy hitter at WBD, has been tapped to drop down into CNN — effectively a demotion — to ostensibly report to Licht. The decision shows Zaslav is hearing something (alarm bells?), and CNN may need a life preserver. When does a mission to provide operational support officially become a rescue operation?”
Hundreds of Gannett journalists to strike Monday
For this item, I turn it over to my Poynter colleague Angela Fu.
Hundreds of Gannett journalists will stage a series of work stoppages starting Monday in protest of lengthy contract negotiations and CEO Mike Reed’s leadership.
Unions at two dozen newsrooms, including the Austin American-Statesman and The Florida Times-Union, have committed to participating so far. The vast majority will hold a one-day walkout, but journalists at The Desert Sun in Palm Springs and The Arizona Republic plan to strike for “two days or more,” according to the NewsGuild, the union representing the workers.
The start of the strikes coincides with Gannett’s annual shareholder meeting. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission last month, the NewsGuild urged shareholders to withhold their vote for Reed at Monday’s meeting. Reed, the union argues, has reduced local content, cut staff and weakened the company.
“The company is not investing right now in newsrooms. Instead, they’re investing in management — upper management — and their salaries,” said Austin NewsGuild vice chair and American-Statesman health reporter Nicole Villalpando. “They’ve been decimating newsrooms.”
Villalpando said that Gannett units have been planning the strikes for months, after realizing that the company was stalling at the bargaining table. Several of the participating newsrooms unionized more than two years ago and are still trying to negotiate a first contract.
Gannett spokesperson Lark-Marie Anton wrote in an emailed statement that the company is prepared for the work stoppage and does not anticipate any disruptions to its content or ability to report the news.
“During a very challenging time for our industry and economy, Gannett strives to provide competitive wages, benefits, and meaningful opportunities for all our valued employees. Our leadership is focused on investing in local newsrooms and monetizing our content as we continue to negotiate fairly and in good faith with the NewsGuild,” Anton wrote. “Our goal is to preserve journalism and serve our communities across the country as we bargain to finalize contracts.”
The strikes planned for Monday come just months after 14 Gannett newsrooms held a one-day work stoppage in November. The NewsGuild represents more than 1,000 Gannett employees across roughly 50 units.
Longtime editor leaves Washington Post
Cameron Barr, The Washington Post’s senior managing editor, is leaving the paper. He has been at the Post for more than 19 years and oversaw teams that won 12 Pulitzer Prizes. As managing editor for the past seven years, he has had a major hand in the Post’s daily work.
According to a story by The Washington Post’s Elahe Izadi, the 59-year-old Barr is moving to his wife’s native England. There, he will write — essays and memoirs. Barr told Izadi that the decision is “partly a desire to live a little bit differently, and also a desire to try and find my voice as a writer. I’m thrilled by the prospect of doing that with my time.”
And now for tidbits and recommended links for your weekend review …
- Sensational work from USA Today’s Karina Zaiets, Ariana Torrey and Ramon Padilla: “‘A choice without a choice’: An illustrated explanation of Russia’s deportation of Ukrainians, from the war zone to a remote camp.”
- This is powerful and heartbreaking. NBC News’ Richard Engel with “An inside look at the Wagner Group’s control over the Central African Republic.” And here is more from NBC News’ Gabe Joselow: “Russian mercenaries exploit a war-torn African nation as they lead Putin’s fight in Ukraine.”
- Margaret Sullivan’s latest in the Guardian US: “Gay and trans people deserve to live without persecution in the US. Why is that so hard?”
- The Washington Post’s Greg Sargent and Paul Waldman with “In a deep red Florida county, a student-teacher revolt shames the right.”
- Also in the Post, Richard Sima with “A catatonic woman awakened after 20 years. Her story may change psychiatry.”
- A hat tip to the Muck Rack newsletter for pointing out this story. For Military.com, it’s James LaPorta, Konstantin Toropin and Patricia Kime with “Poisoned Water: How a Navy Ship Dumped Fuel and Sickened Its Own Crew.”
- Variety’s Jennifer Maas with “Disney Completes 7,000 Job Cuts.”
- Sorry, but one more really good piece about HBO’s “Succession”: It’s The Ringer’s Katie Baker with “The True Power of ‘Succession’ Comes From Writing Inside the Box.”
- Check out Slate’s “Opinionpalooza,” Slate’s coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June, including what Slate says is a change in the way the media covers the Supreme Court.
- The Los Angeles Times editorial board with a controversial editorial on a former member of the Manson family in “It’s time to release Leslie Van Houten from prison.”
- The New York Times’ Phoebe Lett and Jeremy Ashkenas (with video generated by Stable Diffusion, with Sagans): “8 Big Questions about AI.”
- With the NBA Finals getting underway, here’s a super fun interactive piece from The New York Times’ Sean Catangui and Kris Rhim where you pick where you think the NBA player will pass the ball: “Where Is the Pass Going?”
More resources for journalists
- Hiring? Post jobs on The Media Job Board — Powered by Poynter, Editor & Publisher and America’s Newspapers.
- Sign up for Beat Academy (Now-Oct. 19) (Webinar series) — You’ll get tips, sources, inspiration and ideas to cover emerging newsroom beats. Enroll now.
- Lead With Influence (July) (Seminar) — The deadline to apply is today, June 2.
Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at tjones@poynter.org.
The Poynter Report is our daily media newsletter. To have it delivered to your inbox Monday-Friday, sign up here.
