On the morning of the Unite the Right rally, I lumbered down the staircase of a Catskills Airbnb rented for a bachelor party to learn that only hours before, a gang of white nationalists stormed the University of Virginia campus wielding Tiki torches and chanting, 'Jews will not replace us.'
Faiz Shakir, executive director of More Perfect Union, stated, 'We're hoping that an economic populist movement for the next generation will start through More Perfect Union on campuses.' This reflects the organization's goal to mobilize students around economic issues.
"Too many leaders find themselves at the midpoint of their careers, or in senior positions, without leadership training. This program provides a space where they can learn from peers and Poynter facilitators about what makes a great leader, mentor, manager and coach."
If you've worked in a technical role in news for long enough, you likely remember when the "show your work" spirit was everywhere. Newsroom nerds shared code on GitHub, swapped tips on social media and unfurled long blogs guiding others on how to get things done. You might also have a vague sense that - like reaction GIFs, demotivational posters, and that guy who sang "Chocolate Rain" - you're seeing less of it these days.
For Northwestern University's 2025 news report, they estimated that almost 40% of all local U.S. newspapers have vanished, leaving 50 million Americans with limited or no access to a reliable source of local news. The local newspapers that haven't closed their doors have immensely reduced their operations, cutting the amount of reporters in the newsroom from hundreds to just dozens and working out of rented office spaces instead of downtown buildings.
"Editing is as much about knowing and growing your team as it is about elevating their copy," said Kathleen McGrory, an editor with The New York Times Local Investigations Fellowship. "As an editor, a key part of your job is understanding what makes your reporters tick and helping them reach their goals beyond any one story. It requires open communication, deep trust and really listening."