Nieman Lab: The Daily Digest

On TV, skepticism about the science of climate change is dying out — but whataboutism is filling the void

“How these arguments play out on television is hugely important because of its dominance as a source of climate information…Legitimate policy discussion needs to be carefully distinguished from false claims put out by organized skeptical groups.” By James Painter.
What We’re Reading
The New Republic / Aaron Timms
How digital media pursued viral traffic at all costs and unleashed chaos →
“If his book [Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral] portrays an executive class mostly unbothered by the potential consequences of the digital era’s popularity contest, it also suggests that journalists—in particular those named Ben Smith—remain confused about their own role in this shrill and data-saturated new world.”
Bloomberg / Josh Eidelson
NBCUniversal told managers to fight unions in a 2019 role-playing exercise →
“In the hourslong simulation, managers were tasked with running a television station called WSEE-TV that had to figure out how to prevent employees from unionizing with the Communications Workers of America. Training materials that accompanied the 2019 session laid out the importance of keeping unions at bay.”
The Wall Street Journal / Ann M. Simmons
A Moscow court is upholding WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich’s detention →
“After a closed hearing, Mr. Gershkovich, a 31-year-old American citizen, was denied bail and ordered held in the Russian capital’s Lefortovo prison pending trial. Lefortovo has often been used to house prominent political prisoners.”
Digiday / Sara Guaglione
Despite DEI promises, media companies are still mostly hiring white people →
“Publishers are slowly publicly releasing the latest reports on the diversity of their workforces. And while Condé Nast, Hearst, The New York Times, Vice Media Group and Vox Media diversified their companies’ staffs compared to the year prior, they are still primarily hiring white people.”
Technologizer / Harry McCracken
The end of computer magazines in America →
“Pretending that the internet didn’t exist sounds like a preposterous strategy for keeping a print magazine alive, but it somehow worked. Maximum PC and MacLife survived—scrawny, but with a pulse—until 2023.”
Reuters / Johan Ahlander
Swedish Radio becomes first big European broadcaster to quit Twitter →
“Swedish Radio said its decision had been made because Twitter had lost relevance for a Swedish audience, not blaming a new policy by Twitter under owner Elon Musk to label more public broadcasters as government funded.”
Variety / Brian Steinberg
CNN’s “News Central” has anchors learning a new daytime TV dance →
“The question the Warner Bros. Discovery network is trying to solve: How to keep viewers watching TV news when they have video alternatives that are often faster paced, less formal and fueled by social media?”
The City / Safiyah Riddle
High school journalists in New York demand Albany expand press protections to student reporters →
“Student journalists say they’re tired of being told what they can write about in their school newspapers, with principals and other administrators often limiting political speech or criticisms of the institution. A bill that would change that by increasing First Amendment protections for young reporters is gaining momentum in Albany this session after nearly seven years of advocacy.”
Al Jazeera / Brian Osgood
Salvadoran news outlet El Faro is relocating to Costa Rica amid “a campaign of government harassment” →
“In an editorial on Thursday, the outlet said that it registered on April 1 as a non-profit in San Jose, Costa Rica, though it stressed that its newsroom remains in El Salvador and plans to continue work as usual.”
Reuters / Steve Scherer
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Twitter account has been labeled “69% government-funded media” →
“CBC has said it will pause its Twitter activities over the labeling, a spat that has also drawn in Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Conservative rival Pierre Poilievre.”
The Associated Press / Mark Stevenson
Mexico’s president is eliminating the country’s national news agency Notimex →
“López Obrador said Friday that there is no longer a need for Notimex, saying his carefully orchestrated morning news briefings are enough to keep the country informed.”