Journalism

Erik Wemple: “The insertion of Congress into the contractual relationships of video providers with particular news/propaganda outlets is frightening. Asking questions is a protected activity, of course — one that lawmakers use all the time. Yet these questions feel a lot like coercion by government officials, an incursion into the cultural promise of the First Amendment.”

Aaron Sorkin, Bryan Cranston and Robin Wright headline first week’s guests. Ashleigh Banfield’s new hour-long talk show debuts March 1 at 10 p.m.

Years of anti-journalist rhetoric trumpeted by those in power has caused a dramatic and disturbing increase in attacks on the media. News organizations large and small are taking security measures they never thought would be necessary in this country. In 2020, RTDNA introduced its Five-Point Policy Framework, designed to strengthen the role journalists and journalism play in a healthy democracy. In line with this framework, RTDNA has identified two legislative priorities in 2021 that will ensure journalists can continue to seek and report the truth on behalf of the public safely.

60 Minutes+ will debut March 4 with three separate episodes, the network announced Wednesday. The announcement was part of a rollout for Paramount+, which is replacing the CBS All Access service, offering Paramount movies as well as old and new programming from CBS and the Viacom stable of networks. Above, Jonathan Blakely, is executive producer of the new show that CBS hopes CBS hopes will expose the durable brand to a younger and more diverse audience.

CNN Beijing-based reporter David Culver, CNN International producer Yong Xiong and photojournalist Natalie Thomas earned the Polk award for Foreign Reporting. Their win marks the first time in the 73-year history of the Polk Awards that the award for Foreign Reporting went to a television report. All previous TV awards were in the Television category. the award for Television Reporting went to Vice News Tonight correspondent Roberto Ferdman and his crew for breakthrough coverage of the shooting death of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor in a “no-knock” police raid in Louisville and the investigations that followed.

Al Jazeera, the media company funded by Qatar, is launching a news platform targeted to American conservatives. The company — which shuttered its unsuccessful left-leaning cable channel Al Jazeera America five years ago — says that the new digital platform, dubbed Rightly, is not aimed at the far right, but at “center-right folks who feel left out of mainstream media.”

This week, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology is continuing its series of hearings on how misinformation and disinformation — the lies of the 21st century — have impacted recent events in our nation. As lawmakers explore this issue, they should be mindful of the vital role radio and television broadcasters play in our communities by exposing lies, uncovering the truth and reporting the facts.

The Washington Post has tapped Cameron Barr, one of four managing editors, to be its acting executive editor ahead of Marty Baron’s exit on Feb. 28. “The search for the next executive editor is actively underway with a broad and diverse group of exceptional journalists,” said Publisher Fred Ryan who is heading the search. “It will not be complete prior to Marty’s departure at the end of this month.”

The up-and-coming cable network broadens its reach and revamps its show lineup, signing high-profile commentators Charles Blow and Marc Lamont Hill. Above, Mike Hill and Sharon Reed, from left with Black News Channel CEO Princell Hair, will host a weekday morning show on the channel premiering in March.

Mike Emanuel has been named chief Washington correspondent for Fox News, a promotion from his chief congressional and senior political correspondent roles. The network also named Jacqui Heinrich congressional correspondent.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr called an effort by House Democrats to pressure cable providers into removing Fox News and other conservative networks a “chilling transgression” of free speech, and asked his colleagues on the commission to denounce the lawmakers.