The Kicker

On the latest episode of The Kicker, Dave and Pete run through some of the week’s biggest media stories, including tech giants’ domination of the digital ad market, Breitbart’s Trump-era slump, and the lack of attention toward Scott Pelley’s departure from CBS Evening News. Then, we move on to Reality Winner and the first leak prosecution of the Trump administration. Finally, we talk with Brendan Fitzgerald, editor of CJR’s United States Project, about the way local newspapers around the country have—or haven’t—covered the Trump-Russia story. (1:06): News rundown (12:14): Trump's first leak prosecution (22:03): The Trump-Russia story

On the latest episode of The Kicker, we run through some of the week’s biggest media stories, including a look at the future of The Chicago Sun-Times, the troubling trend of press norms being violated in the Trump era, and Twitter ethics for journalists. Then, we move on to the news of the day: The New York Times’s decision to eliminate the public editor position. Finally, CJR’s David Uberti interviews Simon Van Zuylen-Wood, author of an excellent piece in CJR’s spring print issue about why local TV news never changes. (1:12): News rundown (11:50): New York Times eliminates public editor position (19:08): Interview with Simon Van Zuylen-Wood on local TV news

Dave, Pete, and Christie run through some of the week’s biggest media stories, including a ratings leaderboard shakeup for cable news, a spurious conspiracy that consumed the right-wing media universe, and a new study that says--surprise--journalists drink too much caffeine and alcohol. Then, we move on to the media coverage of the terrorist attack in Manchester, and tackle why we think the industry’s model for covering terror attacks is broken. Finally, Dave interviews Clara Jeffery, editor in chief of Mother Jones. They discuss the magazine’s novel approach to funding its political coverage as well as the role Mother Jones played in breaking the Trump-Russia story. (1:45): News rundown (8:20): How the media covered the Manchester attack (16:50): Interview with Clara Jeffery of Mother Jones

Pete and Dave run through the top media news of the week, from the scoop war in Washington, to the state of press freedom globally, to Roger Ailes's legacy. We then take you inside the counter-narratives offered by pro-Trump media this week. Finally, Dave interviews Glenn Burkins, editor and publisher of Q City Metro, about the fate of the black press in the digital age.

We introduce our new print issue, which is dedicated to exploring the future of local news. Then, Dave interviews Ben Smith, editor in chief of BuzzFeed News. They talk truth and lies on the social web, BuzzFeed's plans for global expansion, and whether there's any hope for local media online. Follow The Kicker on Twitter @KickerCJR and email any suggestions for future topics or guests to TheKicker@CJR.org.

On the latest episode of The Kicker, we run through some of the week’s biggest media stories, including counterprogramming to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, conservative perspective on the layoffs at ESPN, and continued subscriber additions by The New York Times. Then, we move on to the fallout from Bret Stephens’s first column in the Times. Finally, CJR’s David Uberti talks with Ashley Codianni, director of social publishing at CNN. They discuss just what a social publisher does, as well as the ways CNN is working to become a leader in the digital sphere. (1:06) We run through the biggest stories of the week. (9:39) Bret Stephens's first column for The New York Times cause an uproar. We discuss whether the outrage was warranted. (23:43) CNN Director of Social Publishing Ashley Codianni joins the pod to discuss her job, as well as the ways CNN is trying to reach out to younger audiences on multiple platforms.

CJR staffers run through some of the week's biggest media stories, including Trump's 100-day milestone, what didn't make it into The New York Times' James Comey profile, and the coverage narratives emanating from France. Then, we discuss whether a new, fictionalized portrayal of El Chapo can speak to larger journalistic truths. And finally, we ponder where a new-look Fox News might sit within a fast-changing conservative media. Follow us on Twitter @KickerCJR and please email us any suggestions for future topics or guests at TheKicker@cjr.org.

On The Kicker, we run through the week's three biggest stories, including Bill O’Reilly, White House transparency, and the special election in Georgia’s sixth district. Then, staff writer David Uberti is joined by CJR correspondent Corey Hutchins to discuss the recent layoffs at Berkshire Hathaway-owned papers and what it means for local news. Finally, Dave is joined by Emily Bell, director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia, and Nausicaa Renner, CJR’s Tow editor, to discuss the problems facing Facebook in the wake of a man in Cleveland uploading video of himself shooting and killing a 74-year-old grandfather on Sunday. (0:55) Dave and CJR Delacorte Fellow Pete Vernon break down the week's biggest stories. (7:38) Corey Hutchins joins the show to discuss the recent cutbacks at newspapers owned by Warren Buffet. (15:37) Dave, Emily Bell, and Nausicaa Renner unpack the implications of the Cleveland murder uploaded to Facebook. What responsibilities does the platform have?

On The Kicker this week, we discuss White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s job performance to date. Spicer’s gaffe in comparing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Adolf Hitler was only the latest in a string of controversies emerging from behind the lectern in the Brady Briefing Room. Then, we have some fun imagining the life of a journalist in 2027. The impetus for the conversation was a recently published Associated Press report on the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism. Finally, Todd Gitlin, author and Columbia Journalism School professor, talks with Dave about the media’s love affair with war. Gitlin is a fierce critic of the manner in which journalists—both in print and especially on television—report on events like last week’s missile strike in Syria. He and Dave discuss the historical context for this concern, and how the media could better cover military action.

On The Kicker this week, CJR’s Dave Uberti, Nausicaa Renner, and Pete Vernon discuss the role of platforms like Facebook and Google in the journalism landscape. Nausicaa guides us through a new Tow Center report, “The Platform Press: How Silicon Valley reengineered journalism.” What responsibility do platforms have to promote and provide for good journalism? What should publishers do to adapt to the platform-dominated reality? Then, Dave talks with Tanzina Vega, CNN’s national reporter for race and inequality. Vega speaks about increased national attention on the topics she covers, the state of diversity in newsrooms, and what the media gets wrong when it reports on race and class. Follow The Kicker on Twitter @KickerCJR and send any ideas for discussion topics or guests to TheKicker@CJR.org.

CJR's David Uberti, Pete Vernon, and Christie Chisholm discuss the podcast boom, from Serial to S-Town. What form does journalism take on the medium? And what, if anything, is lost? Then, Ernst-Jan Pfauth, publisher of the Dutch news organization De Correspondent, joins to talk about its attempt to break into the competitive American market. Can the outlet's membership model and unique philosophy of journalism provide an antidote to the daily news grind? Follow The Kicker on Twitter @KickerCJR and email suggestions for future guests or discussion topics to TheKicker@CJR.org.

CJR’s David Uberti, Nausicaa Renner, Pete Vernon, and Carlett Spike discuss The Wall Street Journal's scathing editorial attacking President Trump's credibility. We also cover the divide between newsrooms and editorials, and question whether readers understand the distinction. Then, we turn to homepages, where algorithms are taking over. Finally, we welcome on Jeff Kelly Lowenstein to discuss his book "The Chilean Chronicles," which explores the unprecedented eruption of memory surrounding the 40th anniversary of the coup that brought Augusto Pinochet to power.

This week on a special edition of The Kicker, CJR and the BBC World Service have teamed up to produce an audio documentary. Editor and Publisher Kyle Pope narrates an exploration of two issues vital for journalism in America: How should the media respond to an administration that labels it “the enemy of the people,” and, perhaps more importantly, how can the media build trust with a public that sees it as hopelessly biased?

CJR’s David Uberti, Christie Chisholm, Pete Vernon, and Shelley Hepworth discuss some criticism we received for inviting Breitbart economics editor John Carney to our conference on covering Trump. Did he bring a valuable perspective? Or did we play a role in legitimizing a website that has trafficked in racism, misogyny, and white nationalism? Then, we turn to Hollywood, where a new movie about the Pentagon Papers—directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks—has just been announced. We talk about the depiction of women journalists on screen, as well as the checkered history of movies about the media industry.

CJR's David Uberti, Nausicaa Renner, and Pete Vernon discuss a wild week in White House-media relations. Then, we turn to MisinfoCon, a weekend gathering of journalists and technologists trying to solve the fake news problem. Freelance writer Lyz Lenz calls in to chat about the Texas Monthly and its legendary writer, Pamela Colloff.