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Martaross

Marta McLellan Ross

Movers & Shakers, from news media leaders to political beat reporters and on-air correspondents, are what media-spend decisionmakers and PR pros should pay attention to this week. NPR has big news. It also seems COVID-19 coverage needs a local journalism booster shot, while Bloomberg is doing some investigative data journalism with vaccines. Meanwhile, national media has been reporting on corporate action against new voter restriction bills, the latest being a move by Major League Baseball to remove the All-Star Game and draft from Georgia. Stacey Abrams has other tactics. Voting Rights Reporter Ari Berman cited the Brennan Center, showing 361 bills to restrict voting rights were introduced in 47 states.

And, unfortunately, the Capitol is back in the news on Friday after a driver rammed a barricade, killing one U.S. Capitol Police Officer and injuring another. The suspect was shot and died later in the hospital. Punchbowl News Founder Jake Sherman was on scene as the events unfolded. The news is reminiscent of the Jan. 6 insurrection, as stated by USCP Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman.

Bloomberg Senior White House Reporter Jennifer Jacobs tweeted President Biden landed at Camp David at 12:53 p.m., shortly before Capitol incident. “White House aides with the president are Bruce Reed, Yohannes Abraham, Anthony Bernal and Stephen Goepfert.”

Returning to Movers & Shakers, there were 74 new roles this week, not including some notable departures, beat changes and contact updates. These are a select few:

To cap this briefing, News of Note:

  • Reuters Institute digs into the numbers on race and leadership in news media: data from five markets.
  • Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) discussed his recently-introduced bill, which would reform Section 230. Leadership Connect’s Megan Kashtan has details from the conversation.
  • NiemanLab does a Q&A with former Vox Editor-in-Chief Lauren C. Williams about Capital B.
  • Patrick Soon-Shiong is close to finding a leader for the Los Angeles Times.
  • Two Texas Tribune leaders announce their departures.
  • After being banned from Twitter following the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, former president Donald Trump launched a website to serve his personal office.
  • New Yorker staffers vote to authorize strike after negotiations break down with Condé Nast.
  • Bloomberg Senior Healthcare Editor Drew Armstrong reports the team is tracking U.S. vaccine availability by week, and comparing it with manufacturer projections.

We’ve noticed the momentum of most pandemic coverage has shifted to vaccines. Poynter has some context on that narrative.

Baz Hiralal

Managing Editor, Thought Leadership