The Front Page: Two years later

Objective letter "O" on a blue background.

It’s Friday, June 3rd.

This month, The Objective is celebrating its second birthday.

For two years, with support from our readers, donors, and team of volunteers, we’ve worked to confront and correct industry inequities through media reporting and criticism.

To learn more about changes we’ve made since our first issue and what’s next for The Objective, read Gabe Schneider’s anniversary blog.

— Holly Rosewood

PERFORMATIVE

A Bit More Media

Q&A: Abortion providers on what the media is doing wrong — Last week, Scalawag hosted a Twitter Space with abortion workers across the South to unpack the performative nature of abortion coverage, share paths toward refocusing the reporting, and explain the intersections between abortion care and abolition work. Read a transcript of the conversation here.

Service and Solutions — Though they’re often mistaken for each other, service journalism and solutions journalism are different, but important, problem solving strategies. Michelle Faust Raghavan, a 2023 JSK Fellow at Stanford University, breaks down the similarities, differences, and engagement journalism origins, in a blog post.

Truth in Science? — 3M has withheld information about the toxicity of chemicals it manufactures and distributes. Now, the company is supporting the “3M Truth in Science Award” in collaboration with the Online News Association. For Undark, Teresa Carr writes about the implications of accepting money from a company with misinformation campaigns.

“Never reported” — Despite extensive coverage and scholarship, the New York Times presented its recent series on Haiti’s forced “independence debt” as new information. Academics and journalists, including Kendra Pierre-Louis, point out the issues and white supremacy behind casting the story as “never reported.”

Keeping employees safe — NPR is reportedly advising employees to report coworkers who do not adhere to masking requirements. If employees repeatedly stray from the requirements, they may also be subject to disciplinary action or fired, according to the internal memo. As Taylor Lorenz notes, enforcing these guidelines but not implementing other safety measures (such as proper ventilation, testing options, etc.) can reveal companies’ actual investment in employee health.

How to support Vox Media Union — For two years, many Vox employees gave up annual raises to protect colleagues from layoffs. Now, the union is fighting for a contract to ensure fair pay and benefits. Supporters can help staffers secure a second union contract by sending a letter to CEO Jim Bankoff before June 13.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Stay Up To Date

1 day until … the Latino Media Summit. ($$$) Registrants can attend this two-day event virtually or in-person at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in New York. The Summit features workshops, documentary screenings, networking sessions, and more.

17 days until … Scalawag’s 3rd Annual Abolition Week. This year, the magazine’s series is “pop justice,” and will include a live event on Thursday, June 23: pop justice Live!: Copaganda from Cocomelon to SVU.

19 days until … SRCCON 2022. OpenNews’ annual, participant-led conference is “for journalists who want to transform their work, their organizations, and their communities.” Ticket prices are tiered with scholarship opportunities for registrants who are underrepresented in journalism and technology.

What else should we feature? You tell us. Send an email to contact@objectivejournalism.org.

AND FINALLY

A few more resources

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Thanks for reading. We’ll have more for you soon.

This issue is by Holly Rosewood with editing by Curtis Yee.