Gershkovich was arrested in March 2023 on trumped-up charges of espionage. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. Email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser ([link removed]) .
[link removed]
[link removed]


** OPINION
------------------------------------------------------------


** Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich to stand trial in Russia
------------------------------------------------------------
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a courtroom in Moscow in April. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

The news out of Russia regarding Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has become more disturbing.

Russian prosecutors announced Thursday that Gershkovich has been indicted and is now scheduled to stand trial on trumped-up charges of espionage.

Gershkovich was arrested in March 2023 on accusations of being a spy. The Wall Street Journal has vehemently denied that Gershkovich is a spy and the U.S. government considers Gershkovich to be “wrongfully detained.”

In a statement, Dow Jones CEO and Wall Street Journal publisher Almar Latour and Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Emma Tucker demanded Gershkovich’s immediate release. They also asked the Biden administration to “redouble efforts to get Evan released.”

They wrote, “Evan Gershkovich is facing a false and baseless charge. Russia’s latest move toward a sham trial is, while expected, deeply disappointing and still no less outrageous. Evan has spent 441 days wrongfully detained in a Russian prison for simply doing his job. Evan is a journalist. The Russian regime’s smearing of Evan is repugnant, disgusting and based on calculated and transparent lies. Journalism is not a crime. Evan’s case is an assault on free press.”

Russia’s decision to send Gershkovich to trial comes after more than a year of pretrial detention and denied appeals. If convicted, Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in prison. If there is such a trial, it likely would be held in secret, behind closed doors because Russia claims it involves classified material. The New York Times’ Ivan Nechepurenko reported ([link removed]) a trial could last anywhere from four months to a year.

The Wall Street Journal’s Ann M. Simmons wrote ([link removed]) , “In a statement Thursday, Russian authorities falsely said that Gershkovich was gathering information about a defense contractor on behalf of the Central Intelligence Agency. In fact, Gershkovich was on a reporting assignment for the Journal. Russian authorities haven’t publicly presented evidence to back up their allegations. At a trial, Gershkovich would enjoy little, if any, of the due process he would be afforded in the U.S. or other countries.”

There had been some thought that the Russian government was using Gershkovich as a political pawn and would eventually try to arrange a prisoner swap. In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted that something like that could happen.

The U.S. government is trying to get Gershkovich released, as well as U.S. businessman Paul Whelan, who has been detained in Russia for five years and is serving a 16-year sentence.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Thursday the allegations against Gershkovich have “absolutely zero credibility.”

The Journal quoted a senior administration official as saying, “We have been clear from the start that Evan has done nothing wrong and never should have been arrested in the first place. Journalism is not a crime. We expect Russian authorities to continue to provide consular access to Evan and Embassy Moscow will make efforts to attend any future proceedings. Russia should stop using individuals like Evan Gershkovich or Paul Whelan as bargaining chips. They should both be released immediately.”

A MESSAGE FROM POYNTER
[link removed]


** A transformative leadership program for BIPOC journalists
------------------------------------------------------------

Poynter is looking for the next cohort of BIPOC journalists to participate in its eighth Leadership Academy for Diversity in Media in September 2024. Through this program, Poynter has coached nearly 200 journalists of color as they focus on becoming more effective managers, visionary leaders and change agents.

Read more and apply now ([link removed]) .


** And now for more media news, tidbits and interesting links for your weekend review …
------------------------------------------------------------
“CBS Mornings” correspondent Anthony Mason, left, talks with the original members of the music band R.E.M.. From left to right, they are Peter Buck, Bill Berry, Michael Stipe and Mike Mills. (Courtesy: CBS News)
* For the first time in nearly 30 years, the original members of R.E.M. sat down for an interview, talking with “CBS Mornings” correspondent Anthony Mason. They spoke to Mason ahead of their induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Part one of the interview aired Thursday and part two airs this morning. You can watch the interview here ([link removed]) .
* The New York Times’ Stuart A. Thompson with “Fake News Still Has a Home on Facebook.” ([link removed])
* An extensive, two-year project collaboration between Mother Jones, The Center for Public Integrity and Reveal: “40 Acres and a Lie.” ([link removed])
* CNBC’s Lillian Rizzo and Alex Sherman with “Netflix hunts for a production partner for its Christmas NFL games.” ([link removed])
* CNN’s Brian Fung with “Elon Musk’s X lawsuit against Media Matters scheduled for trial in April.” ([link removed])
* Video from CNN: “Sara Sidner returns to CNN after taking leave for cancer diagnosis.” ([link removed])
* The Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan with “Mike Downey, celebrated sports writer and former Chicago Tribune columnist, dies at 72.” ([link removed])
* Sportswriter Jeff Pearlman, whose book on the Los Angeles Lakers was the basis for the HBO series “Winning Time,” writes for The Washington Post: “My charmed, tormented life with Jerry West.” ([link removed])


** More resources for journalists
------------------------------------------------------------
* Reporting on the Rise of AI: A RAND-Poynter Masterclass ([link removed]) . Last day to apply!
* Work-Life Chemistry ([link removed]) : Ditch work-life balance for a more sustainable approach.
* Manage big responsibilities without direct reports? Try Lead With Influence ([link removed]) .
* Understand U.S. Immigration From the Border to the Heartland ([link removed]) — Start any time.

Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
[link removed]
I want more analysis of the news media to help me understand my world. ([link removed])
GIVE NOW ([link removed])

ADVERTISE ([link removed]) // DONATE ([link removed]) // LEARN ([link removed]) // JOBS ([link removed])
Did someone forward you this email? Sign up here. ([link removed])
[link removed] [link removed] [link removed] [link removed] mailto:[email protected]?subject=Feedback%20for%20Poynter
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
© All rights reserved Poynter Institute 2024
801 Third Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
If you don't want to receive email updates from Poynter, we understand.
You can change your subscription preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe from all Poynter emails ([link removed]) .