The Poynter Prizes
Winners of this year’s Poynter Prizes, recognizing the best in journalism in a number of categories, were announced on Tuesday. My colleague, Amaris Castillo, wrote about the contest: “Fentanyl crisis, Iraqi civilian killings and deaths from restrictive abortion laws recognized in 2025 Poynter Journalism Prizes.”
Castillo wrote, “The contest’s most prestigious prize, the Batten Medal, which awards exceptional journalism that makes a difference to the lives of people and their communities, went to a skillfully reported ProPublica series about how restrictive abortion laws led to deaths that could have been prevented.”
That series was “Life of a Mother.”
Awards were given for excellent writing, local accountability reporting, community-minded public service, justice reporting, editorial and column writing, innovation, diversity leadership, and First Amendment work.
Castillo’s story has links to the winners, as well as the other finalists. So if you have time, check out the incredible journalism that is still being practiced.
Poynter president Neil Brown told Castillo, “While forces culturally and economically continue to pose big challenges to the journalism field, good reporting, editing and service to readers pushes through.”
Watch out, Wordle
For this item, I turn it over to my colleague Ren LaForme, managing editor of Poynter.
It’s been a little over three years since The New York Times acquired Wordle and integrated it into its popular Games bundle. Like many of my friends, I’m still a near-daily player (CRANE and/or PIOUS, thanks for asking). But I’m not as obsessed as I once was, and lately, I’ve been craving something new.
The Times’ Strands game scratched that itch for a moment. So did The Washington Post’s many fine options.
But now, a real contender has arrived.
Bracket City, from The Atlantic, captures a lot of what made Wordle so appealing in the first place: a daily challenge, a compelling format and a satisfying sense of accomplishment. But it also offers something fresh, with a quirky points system and a fun mix of trivia knowledge and crossword skills.
I’ve been playing it nearly every day since it launched April 8, often as a reward after wrapping up my editing. I’ve found it infuriating at times. (A “certificate just for showing up?” That could be so many things!) I’ve rage-closed my browser more than once. And yet, I keep coming back.
Before you call out my focus on fun and games in the midst of serious challenges like the erosion of press freedom and the ongoing struggles in the media industry, consider this: These engaging games can be big business for news organizations. The Times’ Games section alone boasts millions of subscribers and has been a key revenue driver at a time when many other outlets have faced financial difficulties.
In short: [__ Fish, a popular card game for younger players] [“Get outside and __,” my mother yelled as I told her I was bored for the 100th time] it [a time that means immediately].
Fighting back
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides funding for NPR and PBS, sued the Trump administration on Tuesday after Trump tried to fire three of its board members. The complaint filed by CPB in federal district court in D.C. says the president does not have the authority to fire its board members because the CPB is not a government agency that comes under the executive branch.
On Monday, board members Laura Ross, Thomas Rothman and Diane Kaplan received an email that said, “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.”
But CPB spokesperson Tracey Briggs said in a statement, “The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is not a government entity, and its board members are not government officers. Because CPB is not a federal agency subject to the President’s authority, but rather a private corporation, we have filed a lawsuit to block these firings. CPB’s Board Members are essential to the governance of CPB, which supports more than 1,500 independent, locally owned and operated public television and radio stations that provide universal access to free, high-quality content that educates, informs, and enlightens.”
But the White House believes Trump does have the authority to fire the board members. White House assistant press secretary Taylor Rogers said in a statement, “As numerous courts have repeatedly affirmed, the Constitution gives President Trump the power to remove personnel who exercise his executive authority. The Trump Administration looks forward to ultimate victory on the issue.”
Scott Jennings brags about owning the ‘libs’ at Trump rally
Scott Jennings is a CNN contributor, regularly seen defending Republicans and verbally tangling, often heatedly, with panelists on shows such as “CNN NewsNight.”
But on Tuesday, he could be seen somewhere else: on stage with Donald Trump at a rally-type event in Michigan. He even gave the president a quick hug.
Trump praised Jennings to the crowd, saying in part, “And he defends me really well (on CNN), but he can’t go too far because if he goes too far, he’ll get fired. I said, ‘You’re amazing. You can take it right to the edge.’ And he really does a good job. He’s not allowed to go any further. He’s off, you know, if he really went totally crazy, which he’d like to do. But I think he’s terrific.”
Trump later added, “Oh, CNN, this is the end of Scott. Who cares? Don’t worry, we’ll take care of you, Scott.”
Jennings — a former Republican strategist who worked for George W. Bush’s White House — told the cheering crowd, “Michigan, we were flying in here today. And I said, ‘Look at these farms. I got to get a farm in Michigan because when you own as many libs as I do, you gotta put a place to put them all.’ Thank you all very much!”
He later tweeted out his brief on stage comments, writing, “I got caught up in the moment.”
If I were CNN, I wouldn’t be pleased that one of my well-known contributors went on stage and was so chummy with Trump. And it wasn’t a great look for Jennings, who likely will have that moment thrown back at him in future CNN appearances. But having said all that, it’s not as if viewers are confused as to how Jennings feels about Trump and conservatives. He is a supporter, and that was well known before Tuesday.
CNN seems unbothered. A network spokesperson told media reporter Oliver Darcy, “CNN’s diverse roster of contributors provide their opinions, expert analysis, and unique perspectives to the network’s on-air coverage of a wide variety of topics. CNN’s Political Commentators are not full-time employees or journalists for the network and therefore may participate in political activities including fundraising, public speaking, and advocacy work.”
Upon further review
