Email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser ([link removed]) .
[link removed]
[link removed]


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


** Why did ESPN kill Spike Lee’s docuseries on Colin Kaepernick?
------------------------------------------------------------
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, in the middle wearing No. 7, kneeling during the national anthem before an NFL game in 2016. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

There is still controversy surrounding Colin Kaepernick.

Even if you’re not a sports fan, you remember Kaepernick.

The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback led his team to a Super Bowl appearance in 2013 and was one of the bright young stars in the game. But he is better known for his protests against police brutality and systemic injustice, most visibly by kneeling during the national anthem. That inspired other athletes to do the same and set off a national debate about race and protests that, at times, gripped the country.

It also might have cost Kaepernick his career.

He began those protests during the 2016 season, which turned out to be his last in the NFL. He never played again after that season, even though he was only 29 at the time and still better than quarterbacks who had jobs in the league.

It was a fascinating story at the intersection of race, politics, sports and America.

So it was exciting when famed director Spike Lee, along with producer and former ESPNer Jemele Hill, got together with Kaepernick for plans to make a multipart documentary series for ESPN.

But apparently, the much-anticipated project is dead. Reuters’ Rory Carroll and Lisa Richwine broke the story ([link removed]) over the weekend that ESPN will not move forward with the series because of creative differences.

In a statement to several outlets, ESPN said, “ESPN, Colin Kaepernick and Spike Lee have collectively decided to no longer proceed with this project as a result of certain creative differences. Despite not reaching finality, we appreciate all the hard work and collaboration that went into this film.”

Appearing at a charity event in Beverly Hills on Friday, Lee told Reuters, “It’s not coming out. That’s all I can say. I can’t. I signed a nondisclosure. I can’t talk about it.”

The documentary, which has been in the works since 2020 and began production in 2022, was the subject of delays and issues before this past weekend. Last September, Puck’s Dylan Byers reported ([link removed]) there were creative differences between the filmmakers and the network — and even between Lee and Kaepernick — over whether the focus should be on Kaepernick or on Black athletes and social justice. Byers reported the film included “incendiary critiques of conservative politicians and Donald Trump” and “tackles the history of Black athletes in professional sports, as well as the larger cultural conversation around social justice and police brutality.”

In October, Puck’s Matthew Belloni reported that the project — which was going to be seven parts and called “Da Saga of Colin Kaepernick” — was close to being completed, but wouldn’t appear on ESPN for at least a year. Belloni also reported that ESPN was open to allowing the project to be shopped elsewhere.

Now comes the news that the project is dead — at least at ESPN. There is a possibility it could eventually land somewhere else.

But what happened with ESPN?

With few specifics, general comments, and an apparent NDA, there is plenty of speculation and questions.

“Of course,” Awful Announcing’s Sam Neumann wrote ([link removed]) , “the timing is hard to ignore.”

Just this month, in an unprecedented deal, ESPN acquired the NFL Network and the rights to the league’s RedZone Channel in a deal that will eventually lead to the NFL owning a 10% stake in ESPN. As soon as that deal was announced, there were questions about whether the network’s coverage of the league would be affected, seeing as how they were partners.

One would guess that the documentary would have at least questioned whether NFL owners blackballed Kaepernick from the league following his protests. In addition, there likely could have been other topics that would have painted the NFL in a poor light when it came to Kaepernick’s story.

Would that fall under the umbrella of “creative differences?”

In addition, it cannot be ignored that the deal between the NFL and ESPN will ultimately need regulatory approval from the Trump administration. And Trump, one would also guess, would come up prominently in a documentary discussing Kaepernick and racial protests.

Back in 2017, when protests were in the news, Trump, who was president at the time, said, “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!’”

Calling the players that name led to further protests from players.

Who knows if any of this played a role in ESPN walking away from this project? As reported, issues with the docuseries have apparently gone back for quite some time, perhaps well before the NFL-ESPN deal was in the works. Perhaps ESPN didn’t think the series was any good, or that the focus was off. Or, there is always the possibility that they felt it wasn’t journalistically sound.

Still, fairly or unfairly, the timing of this latest news can’t help but raise some eyebrows.

Oh, one more thing to at least acknowledge. Lee did appear on ESPN’s “First Take” ([link removed]) last week, along with actor Denzel Washington, in part to promote their new movie “Highest 2 Lowest.” So Lee must not be too angry at ESPN.


**
------------------------------------------------------------

A MESSAGE FROM POYNTER
[link removed]


** Diverse media leaders: Master effective management at Poynter
------------------------------------------------------------

Join the ninth cohort of Poynter’s annual Diversity Leadership Academy, where media managers of color develop leadership skills through “liberating ([link removed]) ” peer conversations and “life-changing ([link removed]) ” training. This weeklong workshop runs Nov. 3 - 7 in St. Petersburg, Florida, providing participants with the tools to navigate complexity and drive meaningful change in their organizations.

Apply to transform your career ([link removed])


** Trump lashes out
------------------------------------------------------------

President Donald Trump spent part of his Sunday going after the media on Truth Social. Apparently, he was riled up over the narrative that his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday accomplished very little. The headline on The Daily Beast story: “Trump Melts Down Over Negative Coverage of Putin Summit Flop.” ([link removed])

Trump lashed out by writing ([link removed]) , “It’s incredible how the Fake News violently distorts the TRUTH when it comes to me. There is NOTHING I can say or do that would lead them to write or report honestly about me. I had a great meeting in Alaska on Biden’s stupid War, a war that should have never happened!!!”

He then posted ([link removed]) , “If I got Russia to give up Moscow as part of the Deal, the Fake News, and their PARTNER, the Radical Left Democrats, would say I made a terrible mistake and a very bad deal. That’s why they are the FAKE NEWS! Also, they should talk about the 6 WARS, etc., I JUST STOPPED!!! MAGA.”

Later in the day, he went after MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace, writing ([link removed]) , “She is a loser, with bad ratings, who was already thrown off of The View. She will be fired soon! MSNBC IS DEAD!”

Meanwhile, author Stephen King, known for his horror stories, is a frequent critic of Trump and took aim at his social media posts. On Saturday, King tweeted ([link removed]) , “Can you possibly trust a President who can't spell, has serious problems with grammar, and capitalizes at random? I think not. A President who can't write can't think. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

“Thank you for your attention to this matter” is how Trump ends many of his social media posts.


** Speaking of which …
------------------------------------------------------------

Since we’re talking about Trump’s social media posts, this came as a stunner this week. He actually praised former NBC and “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd.

Todd said in an interview with David Brody that Trump was the most impactful president since Franklin D. Roosevelt. Trump caught wind of that and took to his Truth Social, writing ([link removed]) , “Wow, thank you Chuck. I always said that you were far better than the scum that runs the FAKE NEWS at NBC and, especially, Brian Roberts and ‘Concast.; You are a Free Man now. Congratulations - Use your time well!”

Now here’s the rub: Todd says Trump missed the point.

As Mediaite’s Zachary Leeman noted ([link removed]) , Todd posted a video titled, “He Completely MISSED The Point!” ([link removed])

Todd said that Trump “didn’t actually listen to the interview because the interview was not necessarily a compliment. It was just, in this case, a neutral observation. Obviously, I’m not convinced that this is going to be a good outcome in the long term of where we are right now, but there is no doubt and there’s no mistaking, he’s not an asterisk in American history, right? He is leaving his imprint … It’s gonna be a generational impact, at least on the Republican Party and perhaps on the nation.”

Todd also said this about Trump: “Trump just wants to be a story. Trump doesn’t care if you criticize him or you praise him as long as you mention his name. He’s also quite needy. … He’s always looking for affirmation.”

Todd talked about his history with Trump, going back to 2011 or 2012, and then said, “Affirmation is something he wants. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if it’s positive or negative, but the acknowledgement that he matters.”


** Trump-Putin thoughts
------------------------------------------------------------
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with President Donald Trump at a press conference in Alaska last Friday. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on Friday in Alaska. Despite Trump announcing on Truth Social ([link removed]) that it was “A great and very successful day in Alaska!” most seem to believe it was anything but successful.

Here is some of the media reaction to what happened on Friday:
* On his “MediaBuzz” show, Fox News’ Howard Kurtz said, “After the meeting, despite upbeat talk it was clear not much was accomplished. No ceasefire, no details, no questions from the press. Just vague assurances that some progress was made without explaining what that was.”
* CNN’s John King said, “He went for a ceasefire and leaves with nothing.”
* MSNBC’s Jen Psaki said on air, “The big winner of today’s summit … was undoubtedly Vladimir Putin.”
* The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman and Tyler Pager published, “6 Takeaways From Trump’s Meeting With Putin.” ([link removed]) They wrote, “Mr. Putin scored a win even before he arrived in the United States. After years of being ostracized by the West, he returned to American soil for the first time in a decade, welcomed by American fighter jets, a red carpet and a ride in the Beast, Mr. Trump’s armored car. And Mr. Putin secured another victory when it concluded, departing the United States without making any major concessions while maintaining a warm rapport with Mr. Trump.”
* The Wall Street Journal’s Lara Seligman, Thomas Grove and Meridith McGraw wrote, “Trump Rolled Out the Red Carpet for Putin. He Got Little in Return.” ([link removed]) In the story, they wrote, “President Trump welcomed his Russian counterpart to Alaska with the former showman’s signature extravagance: a red carpet, a military flyover and a ride in the presidential limousine. But Trump headed back to Washington with little to show for all the pageantry.”


** Media tidbits
------------------------------------------------------------
* My Poynter colleague Roy Peter Clark with “My favorite short newspaper story of 2024, appreciated and analyzed.” ([link removed])
* The New York Times’ Sapna Maheshwari with “He Sold His Likeness. Now His Avatar Is Shilling Supplements on TikTok.” ([link removed])
* The Washington Post’s Gerrit De Vynck with “The new ChatGPT has some AI fans rethinking when to expect ‘superintelligence.’” ([link removed])
* A few days old, but still well worth the read. From her American Crisis newsletter, longtime media journalist Margaret Sullivan with “Bring back the public editor! (No, I don't want the job.)” ([link removed])


** Hot type
------------------------------------------------------------
* The New York Times’ Hannah Dreier with “Wildfire Fighters, Unmasked in Toxic Smoke, Are Getting Sick and Dying.” ([link removed])
* Powerful piece by The Washington Post’s Serhii Korolchuk, Anastacia Galouchka and Siobhán O'Grady: “The Ukrainian children killed in Russian strikes this year.” ([link removed])


** More resources for journalists
------------------------------------------------------------
* Journalists of color: Join a free four-day workshop at Poynter's waterfront campus, where accepted applicants develop the skills needed to become powerful writers. Apply now ([link removed]) .
* Turn your life story into a memoir in this pioneering virtual workshop led by Poynter's Director of Craft Kristen Hare, featuring accomplished authors as guest instructors. Enroll now ([link removed]) .
* Refine your immigration policy expertise with Poynter's Beat Academy. Enroll now ([link removed]) .
* Journalism leaders of color: Poynter’s prestigious Diversity Leadership Academy has helped over 200 journalists of color advance their careers. Apply today ([link removed]) .
* Get strategies to find diverse sources, understand systemic barriers and advance mental health equity in your area. Enroll now ([link removed]) .
* Early-career editors: Line-edit under pressure, coach inexperienced reporters remotely and guide reporters to develop stories that elevate their beat coverage. Register now ([link removed]) .
* Join a five-day, in-person workshop that gives new managers the skills they need to help forge successful paths to leadership in journalism, media and technology. Apply today ([link removed]) .

Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

The Poynter Report is your daily dive into the world of media, packed with the latest news and insights. Get it delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday by signing up here ([link removed]) . And don’t forget to tune into our biweekly podcast ([link removed]) for even more.
[link removed]
Help Poynter strengthen journalism, truth and democracy. ([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 2025
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]) .