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

THIS WEEK'S TL;DR:


Help to edit ([link removed]) sensitive moments; connect ([link removed]) Washington decisions to local stories; learn to automate ([link removed]) repetitive tasks; time running out to craft your story ([link removed]) ; inform your approach ([link removed]) to covering women in the justice system

This is one of those moments when political rhetoric is loud, fast-moving and often confusing. Journalists are under pressure to provide context, clarity and fairness — and that’s where copy editors prove indispensable.
“When people in the audience are angry, it increases the chances that they will misinterpret a writer's intentions, particularly when the words are clumsy or the sentences are poorly structured,” said Kelly McBride, Poynter’s senior vice president and chair of the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership.
“A competent layer of editing is absolutely critical in these moments, whether it's self-editing or bringing in a separate pair of eyes."
Poynter’s resources to support editors in complex times include:
🖇️ ACES Editing Certificates ([link removed]) (Intro ([link removed]) , Intermediate ([link removed]) , Advanced ([link removed]) ) that address how to edit in moments that are particularly sensitive.
🖇️ Our latest addition, ACES Macros ([link removed]) , offers shortcuts that speed up your workflow so you can focus on substance.
Jon Greenberg, reporter and faculty member focused on topics critical to American life, shared his thoughts on how to cover political polarization.
“The most important step is to avoid using labels and instead, relay what people have said and done. Rather than tag someone as an extremist, quote them. Give examples of the bills, policies or protests they have supported. Be concrete and let your audience decide where these views fit on the political spectrum,” Greenberg said.
“You can be similarly cautious about categorizing someone as ‘right’ or ‘left’, ‘conservative’ or ‘liberal.’ This will require more words, but it’s almost always best to ditch the shortcuts ([link removed]) .”
Poynter’s resources for reporters and assigning editors covering topics dominating headlines now include:
🖇️ Free tip sheets ([link removed]) and webinars ([link removed])
🖇️ Topical Beat Academy ([link removed]) sessions led by Jon — The States, Trump and Democracy ([link removed]) airs this Thursday.
Remember, when in doubt, use good news judgement ([link removed]) . Rely on these resources to ensure truth is delivered with care to your community.
UPCOMING DEADLINES
[link removed]
Beat Academy: The States, Trump and Democracy ([link removed])
Webinar
Thursday, Sept. 18, 1 p.m. Eastern
Free
Learn how to track and interpret federal actions so you can connect the dots between national policy shifts and the realities your audience faces. We’ll break down the legal frameworks at play, show how state governments can push back or comply, and give you practical tools to localize complex national stories.

Tune in live: Sept. 18.
ENROLL TODAY ([link removed])
[link removed]


** Mining for Memoir (2025) ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
Online workshop
Oct. 6 - 27, 2025
$499
Master essential memoir writing skills from genre selection and scene creation to research techniques and book proposal development. Join our first-ever cohort on Mondays in October and learn to craft the story only you can tell.

Deadline: Sept. 19.
ENROLL TODAY ([link removed])
CUSTOM RESOURCES
💡 Your organization's future starts with the right strategy. See how Poynter's Consulting & Coaching ([link removed]) gets you there.
📍 Poynter AI Ethics Consulting ([link removed])
Tailored training at your preferred time
$̶4̶,̶5̶0̶0̶ $1,750
IN-PERSON PROGRAMS
📍 Diversity Leadership Academy ([link removed])
Nov. 3 - 7, 2025
$1350
Last chance: This weeklong workshop in St. Petersburg, Florida, provides the tools for diverse leaders to navigate complexity and drive meaningful change in their newsrooms.
🥳 Poynter’s 2025 Bowtie Ball ([link removed])
Nov. 15
$400
Celebrate Poynter’s 50th anniversary at the 2025 Bowtie Ball, honoring Jane Pauley alongside Dean Baquet and G.B. “Garry” Trudeau. This signature evening brings together civic leaders, journalists and supporters to champion a free press. Secure your spot now for an unforgettable night of recognition and community in Tampa.
📍 Essential Skills for New Managers (December 2025) ([link removed])
Dec. 1 - 5, 2025
$1,550
This dynamic five-day workshop provides the critical skills new managers need to help forge successful paths to leadership in journalism, media and technology. Apply by Oct. 3.
ONLINE COURSES
📍 Women and prisons: Covering the impact of incarceration ([link removed])
Noon Eastern, Oct. 23 and Oct. 30
Free
Get research and tips on the unique trends, drivers and impact of female incarceration. Five $10,000 reporting grants are available.
📍 Beat Academy: Tracking climate change rollbacks ([link removed])
1 p.m. Eastern; Oct. 16
Free
Track what projects and programs in your state or municipality are underway, at risk, or cancelled with The Clean Economy Tracker from Atlas Public Policy. Lean how to use the tool and hear from journalists who have turned the data into stories and broader coverage.
📍 Will Work for Impact: Fundamentals of Investigative Journalism ([link removed])
Oct. 2 - 30, 2025
$499
Limited spots remain: ProPublica's Alexandra Zayas leads live Thursday sessions where you'll dissect award-winning investigations, complete weekly assignments and receive direct feedback on your work.
SUPPORT POYNTER
[link removed]
Your donation advances our mission to provide ethical journalism that helps you navigate your world ([link removed]) .
📰
GIVE NOW ([link removed])
CAREERS
•
Director of Finance ([link removed]) , The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA
• Assistant Professor ([link removed]) , Journalism, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
•
Editorial Director/Managing Editor ([link removed]) , Ingram's, Kansas City, MO
SEARCH FOR JOBS ([link removed])
FROM OUR NEWSROOM
• Is your mayor using ChatGPT? Here’s how to FOIA around and find out ([link removed]) , by Alex Mahadevan
• Opinion | A Washington Post columnist was fired following social media posts about Charlie Kirk’s killing ([link removed]) , by Tom Jones
• Why the staff at ‘The Paper’ needs some Poynter Magic ([link removed]) , by Jennifer Orsi
MEME OF THE WEEK
[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]) .