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THIS WEEK’S TL;DR:

Get tools to cover ([link removed]) people experiencing social isolation; time running out for Poynter’s flagship academy ([link removed]) ; forge your path ([link removed]) to leadership in media and technology; grow skills to turn workplace challenges into opportunities ([link removed])


** Loneliness is at epidemic-level.
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** What does this mean for your community?
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An urgent public health concern from the former U.S. surgeon general's advisory ([link removed]) ? Loneliness and isolation, which impact one in two American adults.

"People of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, from every corner of the country, would tell me, 'I have to shoulder all of life's burdens by myself,' or 'if I disappear tomorrow, no one will even notice,'" writes ([link removed]) Dr. Vivek Murthy.

What’s driving America’s loneliness epidemic? How can journalists effectively cover people and communities experiencing social isolation and loneliness? Join us ([link removed]) free of charge on Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. Eastern to examine loneliness and isolation as public health crises. Learn how these issues impact your community and discover ethical strategies to cover this critical topic.

Covering the Loneliness Epidemic ([link removed]) is the newest webinar part of Poynter’s Mental Health Reporting Project ([link removed]) , made in partnership with The Carter Center and generously supported by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. For more help on covering these sensitive topics, view our list of resources ([link removed]) and enroll in our free comprehensive course ([link removed]) .


** TIP OF THE WEEK
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By Ren LaForme ([link removed]) , managing editor, Poynter
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If you’ve ever heard back from an editor with some version of “interesting, but not for us” — or never heard back at all (sorry!) — you’re not alone. Most pitches don’t fail because the idea is bad. They fail because the editor can’t quite see the vision.

Most of us are not sitting around waiting for the next great piece of viral discourse to arrive like a gift from the journalism gods. We’re juggling a million small news fires, trying to figure out how to fend off the AI-search-traffic apocalypse and, yeah, probably attempting to sneak in a round of Wordle.

In that vein, a good pitch doesn’t just describe a story. It does a little bit of the editor’s job for them. Here are a few ways to make that easier.

Lead with the point, not the setup. Editors read fast and triage ruthlessly. Start with the core idea in one or two sentences. If you need three paragraphs of context before the pitch makes sense, that’s a sign the angle still needs sharpening.

Answer “why now?” explicitly. Timing matters more than writers sometimes realize. Is there a recent event, decision, trend, anniversary or data point that makes a story urgent this week? Spell it out. If the answer is “this has been happening for a while,” tell us what changed, or why readers should care now anyway. “Because it’s important” is not a time peg.

Tell us why it matters to someone else. Good editors translate pitches into reader value almost automatically. Help them out. Who is this for, and what will they understand better after reading it? If the answer is “people like me,” widen the frame. Strong pitches connect individual insights to broader consequences.

Show us you’ve thought through the reporting. You don’t need to have everything lined up, but editors want to know you’re not just pitching vibes. A few potential sources, documents or examples go a long way toward building confidence that this story can actually be delivered.

Match the tone of the place you’re pitching. Every outlet has a voice. Read recent work. Notice how their arguments are made, how criticism is framed and how much context is given. A pitch that understands tone saves everyone time.

Finally, remember that a pitch is not a promise. It’s an invitation to think together. Editors aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for clarity, curiosity and a reason to say yes. If you can give them those, your email is already better than many others currently aging like milk in editors’ inboxes.

And if you’re pitching an editor for the first time, welcome! Everyone in that inbox was once new, uncertain and hoping they hadn’t just embarrassed themselves. A clear, thoughtful pitch won’t annoy a good editor. It will help them. Send it. The worst that happens is a no. The best is the start of a successful career.

💡 Subscribe to Open Tabs ([link removed]) , Ren’s weekly collection of Poynter stories worth reading now — and why. Missing The Poynter Report ([link removed]) ? Get media’s most important news, delivered daily.


** DEADLINE ALERT
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Poynter Leadership Academy ([link removed])

April 20-24, 2026, in St. Petersburg, FL; $1,350

This singular program supports experienced leaders to navigate ethical decision making, strategize ahead of difficult negotiations, manage up, down and across generations, and create a formula for managing work and life.

Deadline: Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. ([link removed])
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Lead with Influence ([link removed])

Weekly online sessions from March 3 - April 7, 2026; $599

Informal but influential leader? Learn to navigate workplace dynamics, pitch ideas confidently and set yourself up for organizational success.

Deadline: Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. ([link removed])


** WORTH YOUR WHILE
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* Need crisis guidance, personalized AI adoption, or strategic planning support? Poynter's Consulting & Coaching ([link removed]) delivers tailor-made solutions for your organization.
* Communicators at any stage of their professional journey can benefit from an ACES Certificate ([link removed]) to level up their editing skills.



** OPEN JOBS
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* Assistant Professor Journalism ([link removed]) - Digital & Interactive Storytelling, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA

* Rural Communities Reporter ([link removed]) , Wisconsin Public Media, Wausau, WI

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** FROM OUR NEWSROOM
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* Opinion | We all watched the same videos from Minneapolis. Why did we see different things? ([link removed]) , by Tom Jones
* How a 47-day ICE training claim spread — and what the record actually shows ([link removed]) , by Madison Czopek and Maria Ramirez Uribe
* Venezuelan journalists see gaps — and risks — in coverage of Nicolás Maduro’s capture ([link removed]) , by Amaris Castillo



** MEME OF THE WEEK
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