For the Record

"Experiences and Perspectives":

The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times and Mobile Press-Register partnered for a joint Sunday cover story that featured 200 essays on Alabama's new restrictive abortion law and the difficulties faced by women in the state. "[I]t is time we had a conversation about women in Alabama — one in which the voices of Alabama women lead the way," said Kelly Ann Scott, vice president of content of the Alabama Media Group.

"We Like Russia Here":

According to three former anchors and a former writer who spoke to The Daily Beast's Kevin Poulsen, One America News Network has become a haven for far-right conspiracy theories and "hit jobs on politicians." Founder Robert Herring "was just an old guy with a bunch of conspiracy theory stories and we had to write it," alleged one of the anchors. "They were known as 'H stories.' If there was story that was unbelievably ridiculous, it was an H story."

"Perpetrators and Instigators":

The body of Mexican crime reporter Francisco Romero Díaz was found outside a bar in Playa del Carmen in the state of Quintana Roo Thursday. According to Reuters, "state prosecutors said in a statement the motive for the killing was unclear and that investigations were continuing." The reporter, who recently posted a video detailing a recent kidnapping and ongoing threats to his life, is the sixth journalist to have been murdered since President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office in December.

"Balance The Debate":

The Guardian "has updated its style guide to introduce terms that more accurately describe the environmental crises facing the world." According to Environmental Editor Damian Carrington, "climate emergency, crisis or breakdown" will now be favored over "climate change," while "global heating" is favoured over "global warming." "We want to ensure that we are being scientifically precise, while also communicating clearly with readers on this very important issue," said Editor-in-Chief Katharine Viner. "The phrase 'climate change,' for example, sounds rather passive and gentle when what scientists are talking about is a catastrophe for humanity."

"Consolidation Games":

All eight of Gannett's nominees for its board were elected at the company's annual general meeting Thursday, repudiating a long-simmering hostile takeover attempt from MNG Enterprises-owned Digital First Media. However, Ken Doctor of NiemanLab cautions that the struggle may be a harbinger of things to come. "If we do see big mergers, who will run the companies that result, with what strategies?" he asked. "And — big question — will they have enough capital to execute on their vision of a digital transformation?"

"Excessive":

San Francisco Chronicle Editor Audrey Cooper and Editorial Page Editor John Diaz have condemned the SFPD's "heavy handed raid of freelance journalist Bryan Carmody’s house in pursuit of his source in the leakage of a confidential report about Public Defender Jeff Adachi’s death." "The whole messy episode is all the more disturbing in view of the acquiescence of leading politicians from Mayor London Breed on down," said Diaz. California's Shield Law requires law enforcement to seek a subpoena instead of a search warrant in cases involving unpublished material.

"Entirely Deserving":

President Trump has given a full pardon to former Hollinger International owner Conrad Black. The Canadian-born British publisher served nearly two years in federal prison on fraud and obstruction of justice charges related to his management of the company (which owned such publications as The Daily Telegraph and the Chicago Sun-Times) while he was an American resident. An author of presidential biographies, Black's most recent work is "Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other" (2018). 

"A Business That I Loved":

Former GQ Publisher Michael Clinton is stepping down as president of Hearst after a 41-year career. "It's nice to be able to write your own script," Clinton said to WWD. "I was teasing someone saying, 'It's nice to be a media executive who actually gets to retire on his own terms.'" However, Clinton will remain at the firm as a special advisor to CEO Steve Swartz and is pursuing a variety of other projects, including a master's degree at Columbia University, a new book and freelance travel reportage. 

"The World Remains":

Postlight CEO and technology essayist Paul Ford has reflected on the problematic evolution of the industry for Wired. "We accelerated progress itself, at least the capitalist and dystopian parts," he said. "Sometimes I'm proud, although just as often I’m ashamed. I am proudshamed." 

"Fire Sale":

The New York Post has reported that digital news pioneer Salon Media "said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on May 8 that it reached an deal to sell itself to a company called Salon.com LLC" for $5 million. While the deal will require $1.05 million in closing deposits, Salon cautioned that "there can be no guarantee that the asset sale will be completed and, if not completed, we may have to file for bankruptcy and liquidation." In addition to former San Francisco Chronicle columnist David Talbot, who served as the publication's founding editor from 1995 to 2005 before briefly returning as CEO in 2011, notable contributors have included controversial literary scholar Camille Paglia and Baltimore chronicler D. Watkins.