There's an old adage that journalists are supposed to report stories, not become stories. Sometimes, though, that's easier said than done.
The past 24 hours have been pretty unbelievable for journalists. Around this time yesterday, Donald Trump had just wrapped up a combative and lie-filled interview at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention, which was conducted by three Black women journalists. As my colleague Inae Oh and I reported, the former president openly denigrated one of the interviewers—Rachel Scott of ABC News—from almost the moment he walked on stage, calling her "nasty" and "rude." Those comments made headlines, along with several other wild things Trump said during the interview—including his false claim that Vice President Kamala Harris "turned Black"; that he would "absolutely" pardon the January 6 rioters; and that he did not know much about the recent police killing of Sonya Massey.
Today, journalists made the news again—though, this time, for a much happier reason. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was wrongfully detained by Russian security forces on bogus espionage charges for over a year, was freed as part of a prisoner exchange. His release was a major win not only for him and his loved ones but also for the Biden administration and press freedom groups. The Journal, in particular, has helped keep Gershkovich’s wrongful detention front and center since he was first detained.
The past day alone has made clear how crucial a free press is—both in the US and abroad—to speak truth to power. As Evan's supporters said over and over again while waiting for his release: Journalism is not a crime.
—Julianne McShane
