Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · 19h

I spoke to Block Club Chicago's @slulay2.bsky.social and @franciagarciah.bsky.social about the paper's lawsuit against ICE, and what it's been like covering a city under siege. www.cjr.org/kicker/block...

Chicago’s Block Club Is Ready for ICE

The independent digital startup has been on the ground covering ICE’s surge and the attacks on journalists.

www.cjr.org

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · 16d

In light of yet another shooter seemingly enveloped by his own very-online brand of irony, give a listen to the conversation Elle and I had last week inspired by her post below. www.cjr.org/kicker/elle-...

1

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · 19d

Great piece by @davelevinthal.com on how ICE and CBP is stonewalling journalists on FOIA requests -- and more. www.cjr.org/analysis/ice...

ICE might be breaking the law to stonewall reporters.

Nearly two dozen reporters and other Freedom of Information Act requesters say they are getting the brush-off.

www.cjr.org

1 4

Reposted by Josh Hersh

Columbia Journalism Review @columjournreview.bsky.social · 21d

On a new Kicker, @ellereeve.bsky.social on the Charlie Kirk Shooting Suspect’s Inscrutable Memes. The CNN correspondent, who specializes in fringe and internet subcultures, on how to make sense of the killing. With host @joshuahersh.bsky.social. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

2 7

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · 21d

Nobody wants to hear this, but liberals wondering where the "left's Joe Rogan" is, the answer might be he or she only emerges when the hulking totems of (network) liberal media establishment are torn down.

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · 22d

When you talk about motive and ideology for people in fringe or extreme movements, you have to start by recognizing how murky it can get. I spoke to @ellereeve.bsky.social about Kirk, the man who shot him, and covering dark corners of the internet for The Kicker www.cjr.org/kicker/elle-...

Elle Reeve on the Charlie Kirk shooting suspect’s inscrutable memes.

The CNN correspondent, who specializes in fringe and internet subcultures, on how to make sense of the killing.

www.cjr.org

1 5

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · 22d

A good moment to revisit my conversation with the journalist Andras Petho about, among other things, how corporate media owners in Hungary caved to Orban, and what came next. www.cjr.org/kicker/hunga...

A Warning from a Hungarian Journalist: ‘Brace Yourself for the Worst’

András Pethő has watched American media head down a familiar path.

www.cjr.org

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · 26d

For those still trying to make sense of the media world of Charlie Kirk, I've been re-reading this great @jakelahut.writes.news piece from the spring about what Trump found in the right-wing influencer-sphere www.cjr.org/feature/alex...

Inside Trump's influencer media tour.

Alex Bruesewitz was already immersed in the online world of politically disengaged young men. He saw the untapped potential.

www.cjr.org

1 5

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · 26d

Read my interview with the last reporter to profile Charlie Kirk, a thoughtful conversation on the legacy Kirk aspired to have, and the more complicated nature of his actual approach. www.cjr.org/the-intervie...

The last reporter to profile Charlie Kirk.

Millions of young conservatives got their news, and political inspiration, from Kirk’s media operation.

www.cjr.org

1

Reposted by Josh Hersh

Columbia Journalism Review @columjournreview.bsky.social · 29d

Millions of young conservatives got their news, and political inspiration, from Charlie Kirk’s media operation. Brigham Tomco spoke with @joshuahersh.bsky.social about the profile of Kirk he wrote this summer and published Wednesday morning. www.cjr.org/the-intervie...

The last reporter to profile Charlie Kirk.

Millions of young conservatives got their news, and political inspiration, from Kirk’s media operation.

www.cjr.org

3 3

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · Aug 11

Lovely piece by Sophie Watson about a frontline newspaper in Ukraine, trying to preserve the memories, and spirit, of its community. www.cjr.org/analysis/izi...

The Memory Keepers

A frontline Ukrainian newspaper draws from its own history.

www.cjr.org

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · Aug 4

A campaign of harassment and delegitimization against Voice of America—from seventy years ago. Dan Golden digs up Joseph McCarthy's other, forgotten crusade for @columjournreview.bsky.social www.cjr.org/analysis/jos...

Joseph McCarthy’s War on Voice of America

A largely forgotten campaign of harassment and persecution from the 1950s that still echoes today.

www.cjr.org

2 4 13

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · Jul 18

For @columjournreview.bsky.social, Andrew Mercein spoke to numerous public radio station managers about their despair, and scrambles to plot out a bleak future www.cjr.org/news/public-...

Inside the Radio Stations Devastated by Public Funding Cuts

“If we have to make cuts, there’s no easy choice,” one station manager said.

www.cjr.org

6 6

Reposted by Josh Hersh

Columbia Journalism Review @columjournreview.bsky.social · Jul 16

Alan Rusbridger Wants the BBC to Find its Nerve, by @joshuahersh.bsky.social. www.cjr.org/the-intervie...

Alan Rusbridger Wants the BBC to Find Its Nerve

The former Guardian editor has been keeping tabs on the challenges at the venerable broadcaster.

www.cjr.org

1 1 1

Reposted by Josh Hersh

Columbia Journalism Review @columjournreview.bsky.social · Jul 11

What’s the Matter with the BBC? Former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger on the challenges facing the venerable British institution, with host @joshuahersh.bsky.social. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

2 1

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · Jul 6

In case you're wondering, no, the Times is not backing down because of the online outrage over its Mamdani article.
‪@liamjscott.bsky.social‬ breaks it all down for @columjournreview.bsky.social www.cjr.org/news/times-m...

Times Mamdani Article Using Hacked Documents from White Supremacist Draws Outcry

“What matters most here is whether the information was true and factual,” the Times’ Patrick Healy told CJR.

www.cjr.org

1 5

Reposted by Josh Hersh

Columbia Journalism Review @columjournreview.bsky.social · Jun 24

On The Kicker Live: Arwa Damon on Leaving CNN and Telling Stories from Gaza, with host @joshuahersh.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

2 2

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · Jun 17

On this week's Kicker, I got to ask @fahrenthold.bsky.social a question that's been bugging me for a while: Why bother investigating Trump anymore? (He has a good answer!) www.cjr.org/kicker/inves...

What’s the Point of Investigating Trump?

The Times’ David Fahrenthold on the value of investigations in a time of shamelessness.

www.cjr.org

1

Reposted by Josh Hersh

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · May 9

"The threat is very real." Thanks to Katherine Maher for joining @CJR's The Kicker this week to talk about NPR, funding for public media, and the challenge of neutral journalism in a time that's anything but. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

‘The Threat Is Very Real’: NPR’s Katherine Maher on the Fight to Save Public Media

Podcast Episode · The Kicker · 05/09/2025 · 32m

podcasts.apple.com

1 1

Reposted by Josh Hersh

Phil Williams @philinvestigates.com · May 29

Such a great conversation with @joshuahersh.bsky.social! I had not previously discovered the Kicker, but it is so thoughtful! Highly recommend!

Columbia Journalism Review @columjournreview.bsky.social · May 29

On a new Kicker: Nashville’s Phil Williams’s most viral moments have been his unflappable encounters with extremists and neo-Nazis. With host @joshuahersh. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

7 14 100

Reposted by Josh Hersh

Kyle Clark @kylec.bsky.social · May 29

Local journalists are uniquely positioned to cover hate and extremism. I think the world of @philinvestigates.com and love that CJR’s @joshuahersh.bsky.social zeroes in on Williams’ approach to asking white supremacists: Why are you here in MY city? www.cjr.org/kicker/nashv...

‘I Try to Find the Question That People Cannot Squirm Out Of’

Nashville’s Phil Williams on local investigative reporting.

www.cjr.org

4 24 150

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · May 22

These stories are about the victims not the reporters, but I spent months watching Betsy Morais report this, and I can only marvel at how many obstacles she had to overcome, how much trauma she absorbed, and how unwavering she remained in telling this the right way. www.cjr.org/feature-2/we...

Journalists Attest to Experiences of Sexual Misconduct with Wesley Lowery

Lowery rose to prominence as a reporter and media thinker. Women in the industry say he engaged in sexual harassment and assault.

www.cjr.org

1 2 5

Reposted by Josh Hersh

Columbia Journalism Review @columjournreview.bsky.social · May 9

‘The Threat Is Very Real.’ NPR’s Katherine Maher on the fight to save public media, on The Kicker with host @joshuahersh.bsky.social. www.cjr.org/kicker/npr-p...

‘The Threat Is Very Real’

NPR’s Katherine Maher on the fight to save public media.

www.cjr.org

8 74 230

Josh Hersh @joshuahersh.bsky.social · May 9

"The threat is very real." Thanks to Katherine Maher for joining @CJR's The Kicker this week to talk about NPR, funding for public media, and the challenge of neutral journalism in a time that's anything but. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

‘The Threat Is Very Real’: NPR’s Katherine Maher on the Fight to Save Public Media

Podcast Episode · The Kicker · 05/09/2025 · 32m

podcasts.apple.com

1 1