Poynter is reporting that "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie made an emotional plea for information regarding her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing for 177 days from her Tucson, Arizona, home. Savannah Guthrie released a video on Instagram, directly addressing anyone with knowledge of her mother's whereabouts and urging them to "do the right thing." Elizabeth Smart, a survivor of kidnapping, told E! News she was "heartbroken" but maintained hope for Nancy Guthrie's return, emphasizing that no body has been found.
Poynter also highlighted criticism of the White House Correspondents' Association for hosting President Donald Trump at its rescheduled annual dinner. "Morning Joe" co-host Joe Scarborough criticized Trump's speech, which included insults aimed at journalists, and called the WHCA's decision "tone deaf." Media columnist Margaret Sullivan wrote on her "American Crisis" Substack that the WHCA's rationale for inviting the president was "hogwash" and normalized an "abnormal and dangerous president." Jem Bartholomew, writing for the Columbia Journalism Review, questioned why White House journalists agreed to be "passive targets" and suggested ending the dinner altogether.
Former "60 Minutes" correspondent Cecilia Vega, who was fired by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, claimed CBS executives wanted her to insert political bias into three of her segments. Vega told The New York Times and Status that she had never before felt editorial suggestions came from a place of "misinformation or politics." She cited examples involving a shooting investigation, the U.S. war with Iran, and SNAP benefits, though she said none of the suggestions made it into her stories. CBS News previously stated Vega's accusations were "not based in reality." Vega said she was not given a reason for her dismissal.
The Atlantic has filed a motion to dismiss a $250 million defamation lawsuit brought by FBI Director Kash Patel. Patel sued the magazine and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick after an April story, "The FBI Director Is MIA," alleged he was erratic, suspicious, and prone to "excessive drinking" and "unexplained absences." The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, stated the lawsuit is "meritless" and confirmed the magazine is seeking factual discovery from the FBI and Department of Justice.
Poynter is further reporting that approximately 180 staffers are being laid off at BuzzFeed, HuffPost, and Tasty. This marks the first major restructuring since media mogul Byron Allen acquired a majority stake in BuzzFeed in May. The Hollywood Reporter said the cuts represent about 35% of BuzzFeed's staff. Company leadership cited the need for "profitable and sustainable growth" after a period of financial doubt.
In other news, Poynter announced it will honor veteran political journalist Chuck Todd with the 2026 Poynter Make a Mark Leadership Award. The former "Meet the Press" moderator will receive the award on Oct. 2 in Kansas City, recognizing his impact on political journalism.