Media News Daily: Top Stories for 09/14/2026

AP Ban Reportedly Tied to Trump Photo Rights

President Donald Trump’s White House ban on Associated Press access may have been tied not only to the outlet’s refusal to use “Gulf of America,” but also to the AP’s refusal to give Trump’s team rights to its widely used photo of Trump raising his fist after the 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. The report, citing The New York Times, says White House aides linked the AP ban to the photo-rights dispute during a private lunch with network anchors. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told the Times that the administration uses “every tool available” to ensure accurate reporting, while press-freedom advocates have continued raising concerns about government retaliation against news organizations. (Read More) (Mediaite Rating)

McClatchy Cuts More Than 90 Newsroom Staffers

McClatchy carried out one of its most severe rounds of layoffs in years, cutting more than 90 journalists across at least 13 newspapers, including The Miami Herald, The Sacramento Bee, The Kansas City Star, and other local newsrooms. The cuts affected reporters, photographers, videographers, and beats including government, education, sports, and accountability journalism. McClatchy described the layoffs as part of a restructuring to align resources with subscriber interests and long-term sustainability, while union leaders criticized the cuts as a major blow to local journalism. AP also reported that more than 90 unionized journalists and media workers across 17 McClatchy publications were laid off. (Read More) (Poynter Institute Rating)

Kansas Newspaper Raid Reporter Gets $850,000 Settlement

The city of Marion, Kansas, has agreed to pay former Marion County Record reporter Phyllis Zorn $850,000 to settle her federal lawsuit over the 2023 police raid on the newspaper. The raid, which involved the seizure of electronics and reporting materials, sparked national outrage over press freedom and led to multiple lawsuits against city and county officials. Marion County previously agreed to a $3 million settlement with three journalists and a city councilor, while other legal claims against the city remain unresolved. Zorn said the settlement ends a years-long ordeal following a raid she said violated press protections. (Read More) (Nieman Lab Rating)