Colleagues,
At today’s 1 pm board meeting we’ll report on relocation, next steps editorial strategy, a senior leadership workshop on May 28, the new MBN website set to launch June 10, and an important tech acquisition.
Content is forever king. But a move to a state-of-the-art, digital first, AI powered newsroom is an important way to raise our game. We’ll set the stage tomorrow afternoon for strategic reinvestment, judicious hiring, and regional build out.
A number of you have already had a chance to meet Roya Hakakian, who teams up with Andres on MBN Iran work; Abubakar Siddique, a member of our new Emerging Threats team; and Dan McKivergan, in charge of MBN external affairs.
MBN energy attracts talent and there’s more exciting news around the corner. Stay tuned.
Challenges are still legion. We need stable funding going forward to plan properly. Our market is ferociously crowded. Adversaries have deep pockets and play a long game. If we’re to counter with sustainable impact, it’s time to consider company-wide compensation enhancement. It’s an essential way to retain and recruit top talent. Billy has a review underway. We’ll have a sense by mid-summer of what’s possible.
We’re committed to strong company morale and cohesion.
We’re determined to do right by the American taxpayer and our Congressionally mandated mission. And by you.
Join the all-staff lunch with members of the MBN board today at 12 noon in the cafe. It’s a good time to mark progress. Thanks in advance to colleagues bringing homemade delicacies (Board chair and CEO are chipping in with dishes from our local Lebanese, Mejana).
Meanwhile (all times Eastern Daylight):
Today at 3 pm: Washington bureau chief Joe Kawly interviews chair Ryan Crocker and board member Susan Ziadeh. Susan co-chairs our finance committee, was board liaison on our move — and served in a number of important diplomatic roles during her foreign service career, including as U.S. ambassador to Qatar.
Tuesday at 11:30 am: We’ll host a discussion on Pakistan’s growing regional role with Ambassador Crocker, Lisa Curtis, and Abubakar. Join us Tuesday in the cafe at 11:30 am.
Wednesday at 11:30 am: Min will speak to us on MBN’s evolving China work and this week’s Trump–Xi summit. The U.S. President is expected to arrive in Beijing on Thursday. On May 27, Min briefs the House Select Committee on China. MBN’s Great Power Rivalry Index is scheduled to launch in June.
Thursday at 3 pm: Sarah Arkin, executive director of the State Department’s Advisory Commission for Public Diplomacy, visits us in the new MBN headquarters.
Monday, May 18 at 11 am: Editor and author Adam Garfinkle joins us at headquarters for an exchange on Gulf instability.
Tuesday, May 19 at 11 am: Aya hosts Martha Bayles of Boston College and National Review at MBN on America’s free speech debates.
Wednesday, May 20 at 10 am: Our editorial team hosts colleague Christian Caryl for a writing workshop, part of a newsroom series called “Talking Journalism.”
Wednesday, May 20 at noon: Carla Robbins hosts me for a Council on Foreign Relations discussion.
Thursday, May 21: Former State Department official and Iran expert Alan Eyre will be at MBN for a talk.
There’s plenty more for late May and June, including an impressive cohort of summer interns and a new MBN language program. Starting soon, we’ll offer Arabic and Farsi classes for staff and a weekly social gathering in the cafe.
*****
I liked very much Ben Sasse’s Wall Street Journal column from Friday titled “Habits for Humanity in the Age of AI.”
Says the 54-year-old former Nebraska Senator: Travel, learn languages, step outside your comfort zone, and keep the big picture. Master the tools of technology, but guard against the addiction of algorithms. And read books, says Sasse: The “endless dialogue between ideas is more rewarding than the endless scrolling of social media.”
Words of wisdom for MBN’s next phase.
See you today for lunch at noon.
Gratefully, Jeff