In this episode Sage, Hanna, and Julius sit down with Dave Bangert, a veteran local journalist who spent over three decades covering Lafayette, Indiana, first at the Lafayette Journal and Courier, and now through his independent Substack: Based in Lafayette, Indiana. Dave talks about what happens when newsrooms shrink from 45 people to seven, why those "boring" school board meetings actually matter, and how he's built a subscriber base of over 8,000 people who are hungry for local coverage.

He shares stories about getting called out in the grocery store, why fairness doesn't mean being soft, and what gets lost when there's no one left to cover the community stories that end up clipped and saved on refrigerators. Dave makes the case that supporting local journalism isn't just about staying informed. It's about maintaining the accountability that keeps democracy functioning at the level where it actually touches people's lives.

Three Key Takeaways from Dave:

1. Support local journalism and subscribe to anybody who is doing the work
2. Put in the legwork to read enough that you can tell which reporters you trust and which you don't 
3. As a journalist, make sure that you're able to walk in the grocery store, and people can hold you accountable.

Find out more about:

• Dave Bangert’s Substack: Based in Lafayette, Indiana 
• His website 
• Recent study about the death of American local newspapers

Some of the texts we refer to in this episode:

Dave’s Journal & Courier article about The Time Johnny Cash stopped in Lafayette to go Fishing

Dave’s Media Diet:

• Main: Journal & Courier, Indy Star, Indiana Capital Chronicle, Mirror Indy, Axios, WaPo, NYT
• Junk Food: Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Athletic Pulse, Greg Kot’s music reviews, 30 for 30 documentaries

This podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to [email protected]