These clothes don’t fit anymore.

What if news anchors and reporters showed up in your news feed as themselves? What if they ditched the blazers, the neckties, the high heels and the fitted dresses for a more relaxed look that was authentic to who they actually are. How would that change the way stories are told, analysis is given and opinions are shared?

Viktoria Capek, a former news anchor, joins Dom and Jenna to share how difficult and constricting experiences in the conservative news industry forced her to step away from the work she loves to be her full self. Viktoria and Jenna dive deep into the scrutiny they both faced over their appearance, including dress codes and tattoos.

Viktoria says if broadcast news hopes to remain relevant, the industry will need to allow individuals the freedom to be their authentic selves, thus communicating true authenticity in journalism.

Viktoria Capek, journalist and content creator TikTok @viktoriaacapek

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTYF3WKhN/

Headlines: 1:42

Interview: 9:46

Headline Discussed:

TV news anchors have an important message to deliver on election night. Their clothing shouldn't 'be a distraction.'

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv-news-anchors-have-an-important-message-to-deliver-on-election-night-their-clothing-shouldnt-be-a-distraction-200942417.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANGl2GEqX55ISgQJbbFKfPeTgJh7AEbrqWMujpH6ZqI24tygYzPpCB0zJkgyN_KsAGn6f5eFeibjp2RhDnP7r2s5QuufFN1mRRkk3YuPj6F_J7a6rPTvpepMUiH5fGgAEFJwJyWKHh2aX1VabWvR-ApcMxskfXAqH9vSASrUaB1R&guccounter=2

Newscasters Closets

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NewscastersClosets/

Dom and Jenna discuss the decision to revamp the editorial board at the LA Times after the paper decided to block an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. Then, paywalls. As more news organizations move to put their content behind paywalls, how does that impact the public's access to verified information?

And who pays for the news?

Noted audio producer and journalist Julia Barton shares insights from her fellowship research at Harvard’s Nieman Journalism Lab on the complexities of funding news in the broadcasting industry—or the lack thereof.

Barton says she discovered a 1924 magazine contest hoping to find a sustainable, long-term solution to funding radio broadcasting. The contest declared a winner, but did the industry follow suit?

She also discusses the rise of podcasting, technological advancements, and the ongoing challenges in maintaining high-quality, publicly-minded journalism.

Headlines: 1:57

Interview: 15:22

Headlines discussed:

LA Times owner says Harris’ stance on Gaza war contributed to non-endorsement, plans editorial board revamp

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/13/media/la-times-harris-endorsement-gaza-war-editorial-board/index.html

Reuters, CNN add website paywalls

https://www.axios.com/2024/10/01/reuters-cnn-website-paywalls

Going back to the well: CNN.com, the most popular news site in the U.S., is putting up a paywall

https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/10/going-back-to-the-well-cnn-com-the-most-popular-news-site-in-the-u-s-is-putting-up-a-paywall/

Julia Barton

https://juliabarton.com/

"Who Is To Pay For Broadcasting and How?" by Julia Barton

https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/07/in-1924-a-magazine-ran-a-contest-who-is-to-pay-for-broadcasting-and-how-a-century-later-were-still-asking-the-same-question/

The election is over and Jenna and Domenic need to talk.

They reach out to New York Times bestselling author and political journalist, Ellis Henican to talk about election stress, political coverage and the impact it may or may not have had on the outcome?

They delve into the challenges faced by the media industry, including the rise of social media driven echo chambers where people only hear what aligns with their beliefs. Henican gives his take on how well the media handled the election, and whether the Trump ratings driven relationship with the media and whether the Trump and Harris campaigns received equal coverage.

As they discuss the future of journalism, they emphasize the need for honest reporting, fostering community, and adapting to new realities in the news.

Ellis Henican

https://henican.com/

Trump campaign denies and revokes journalists’ election night credentials after critical coverage

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/05/media/trump-revokes-journalists-election-night-credentials/

Trump’s return to power raises serious questions about the media’s credibility

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/06/media/trump-reelection-media-credibility-trust/index.html

Nobody trusts the media anymore.

Domenic and Jenna revisit their interview with Katherine Reynolds Lewis of the Institute of Independent Journalists to discuss the results of the journalism layoff survey. 8,300 journalists have been laid off since 2022, a nearly 10% loss of the labor force that makes the news. Dom and Jenna reflect on the survey findings and share their thoughts on the impact of these mass layoffs.

Then, a recent Gallup poll on declining trust in the media sparks an in-depth conversation with Joy Mayer, Executive Director of Trusting News, an organization that works to rebuild the lost trust and growing cynicism around journalism. Joy says because the public's information consumption habits have shifted quickly and radically, it’s on news outlets to adopt humility, transparency, and proactive efforts to earn trust. This includes addressing issues like ethical standards, the influence of social media platforms, and the responsible use of AI.

Headline:

1:23

Interview:

18:20

Headline Discussed

New Survey Finds Journalism Layoffs Most Harmed Women, Journalists of Color and Younger Professionals

https://theiij.com/layoffs-results-page

Institute of Independent Journalists

https://theiij.com/

Trusting News

https://trustingnews.org/

Creating engaging audio isn’t just about picking up a mic and hitting record. Audio journalist and podcast producer Yasmeen Khan shares her insights and delves into the essentials of clear language, thorough planning, and thoughtful editing to craft narrative arcs that resonate with listeners.

Authenticity and genuine curiosity are key ingredients in any captivating podcast.

Headlines: 1:44

Interview: 11:13

Headline Discussed:

Americans' Trust in Media Remains at Trend Low

https://news.gallup.com/poll/651977/americans-trust-media-remains-trend-low.aspx

In the wake of headlines about multimillion-dollar news anchors facing potential pay cuts, Domenic and Jenna discuss the truth about broadcast news salaries for local anchors.

Then…

When Ford Sanders decided to leave his TV News job at a local station in Texas it wasn’t an easy decision, but TikTok and social media offered a chance for greater freedom in his work and potentially larger paychecks.

Ford talks about the challenges of working in local news, like low pay and limited opportunities for outside income. He sees his pivot to TikTok as a chance to invest in himself, build an online community of 90,000 and growing, and monetize his work through brand partnerships. Ford says social media allows him to express more personality, engage with a younger audience, and sustain himself financially.

Headlines:

1:45

Interview:

17:15

Ford Sanders social media:

TikTok: @fordsanders

Instagram: @fordsanders

Headlines Discussed:

Star TV Anchors Are On Notice: You’re Not Getting a Raise

https://www.wsj.com/business/media/star-tv-anchors-are-on-notice-youre-not-getting-a-raise-0bf25ba9

Hoda Leaves “Today” over pay cut?

https://www.thewrap.com/hoda-kotb-left-today-show-nbc-salary-cut/

Indeed: How much do news anchors make?

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/pay-salary/how-much-do-news-anchors-make#:~:text=News%20anchors%20are%20broadcast%20journalists,and%20create%20an%20appealing%20portfolio.

What Hoda Kotb's Today Show Departure Means for the Star Anchor Era

https://puck.news/what-hoda-kotbs-today-show-departure-means-for-the-star-anchor-era/

MTV’s "The Week in Rock" was a critical source of news for younger audiences from the late '80s through the early 2000s. The channel dared to cover tough subjects like racism, abortion rights, and LGBTQIA+ rights by speaking up to young adults instead of talking down to them.

Former segment producer Michael Alex talks with Jenna and Dom about how he landed such a plum gig and the creative, forward-thinking environment that allowed MTV to create a unique journalism style, valuing fresh and irreverent approaches to telling news stories.

Headlines: 1:29

Interview: 17:20

Headline Articles:

"Local broadcasters become lifeline for hard-hit North Carolina communities in wake of Helene’s wrath"

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/30/media/hurricane-helene-local-radio-north-carolina/index.html

"Where does Chappell Roan go from here?"

https://www.thecut.com/2024/09/chappell-roan-fan-controversy-explained.html

"Chappell Roan's statements raise the question: Why do we need to know who celebrities vote for?"

https://www.salon.com/2024/09/29/chappell-roans-statements-raise-the-question-why-do-we-need-to-know-celebrities-vote-for/

Do you remember when "The Interview", the controversial comedy starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, became the focal point of the infamous 2014 cyberattack on Sony Pictures? A decade later, Jenna and Dom sit down with journalist Brian Raftery to discuss his podcast miniseries, "The Hollywood Hack", which unpacks the events surrounding the attack.

Brian's podcast explores the hack's impact on Sony employees, Hollywood, and its intersection with global geopolitics. He talks with Jenna and Dom about the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists covering the story in 2014 and reflects on how those challenges might be approached differently today. They examine topics such as the release of private emails, the broader consequences for Hollywood’s creative output, and the industry’s ongoing conversations around the gender pay gap.

Headlines: 1:42

Interview: 13:01

Headlines discussed in the episode:

CBS News’ Jeff Glor Among Those Departing Amid Latest Round Of Paramount Global Layoffs

https://deadline.com/2024/09/cbs-news-layoffs-jeff-glor-1236098251/

Facts vs. Misinformation in the allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs

VOX article: 7 questions — and zero conspiracy theories — about the allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs

https://www.vox.com/culture/373997/sean-combs-diddy-puffy-cassie-freak-offs-conspiracy-beiber

P Diddy: What is Sean Combs accused of, why was he denied bail and what has he said?

https://news.sky.com/story/p-diddy-what-is-sean-combs-accused-of-and-what-has-he-said-13103248

"The Hollywood Hack" Podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5FwyH97O7QKkr18EiylpJk

Brian Raftery

https://www.brianraftery.com/

We're fast when news breaks but are we slow to adapt?

Does the news media lag in the digital age?

Mark Albert, a Peabody and Emmy award-winning journalist, discusses his career transition from investigative journalism to media training, helping experts and executives craft a message they can and amplify for the media.

He emphasizes the importance for journalists to promote their work in an evolving media landscape and the critical need to increase media literacy.

Albert also details challenges faced by modern journalists like the impact of declining revenues and the pressures of multi-platform reporting.

He also stresses the necessity of sustaining independent journalism for democracy.

Headlines: 1:38

Interview: 18:07

Headlines Discussed:

Ohio reporters are at the center of the fight over false claims in Springfield

https://www.cjr.org/analysis/springfield-ohio-jd-vance-haitian-immigrants-fake-misinformation.php

Adrian Wojnarowski shockingly retiring from ESPN — and walking away from $20 million

https://nypost.com/2024/09/18/sports/adrian-wojnarowski-shockingly-retiring-from-espn-to-join-st-bonaventure/

Mark Albert

https://www.themarkalbert.com/

What separates “real journalism” from propaganda, spin and influence? ETHICS!

Dom and Jenna interview Rutgers professor of journalism, Carla Murphy about how she teaches the core ethics of journalism; particularly verification, transparency, and providing context.

Murphy explains why it’s essential to distinguish between objectivity as a method and objectivity as a concept, because journalists must continually self-check themselves, to ensure balanced reporting.

She also adds that journalism ethics should include diversity, equity and do no harm from within newsrooms and in published or broadcasted work.

Headlines: 1:40

Interview: 12:54

Headlines:Moderators Should Point Out Factual Errors In Real Time, Americans Say In Poll On Eve Of Presidential Debate

https://www.bu.edu/com/articles/moderators-should-point-out-factual-errors-in-real-time-americans-say-in-poll-on-eve-of-presidential-debate/

Fair Debate Moderators Would Have Fact-Checked Harris on These Misleading Claims

https://www.nationalreview.com/news/fair-debate-moderators-would-have-fact-checked-harris-on-these-misleading-claims/

ABC’s Debate Pulled Off a Trick No One Else Has Managed in the Trump Era

https://slate.com/business/2024/09/debate-donald-trump-kamala-harris-winner.html

Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris drives nearly 338,000 users to government voting website

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/11/taylor-swift-harris-endorsement-election-voting-site.html