Corina Vanek, development reporter with The Arizona Republic, has spent a decade covering development, business, and the stories shaping Arizona’s growth. From breaking one of the state’s biggest scoops to facing scrutiny over controversial development stories, Corina has seen firsthand the impact journalism can have.

In this episode of Off Deadline, Corina joins Melissa DiGianfilippo of Proof Publicity
to share:

• How she broke the story of TSMC’s $120 billion investment in Phoenix
• Why public records are her superpower as a reporter
• Covering controversial developments and the scrutiny that comes with it
• The Flagstaff tragedy that still sticks with her today
• How her reporting influenced policies and tenant outcomes
• The hobbies and passions (from baseball to bunnies) that keep her balanced

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube, and don’t forget to follow @proofpublicity for more episodes of Off Deadline.

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

Rachel Cole (@rachelcoletv1011), anchor and reporter with NBC 12 News, has spent over a decade covering Arizona’s biggest stories. From moments of raw vulnerability on assignment to the lighthearted bloopers that keep her laughing, Rachel has lived every side of journalism.

In this episode of Off Deadline, Rachel joins Melissa DiGianfilippo (@melissadflip) of Proof Publicity to share:

• The firefighter training story that became a career-defining moment
• Why vulnerability connects journalists more deeply to viewers
• How she copes with covering tragedies and child abuse cases
• The hilarious “Utah ocean” Ron Burgundy moment on-air
• Why solutions journalism matters more than ever
• How her family’s support and values shaped her career

This episode blends raw honesty, resilience, and humor from one of Arizona’s most trusted news voices.

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube, and don’t forget to follow @proofpublicity for more episodes of Off Deadline.

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

Mignon Gould is the Associate Editor of the Phoenix Business Journal and a longtime advocate for inclusive storytelling in business media. With a career that spans fashion journalism, entrepreneurship, and now business reporting, she opens up about reinventing herself—and why the stories that seem small often carry the greatest weight.

• How Mignon made the leap from fashion journalism to business news
• What it was like launching an award-winning diversity platform
• Why she left journalism—and what brought her back
• The unexpected power of reporting on local business
• Her advice for anyone trying to break into media or evolve creatively
• The moments in her career that shaped her as a storyteller

A powerful reminder that small stories, when told with care, can have lasting impact.

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube for more episodes of Off Deadline.
Guest: @mignonmedia
Host: @melissadflip

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

Meteorologist and reporter Ian Schwartz of Arizona’s Family has spent nearly 20 years covering everything from blizzards and wildfires to quirky weather debates that blow up every Arizona summer. But behind the forecasts and on-air banter is a storyteller who’s seen the very best—and the very worst—of humanity.

In this episode of Off Deadline, Ian joins host Melissa DiGianfilippo of Proof Publicity to share:

• The emotional “Aloha Spirit” he witnessed while covering the Maui wildfires
• Why he once considered leaving TV news for a career in stand-up comedy
• The most bizarre interview of his career (involving a glass eye)
• How humor has helped him navigate tragedy and stay grounded
• The surprisingly unscripted nature of weather reporting (did someone say HABOOB?)
• What it’s really like when social media debates your job every summer

This episode blends heart, humor, and hard-earned perspective from one of Arizona’s most engaging TV personalities.

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube, and don’t forget to follow @proofpublicity for more episodes of Off Deadline.

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

Johnjay Van Es co-host of the nationally syndicated Johnjay & Rich Show, joins Off Deadline for a hilarious, heartfelt, and completely unfiltered ride through his 25+ years in radio.

He opens up about:

• The wild Rod Stewart moment that catapulted his career
• How a call to Oprah's dad led to a surprise call from Oprah herself
• Pranking another radio station live on TV with a leaf blower 😅
• His most cringe-worthy on-air disaster (and what he learned)
• Why Christmas Wish still gives him chills
• The 13-year-old fan who became a star thanks to a moment with Miley Cyrus
• His secret scuba broadcast… with sharks.

This episode is packed with behind-the-scenes stories, radio industry lessons, and pure entertainment.

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube, and don’t forget to follow @proofpublicity for more episodes of Off Deadline.

Follow Johnjay Van Es

Follow Melissa DiGianfilippo

 🔗 Learn more at proofpublicity.com

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

What do undercover cops, a legal loophole, and one viral headline have in common?

 They all collided in a story that actually changed the law—and Sam Eifling was the reporter who broke it.

In this episode of Off Deadline, the Phoenix New Times Editor-in-Chief shares how a tip about Hawaii police officers legally having sex with sex workers turned into a national news frenzy. From a viral Associated Press headline to live NPR coverage and even a Colbert sketch, Sam's reporting led to a real policy change—within days.

With 20+ years of journalism experience (The New York Times, ESPN, Harper’s, Netflix's Patriot Act), Sam also opens up about the stories that never ran, the reporting tricks that actually work, and why writers today struggle to make readers feel something.

🎙 In this episode:
 – The viral headline that sparked a law change in Hawaii
 – A rodeo van trip that became an epic, $20K magazine story
 – Why writing well still wins—even in a TikTok world
 – What he wishes more journalists (and PR pros) understood

🔗 Subscribe to Off Deadline on YouTube and your favorite podcast app for more behind-the-scenes stories from journalism’s boldest voices.

Follow Sam Eifling on IG: @sameifling

Follow Proof Publicity on IG: @proofpublicity
Contact Proof Publicity 

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

How do you interview a grieving parent—or spend a week reporting on child drownings—without breaking down? Emmy-winning journalist Yetta Gibson of Arizona's Family opens up about the emotional toll of storytelling, the interview that changed her life, and the moment she almost walked away.

From covering tragedy to discovering Chef Jeff Henderson’s untold redemption story (before Oprah and Will Smith did!), Yetta shares how she built a career on connection, not just coverage.

🌟 Off Deadline goes beyond the headlines with the media professionals who live them. Hosted by Melissa DiGianfilippo, Founder & CEO of Proof Publicity, this series reveals the raw, unfiltered stories behind journalism’s boldest voices.

📍 Topics in this episode:
– The emotional cost of being a reporter
– The Emmy-winning story nobody believed in
– How to disarm even the toughest interview subjects
– Why being yourself is a journalist’s greatest asset

👉 Watch now to go beyond the byline.

🎧 Off Deadline is the journalism podcast that takes you beyond the bylines—unfiltered, personal, unforgettable.

📺 New episodes every week on YouTube and your favorite podcast app.
Check out Proof Publicity: proofpublicity.com
📍 Follow Yetta on Instagram @yettagibson & @originalwithyetta
🎙 Produced by Proof Publicity. Follow on Instagram @ProofPublicity and watch on Youtube.

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

Ever been punched by a rock star? Journalist Greg Barr has—backstage, no less. In this episode of Off Deadline, the Phoenix Business Journal Editor-in-Chief shares two of the wildest stories of his career:

🎸 The time a chart-topping artist physically attacked him after a review.
⚖️ A shocking legal case involving a Black attorney defending a Ku Klux Klan leader—for free.

We explore:

• The wild side of music journalism
• Ethics in the justice system
• The stories reporters never forget

🎧 Off Deadline is the journalism podcast that takes you beyond the bylines—unfiltered, personal, unforgettable.

📺 New episodes every week on YouTube and your favorite podcast app.
🔗 Subscribe + learn more: proofpublicity.com
📍 Follow Greg on LinkedIn
🎙 Produced by Proof Publicity. Follow on Instagram @ProofPublicity and watch on Youtube

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

He made her laugh—and she decided to live.

Brad Perry has spent 35 years on morning television, bringing joy to viewers across the country. But behind the upbeat persona is a man who’s weathered real storms—from covering hostage situations to facing the emotional weight of social media.

In this episode of Off Deadline, Brad shares the moment a viewer handed him her suicide note, how he learned to balance humor with heartbreak, and what he's taught his kids about life in the spotlight. It’s honest, moving, and full of heart.

🎧 Listen now to hear:

• The story that saved a life
• Brad’s unexpected path from standup comedy to serious reporting
• Why social media is harder on journalists than you think
• What it’s like raising two kids in entertainment

—

Created by Proof Publicity
 🔗 Learn more: proofpublicity.com and follow @proofpublicity on social media

Follow Brad Perry on IG @bradperryTV

 #BradPerry #Journalism #TVNews #MentalHealth #MediaCareers #ProofPublicity

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

Russ Wiles has spent 45 years telling the story of business, investing, and Arizona’s economy—including 34 years at The Arizona Republic. In this episode of Off Deadline, Russ joins Melissa DiGianfilippo to talk about why he never left the business beat, how buying his first McDonald’s stock at age 12 sparked a lifelong interest in finance, and what it was like to learn semiconductors on the fly as TSMC reshaped Arizona’s economic future.

From getting caught in a typhoon in Taiwan to filing stories from airport baggage claims, Russ shares the human side of business reporting, the wildest moments in his career, and why—through it all—the simplest advice is still the best: “Make your deadlines.”

🎧 Topics include:

• How TSMC’s $165 billion investment transformed Arizona
• The evolution of business reporting over four decades
• The pressure and joy of chasing a story on deadline
• What it really takes to cover massive economic change

🎙 Produced by Proof Publicity. Follow Proof on all social channels at @ProofPublicity

Follow Russ Wiles on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/russ-wiles-497b8225/

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com