You all know my obsession with journalism - I’ve talked about it many times here. And in today’s episode, I get to talk to the OG of journalism.
This is a moment for me.
Neil Brown is the president of The Poynter Institute since September 2017, after serving as the editor and vice president of the Tampa Bay Times. Brown has spent four decades as a journalist, news company executive and media industry leader. He recently completed nine years as a member of the Pulitzer Prize Board, the past two years as co-chair.
In case you’re not familiar with the Poynter Institute, its staff of more than 80 journalists and educators leads the nation in training journalists in craft, ethics and leadership. Poynter is now home to PolitiFact, the International Fact-Checking Network, the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership and a news literacy initiative called MediaWise. Poynter works with journalists and citizens in the U.S. and more than a dozen countries.
Neil and I cover a lot of ground. I was so excited to discuss the evolving landscape of journalism, the importance of media literacy and the challenges faced by journalists today— and he has so much wisdom to offer. He highlights the importance of rebuilding trust in journalism through responsible reporting and diverse representation.
We discuss:
• The critical role of editors and the essential traits of modern journalists
• The importance of building relationships in reporting
• The challenges faced by the press in the current political climate
• The state of fact-checking and the integration of AI in journalism
• And, my favorite - the importance of telling a good story above all else
Plus, journalism is NOT a dead career—and that’s an important message for all the would-be journalists out there listening.
If you’re a journalist, past, present or hopeful, or someone who consumes the news, this episode is for you. As a consumer, it’s especially helpful to understand how good journalism should work, and how important the work of reporters continues to be.
So what I mean is, don’t miss this episode. You can connect with Neil here and follow Poynter on Instagram and on their website.
Chapters
4:42 Introduction to Neil Brown and Poynter Institute
9:24 The Evolution of Journalism and Media Literacy
10:50 The Shift in Storytelling and Audience Engagement
23:11 Rebuilding Trust in Journalism
27:16 Defining Great Journalistic Writing
31:50 The Importance of Editors in Writing
34:54 The Role of Editors in Journalism
32:06 Traits of Modern Journalists
40:01 The Impact of Media on Justice
43:23 Press Freedom and Current Challenges
46:39 The State of Fact-Checking Today
50:46 AI's Role in Journalism
54:55 The Future of Journalism for New Graduates