Ink and Airwaves

In this episode of Ink & Airwaves , host Katie Mancini takes listeners inside the work of Erica Smith, an editor at the Times Union , to understand how local journalism gets made day to day. The conversation focuses on process and judgment rather than biography: how story ideas take shape, how sourcing decisions are made, and where ethics, harm, and public interest create real tradeoffs before pub...

In this episode of Ink & Airwaves , host Kate Maher and reporter Lily Kuypers introduce the Times Union of Albany, New York, and the conditions that shape what local journalism can produce. The team frames the newsroom's work as inseparable from its environment: demographic change, shifting cultural norms, and the legal and political landscape that affects reporting priorities and resources. Acros...

In this episode of Ink & Airwaves , host Eli Prado and the Maroon Goblins examine circulation: how The Alexandria Times finds its audience, and where visibility breaks down. Using only public signals, the team tracks an "audience journey" from a story on the homepage to social posts and newsletter touchpoints, then analyzes what the site design, posting cadence, and platform packaging suggest abou...

In this episode, we compare a local story with a national one. The stories that are talked about are about the recent government shutdown and its effects. We go over how those with federal jobs are being affected, as well as how the daily people that use social security checks may no longer get them. Also, give a brief description of the government shutdown and how significant it is at the moment....

In this episode of Ink & Airwaves , host Cole Isaacson and producers Eli Prado, Mary Lindstorm, and Natali Calderon take listeners inside the work of Caitlyn Meisner, an editor at The Alexandria Times . Rather than profiling her, the conversation focuses on process and judgment: how Caitlyn identifies community needs, decides what is newsworthy, reports and edits stories, and navigates ethical tra...

In this episode of Ink & Airwaves , we profile The Alexandria Times and the real-world conditions that shape what a local newsroom can do. The team introduces the Alexandria, Virginia community the paper serves, explains its nonprofit ownership and funding model, and maps the legal, economic, and political pressures that influence speed, scope, and accountability reporting. Along the way, the epis...

In this special reflection episode of Ink & Airwaves , Ava, Amelia, Olivia, and Zylia look back on how producing the series changed the way they consume and think about local journalism. They discuss the emotional and civic effects of news, including when journalism informs and empowers, and when it can feel overwhelming or shaped by algorithms and social media. Grounded in the Consumption domain...

In this episode of Ink & Airwaves , host Amelia and reporters Ava, Olivia, and Zylia examine how Madison365 distributes its journalism and builds audience engagement across platforms. Using a 30-day review of Madison365's public-facing website and social accounts, the team maps the "audience journey" from social post to story page, then analyzes how design choices, notifications, newsletters, and...

In this episode of Ink & Airwaves , Zylia, Ava, Olivia, and Amelia compare how two newsrooms tell the same UW-Madison football story. Using a Madison365 article and a CBS Sports article about head coach Luke Fickell, they analyze how framing, sourcing, and tone shift based on audience and newsroom goals. The episode shows how local reporting can prioritize institutional context and community relev...

In this episode of Ink & Airwaves , Ava and reporters Olivia, Zylia, and Amelia sit down with Omar Waheed, a full-time reporter at Madison365, to unpack what community-centered reporting looks like from the inside. Omar shares how he found journalism, how Madison365 builds trust and story ideas through deep relationships and cultural competency, and what it takes to report quickly and accurately i...

In this episode of Ink & Airwaves , host Olivia and reporters Amelia, Ava, and Zylia break down how Madison365 operates and what conditions enable that work. The team introduces Madison365's mission as a nonprofit newsroom serving communities of color in Madison, Wisconsin, then walks listeners through the practical realities that shape its reporting: the community it serves, its ownership and fun...

This episode consists of host student-reporter, Alex Rubin, leading the conversation on how Pittsburgh's Public Source circulates news to its local community. As they have explained thus far, in previous episodes, it is extremely vital to understand local news and to know what is happening around you. To retain said local information, you need to know how to receive it. In this episode, they delve...

Host student-reporter Joe Mussoline takes the lead on this episode as the Red Rhinos compare a local news article published by Pittsburgh's Public Source to a national article published by The News Republic on the same topic: The Government Shutdown and the pausing of SNAP benefits. Regardless of who writes the article, the Government Shutdown was extremely pressing and timely. The episode conside...

  This episode consists of host student-reporter Ryan Counihan's interview with Public Source's Stephanie Strasburg, who covers community journalism and trauma-informed reporting for Public Source, serving the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania community. Stephanie covers all beats; however, she has an emphasis on housing instability and politics. This episode's interview is not an individual profile on Step...

This episode, hosted by student reporter Lukas Schulze, covers Pittsburgh's Public Source newsroom and their goals, missions, and achievements. The conditions of Pittsburgh's Public Source newsroom are introduced and covered within the episode, consisting of background of the newsroom and the Pittsburgh community, the type of organization Public Source is, legal, political, and social boundaries,...

In this episode of  Ink & Airwaves , we look at how our own news habits changed throughout the semester, and what that says about how people our age consume information. We talk honestly about where we used to get our news (TikTok...), how paying attention to real local reporting changed things, and why the way we feel while reading the news actually affects what we pay attention to. We also explo...

The fourth episode of Ink & Airwaves covers the way in which the WNIJ utilizes a multitude of tactics, especially regarding their social media platforms, for a more widespread circulation of their content, and to extend a larger outreach in hopes to grow their audience. We go through every facet of their social outreach, compare each of their methods of growth, and provide our audience with inform...

The third episode of Ink & Airwaves is centered around the contrast between a story covered by a small, local news outlet, and compares their product to a much larger national outlet. This episode delves into how the WNIJ frames the story in which Darren Bailey's family is affected by a tragic helicopter crash for their local audience versus how the New York Times frames it for their national audi...

During this episode of Ink & Airwaves, we were able to interview Jenna Dooley, and she is the News Director at WNIJ, we interviewed her to help us learn how local news is made. She was able to tell us when and how they chose the stories to tell, where they check their facts, and able to decide who needs to know this certain news coverage. She was also nice to tell us how there are sometimes moment...

Ink & Airwaves kicks off its new season by taking listeners inside WNIJ, a local public radio newsroom in Northern Illinois. This episode breaks down how the station works, who it serves, and what challenges it faces in today's media. We take a look at everything from staff roles and daily activities to funding issues after losing federal support. We also talk about the legal rules they operate un...

In these final episodes of season one of the Ink and Airwaves podcast, our students dive into the personal and community impacts of engaging with their chosen specialty and alternative press. Reflecting on their experiences throughout the season, they share insights into how their specialty and alternative press shape communities, influence journalism, and challenge mainstream narratives. These ep...

In this episode, the Green Cobras analyze the unique distribution methods employed by The Christian Post . With a robust digital presence across platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Spotify, this pan-denominational news outlet serves a diverse audience of Christians worldwide. Join us as we explore their social media strategies, newsletters, and podcasts and evaluate how their outreach supports f...

In this episode, hosts Lance Schulteis and the team analyze how the Associated Press and Christian Science Monitor covered the recent Vice-Presidential debate. While the AP emphasized candidates' policy stances, the Monitor offered a more analytical lens, focusing on civility and mutual respect between candidates. Explore the role of Christian press values in shaping journalism and how different o...

In this episode, host Nick Gross explores the extraordinary life of Dorothy Day, founder of The Catholic Worker. From her early journalism career to her groundbreaking work in social justice and Catholic activism, Day used her voice to champion the poor and marginalized. Join us as we explore her impactful journalism, including The Catholic Worker newspaper, and her legacy in blending faith with a...