Don't Bury the Lede

This week, Jenna and Dom break down another major media shake-up: Jim Acosta is leaving CNN after years as one of the network’s most recognizable faces. What does his departure signal about the future of CNN? Then, they examine the growing movement behind the Menendez brothers’ case, as a new hearing on March 20 could potentially change their decades-old conviction. How has social media, true crim...

This week, Jenna and Dom discuss CNN's latest shake-up: the network is laying off about 200 traditional TV jobs while planning to add 100 digital positions by mid-year. Is it enough to save the once-dominant cable news network? Then, they explore why documenting historic moments, like presidential inaugurations, are so important to telling our nation's story. Plus, veteran news photographer Todd M...

This week, Jenna and Dom take a closer look at two major stories shaping headlines. First, they examine the ongoing battle over TikTok’s future in the U.S. They discuss how the platform has become a vital tool for journalists to share their work and inform the public. What impact would a shutdown have on its 170 million American users? What’s at stake for TikTok’s 7,000 U.S.-based employees? Why a...

After ghosting everyone for the holidays (kidding!), Jenna and Dom return at a crucial moment… just as the Supreme Court hears arguments that could ban TikTok in the U.S. Talk about timing! This leads them into what's keeping them awake at night- scrolling through the wild world of news media on TikTok. Viral rants about journalism sparked this conversation about who gets to tell the news and who'...

It's been 3 weeks since the election and Dom and Jenna are exhausted. They discuss the challenges of journalists covering a prolonged political campaign with public distrust, a fractured media environment and... industry wide layoffs. They talk about the perceived betrayal by national media figures like Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough for their post-election meeting with Donald Trump exasperat...

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 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 ins...

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...

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 t...

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 Interv...

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....

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...

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...

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 evolvin...

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 mus...

We're BACK!!!! Season 2 of Laid Off and Looking Dom and Jenna talk pop culture's essential yet dismissed role in the news ecosystem and especially politics. This week's guest is Dr Joel Penney PhD, professor of communication and media at Montclair University in New Jersey. He's also author of 'Pop Culture, Politics and the News: Entertainment Journalism in the Polarized Media Landscape' Pop Cultur...

It’s unhealthy to live with this level of stress and Jenna and Dom get candid about the emotional impact of a shrinking media industry on the overall prospects for themselves and other creative professionals. However, they also find resilience in other people finding new ways to find fulfillment and work through social media platforms. Headlines: 2:14 Paramount TV Studios Shutting Down Amid Major...

Q-3 is almost over, and unfortunately that means layoff season starts up again. Dom and Jenna discuss some of the latest job loss headlines and how some media companies are failing to address the subject with the necessary sympathy of someone losing their livelihood. Tweet reference: Sam Mintz https://x.com/samjmintz/status/1820853855644438827

Jenna and Dom are back again, this time to figure out how to re-approach their careers with a better understanding work-life balance amid the industry upheaval. They both lament the hustle culture mentality of their early years in the business and how it’s impacted their ability to set healthy work boundaries. They also share plans to relaunch the podcast with full episodes on September 6th!

This week on 'Laid Off and Looking,' Domenic Camia and Jenna Flanagan delve into the Democratic party’s seismic shift in the Presidential race as President Joe Biden steps down and Vice President Kamala Harris takes the lead as party nominee. They discuss another astonishing weekend news cycle and how pop culture has been driving the political discussion, particularly the viral ‘brat’ trend linked...

It's been another busy week in news and for Dom and Jenna learning to consume the news rather than cover it is both disorienting and... freeing.

This week Dom and Jenna discuss how they are both still weathering the storm of the trauma of losing their jobs and everything that goes with the loss of work. They both try to stay focused as they cope with prolonged unemployment and try to stay focused and positive about moving forward with the podcast.

It's not for everyone. As Jenna and Dom continue to navigate their laid off journey Jenna shares how she is juggling more and more freelancing opportunities and finding it a bit overwhelming. Dom and Jenna share their conversation with freelance journalist Sonia Weiser to get her perspective on making freelancing work, and knowing when to drop out? Interview: 6:37

We're BACK! Jenna and Dom check in with on another after a much needed 2 week break and discuss how they've processed their layoff journey 6 months in, and their expectations for the big story of the week... The Presidential Debate.

We've made it to 20 Episodes! We're so grateful that we've made it this far! Jenna and Domenic are taking a short break for 2 weeks and returning June 28th with shorter summer episodes while we plan for our BIG return of full episodes August 23rd. Thank you so much for following us and we will have more to come very soon! Jenna Flanagan & Domenic Camia