The Journalism Salute

On this episode, we’re joined by Aisha Sultan . Aisha ( @AishaS ) is an award-winning writer and columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, whose column is also nationally syndicated. Aisha is Pakistani-American Muslim, a wife and mom of 2 who writes to help people feel seen or heard and to provide perspectives people may not have heard before. (Wednesday, August 14 is Independence Day of Pakistan...

On this episode Mark Simon is joined by Mesfin Fekadu . Mesfin is the senior editor for music at The Hollywood Reporter , which he’s done the last 2 years. Previously he had a 13-year run that included time as senior journalist and music editor for The Associated Press. In between, he spent a year and a half in the communications department at Netflix. Additionally, he’s a vice president at the So...

In this episode, Jim Morris , executive director and editor-in-chief of Public Health Watch , discusses his career in journalism and the significant environmental and public health reporting done by his organization with Mark Simon . The conversation gets into Public Health Watch's role in shedding light on environmental injustices, particularly through their 'Toxic Texas Air' series,...

In this episode, we’re joined by Lev Gringauz , associate editor for Jewfolk . Lev delves into his journey to becoming a specialized journalist covering Jewish communities in Minnesota and Cincinnati . Lev shares insights into his reporting process, including his motivations and challenges in tackling diverse stories. The two do a thorough look at an 18,000-word investigative story Lev did on the...

In this episode, Mark Simon is joined by Mira Fox, a staff writer for The Forward, who discusses her work covering Jewish culture. Mira talked about her diverse writing topics, from serious issues like student protests and anti-Semitism to lighter pieces and reader advice columns. Mira shared her winding journey to journalism, her upbringing, education, and the impact of her personal experiences o...

On this episode Mark Simon is joined by Michael Anguille , a journalist and the executive director of the Stillwater Awards, which are given by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Prison Journalism Project for excellence in journalism within the incarcerated community. (Thanks to Michael Koretzky at Florida Atlantic University, (whom Michael saluted) for his help in coordinating this i...

On this episode Mark Simon is joined by Sarah Conway , a senior reporter at City Bureau and Trina Reynolds-Tyler , the data director for The Invisible Institute . They just won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting for their 2-year investigation, Missing in Chicago . You can find it at ChicagoMissingPersons.com . Their 7-part investigative series revealed how Chicago police violated state la...

In this episode, Mark Simon interviews Christina Kahrl , the sports editor of the San Francisco Chronicle since 2021. Christina's career includes over a decade at ESPN.com and a significant co-founding role at Baseball Prospectus .  Christina shares her journey into journalism. She also discusses her experience as a transgender woman who came out publicly with support from colleagues and the b...

In this episode, Stacie Sherman , a senior editor at Bloomberg News with 27 years of experience, shares her career journey. Stacie discusses her transition from an accounting major to journalism, influenced by a pivotal class in college. She details her diverse roles at Bloomberg, and her significant work covering state government. Stacie also elaborates on the importance of quick, accurate news d...

On this episode, we’re joined by Carla Robinson and Daralyse Lyons from the Chestnut Hill Local. Carla is the editor in chief of the Chestnut Hill Local . Daralyse is the business growth officer for the Chestnut Hill paper and the Mount Airy Local. The Local is a community-focused newspaper serving Northwest Philadelphia. Carla and Daralyse talked about their accidental journeys into journalism, t...

On this episode, we’re joined by Medar De La Cruz. Medar is a Dominican American cartoonist and illustrator from Miami who currently lives in Brooklyn N.Y. In May 2023, Medar wrote and drew from his own experience, as a Rikers Island prison library worker through the Brooklyn Public Library. That work done for The New Yorker won the Pulitzer Prize for illustrated reporting and commentary. Medar sh...

On this episode, we’re joined by Brian Lyman . Brian is the editor of the Alabama Reflector , a non-profit news outlet covering Alabama state government. He’s covered state government in some form in Alabama since 2006. Brian, a native New Yorker, was just named a Pulitzer Prize finalist “for brave, clear and pointed columns that challenge ever-more-repressive state policies flouting democratic no...

On this episode, we’re joined by Daniel Alvarenga . Daniel is an independent journalist who recently hosted the podcast, Humo, Murder and Silence in El Salvador . It is the story of a serial killer who was a national police officer and a highest-level government cover-up. It was done in both Spanish and English and produced by Sonoro in conjunction with FACTum. As a Salvadorian-American, Alvarenga...

On this episode, we’re joined by Chenue Her . Chenue is in his 3rd year as the morning news anchor for Local 5 News in Des Moines, Iowa. He’s previously worked as a reporter in Eugene, Oregon, Norfolk, Virginia, and Atlanta. Chenue is Hmong – there are fewer than 400,000 Hmong people living in the United States. He was the first male Hmong news anchor in the United States. Chenue talked about how...

On this episode, we’re joined by Mary Rasura . Mary is a student at Florida Atlantic University who will graduate with a degree in multimedia journalism in December. Mary is a reporter for Florida Atlantic University Press and for OutSFL , an LGBT-focused publication. And she’s the executive editor at OutFAU , a monthly student publication that she founded that is devoted to LGBTQ issues at the sc...

On this episode, we’re joined by  Lomi Kriel  and  Lexi Churchill . They are 2 reporters on the team of journalists that just won  The Collier Prize , a prestigious award given by The Collier Companies and The University of Florida for investigative journalism and political reporting specific to state governments. The award was given for coverage on reporting on the actions and lack of actions by...

On this episode we’re joined by Chatwan Mongkol . Chatwan is the editor and reporter for The Nutgraf, a newsletter that covers student journalism. He’s also a graduate student at The New School going for his masters degree in Media Management. Chatwan is a 2022 grad of Quinnipiac University. You can find the newsletter at nutgrafnews.substack.com or bit.ly/thenutgraf Chatwan talked about his journ...

On this episode, we’re joined by Rebecca Worby . Rebecca is the editorial director for Reasons to Be Cheerful. Reasons to Be Cheerful is a non-profit website and newsletter founded by the musician and artist David Byrne. And it is what it says it is- reporting on news that should make you feel good. Many of these reasons to be cheerful come in the form of smart, proven, replicable solutions to the...

On this episode, we’re joined by Jay Boller . Jay is co-owner and editor of Racket. RacketMN.com is a writer-owned, reader-funded alternative journalism source for news, arts, and culture in Minneapolis. He has previously worked for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and City Pages. Racket was founded in August 2021. Jay talked about his journalism origin story and Racket’s origin story. He shared examp...

On this episode, we’re joined by Itto Outini . Itto and her husband Mekiya run the website, The Datekeepers . This online platform operates under the idea that stories move mountains and that we need to see better stories about humanity and people overcoming extraordinary odds to make contributions to the world. I should note that Itto is blind. She has a degree in applied linguistics from Mohamed...

On this episode, we’re joined by Shi En Kim PHD . Kim (she goes by her last name) is a freelance science writer who was just awarded a Pulitzer Center fellowship to cover a health and science story in Brazil. Kim has written for many publications including Scientific American and National Geographic. She often covers new research and emerging trends in sciences, tech, the environment, and health a...

On this special episode, we talk to a diverse group of journalists at the College Media Association Spring Convention in Manhattan. They speak about their journalism origin stories and their most memorable journalism experiences. In this episode, you’ll hear from CMA president and University of Alabama-Birmingham student media advisor Jackie Alexander (1:10), Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Beatric...

On this episode, we’re joined by Erin Reed . Erin is an independent journalist. She covers transgender issues and anti-transgender legislation for her newsletter, Erin in the Morning , available on Substack. She also does video pieces on Instagram and TikTok . Erin is transgender and uses the pronouns she/her. Erin explained her entry into journalism, what it’s like to cover and track anti-transge...

On this episode we’re joined by Amir Vera . Amir is a breaking news editor at CNN and the vice-president of digital at the National Association of Black Journalists . Amir talked about his journalism origin story and his early days living in different parts of the world. He shared the lessons he learned from his college days at VCU and working for two daily newspapers – The Progress-Index and The...

On this episode we’re joined by Adriana Chavira . Adriana is a journalism teacher at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School in Los Angeles. She’s been teaching for more than 20 years She’s also previously worked as a newspaper reporter after graduating Cal-State Northridge. We’re having Adriana on this week because it is Scholastic Journalism Week. The Journalism Education Association is doing and promot...