News In Context

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Where we Stand & How We Can Move Forward, with UCSF's Dr. Monica Gandhi

In this episode, we explore where we’re at with the COVID-19 pandemic - regionally, nationally, and internationally - and begin to assess where we’ve come from, how we handled the pandemic in the US, what worked, and how we could have done better.

We also discuss what we can do moving forward to save lives and truly put this pandemic behind us.

My guest is Dr. Monica Gandhi, infectious disease expert & professor of medicine at UCSF.

Carbon Offsets & Climate Change with Researchers Grayson Badgley & Anna Trugman

In this episode, we explore carbon offsets, and how their promise as a way to mitigate carbon emissions - and thus climate change - have not yet panned out.

A recent article in ProPublica found that, instead those who broker in carbon offsets appear to be gaming the system, and the calculations of how much carbon is being sequestered in forests are often mis-calculated or erroneous.

My guests are Grayson Badgley, post-doctoral researcher at Black Rock Forest, a research forest just outside of New York City, and Anna Trugman, Assistant Professor of geography at UC Santa Barbara. Their research was featured in the ProPublica article.

The role of public health agencies in community well being, with Andy Wessel

In this episode, we explore the role of the public health department - from obvious activities, such as educating the public about COVID-19 - to activities that may not be immediately clear, such as being involved in transit planning or declaring racism a public health crisis.

To be effective and really reach the publics that they serve, public health departments must figure out how to communicate with those who may disagree with government officials and each other.

My guest is Andy Wessel, community health planner with the Douglas County Health Department in Omaha, Nebraska.

The First Amendment and Free Speech in Digital Spaces with Lata Nott

In this episode, we explore the parameters and jurisdiction of the First Amendment, as well as how we can better navigate issues and challenges involving speech in digital spaces.

My guest is Lata Nott, First Amendment Fellow at the Freedom Forum, and Deputy Director of Policy at State Voices.

News Deserts & Ghost Newspapers with Dan Kennedy

In this episode, we explore the impacts of News Deserts and Ghost Newspapers - parts of the U.S. where there’s either no local paper, or where the local paper has been gutted and can no longer adequately cover the community.

My guest is Dan Kennedy, professor in the school of journalism at Northeastern University and a contributor to GBH News in Boston.

The importance of precision in language to inform and give context, with Pamela Mejia

In this episode, we explore the importance of precision in language - in particular for journalists and other content creators seeking to inform and contextualize information - and how lack of precision can contribute to polarization, misinformation, and echo-chambers.

In particular, we discuss the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and how journalists navigated language and word use to communicate what was happening as the story unfolded.

My guest is Pamela Mejia, head of research at the Berkeley Media Studies Group or BMSG.

(photo by: Blinkofanaye (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Fire & Climate in California, with Cal Fire's Lynne Tolmachoff

In this episode, we take a deeper look at California’s fire outlook in 2021 and moving forward.

Over the past few years, massive wildfires tore across parts of California, wiping out homes, businesses, and entire towns and communities. Our fire season keeps getting longer and longer, meaning firefighters, communities, and the vegetation have less time to recover.

In 2020, wildfires burned 4.2 million acres in in the state – a record. And in 2021, weather models indicate that the greatest fire risk will come earlier than usual.

My guest is Lynne Tolmachoff… supervising deputy state fire Marshall… for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection - or CalFire.

For more information on how you can prepare for wildfire, including a helpful checklist, go to ReadyForWildfire.org.

Drought & Climate in California with NWS Meteorologist Brian Garcia

In this episode, we discuss the current state of California’s climate - how it’s changed in recent years, and what we face in 2021, including a significant drought and warmer temperatures, setting the stage for a potentially severe and lengthy fire season.

My guest is Brian Garcia, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service, serving the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Power of Language & The Desire to Control It, with Dr. Laura Specker Sullivan

In this episode, we explore the role and power of language - words and phrases - in how we discuss the issues that affect us and that drive our news and information cycles.

Phrases like “Black Lives Matter” and “Cancel Culture,” and words, such as “socialism,” “communism," and “fascism,” are battled over in our media spaces until their actual meaning seems lost and we assign meanings that serve our ends.

My guest is Laura Specker Sullivan, PhD, assistant professor of philosophy at Fordham University.

The Persistence of Racist, Sexist, & Anti-Semitic Imagery in Art, with Letha Ch'ien

In this episode, we explore how the imagery and visuals that are infused into racist and misogynistic tropes today can be traced to classical works of art, including both the intentional messaging of the artist… as well as the cultural context we bring, and how we interpret and use that imagery.

We also discuss how the art we think of as canon was actually deliberately and intentionally defined in an early and successful PR effort that persists to today.

My guest is Letha Ch’ien, Ph.D., assistant professor of art history at Sonoma State University.

Works of art mentioned in this episode include:

• The Feast in the House of Levi by Paolo Veronese
• Olympia by Édouard Manet
• The Bath by Jean-Léon Gérome
• Alfonso d'Avalos of Vasto (with Page) by Titian
• Bal du moulin de la Galette by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

News Coverage in the Pandemic, Emotion, Objectivity, & BIas, with John Zipperer

In this episode, we explore the current state of news, and how the way news is presented in the U.S. has shifted during the pandemic, including a greater acceptance of emotion in news coverage, and a discussion of the role of objectivity and how to navigate biases to report contextually and inform audiences.

My guest is John Zipperer… Vice President of Media & Editorial at The Commonwealth Club, where he hosts the Week-to-Week Political Roundtable.

Framing of Asian Americans in News & Media

In this episode, we explore how Asian Americans are framed in mainstream news and media, and how that framing informs our understanding and discourse around stories of anti-Asian violence - including the shooting of six Asian women and two others in Atlanta, and the multiple incidents of hate and violence against Asians here in the Bay Area.

My guests are KCBS Reporter Holly Quan, and Wei Ming Dariotis, Ph.D., professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University; affiliate faculty with the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program; and faculty director of the Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CEETL).

Trauma, Stress, & Self-Care in Journalism with former News Producer Misha LeClair

In this episode, we explore how journalists experience trauma and manage - or fail to manage - the stressors that are inherent to the job. My guest is Misha LeClair, a former Bay Area TV news producer, who decided to switch careers as an act of self-care - walking away from a profession she had dedicated nearly 20 years to - after realizing that she was being negatively impacted by the cumulative trauma of covering major news stories and the stressors of a sometimes toxic work environment.

TRIGGER WARNING: Misha and I begin our conversation by discussing in-depth the police killing of Oscar Grant at BART’s Fruitvale Station on New Year’s morning, 2009. This discussion may be upsetting for some listeners.

Domestic Violence An Ongoing Pandemic with Katharine Berg of La Casa de las Madres

In this episode, we discuss domestic violence – an issue that affects one third of women and teen girls in the U.S. As the COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread sheltering in place, the situation has only gotten worse.

Many domestic violence advocates are calling attention to the fact that this, too, is an epidemic, and we need to do more to prevent it.

My guest is Katharine Berg, director of community partnerships and philanthropy at La Casa de las Madres, a domestic violence prevention organization in San Francisco.

If you are experiencing domestic violence or afraid for someone in your life, call La Casa at their 24-Hour hotline—877-503-1850—or Text—415-200-3575.

Free Expression, Privacy, & Safety in Digital Spaces with Danny O'Brien with the Electronic Frontier Foundation

In this episode, we explore issues of free expression, privacy, and the roles of corporate and government entities in moderating social media content and platforms.

As digital media takes a central place in communication and information sharing, how do we navigate the balance between free speech, safety, privacy, and harm.

My guest is Danny O'Brien, director of strategy at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Nonprofit Journalism with Dave Kaplan, ED of the Global Investigative Journalism Network

In this episode, we explore how to inform publics through a nonprofit journalism model, and the importance of bringing journalists together and supporting them, so they can serve their publics and hold power accountable.

My guest is Dave Kaplan – executive director of the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN). GIJN supports investigative journalists around the world, as they do the difficult and sometimes dangerous work of shining a light on issues that the public needs to know

NPR Chief Diversity Officer Keith Woods on Addressing Unconscious Bias in News

In this episode, we explore how unconscious bias has influenced news coverage - by defaulting to favor mainstream society and failing to adequately tell the full stories of marginalized communities, including women and transgender people, people of color, and communities lower on the socioeconomic spectrum.

My guest is Keith Woods, chief diversity officer at NPR. Keith has been working for much of his career to bring these issues to light, help newsrooms face their inherent biases, and more fully cover and engage with communities that are less represented in news coverage.

Washington Post Fact Checker Glenn Kessler on Accountability Journalism

In this episode, we talk with Glenn Kessler, editor… and chief writer of the Washington Post Fact Checker… and credited with doing the first official fact check during the 1996 Presidential campaign… ahead of a debate between Bill Clinton and Bob Dole.

 

Kessler is also co-author of the book… Donald Trump and His Assault on Truth: The President’s Falsehoods, Misleading Claims and Flat-Out Lies… which chronicles and examines the falsehoods Trump has uttered throughout his presidency.

 

Kessler’s approach to fact checking had to change during the years Trump was president… prompting him and his team to create a separate database to catalogue and deal with the average of 15 false claims a day… while still endeavoring to explore and contextualize fact checks from other politicians based on policy.

Self Care and Trauma in Journalism with Dr. Elana Newman

In this episode we explore how trauma and stress impact journalists, as well as an evolving sensibility among those who practice journalism that self-care and safety must become more integral parts of the work of informing the public, bringing information to light, and holding power to account.

This conversation had begun prior to 2020, but it has come into focus in recent months - with the COVID-19 pandemic, journalist’s safety being threatened by authorities during social justice demonstrations, coverage of natural disaster after natural disaster, and a general deterioration of public trust, coupled with a president who has spent four years calling the credibility of journalists into question.

My guest is Elana Newman, PhD, McFarlin Professor of Psychology at the University of Tulsa, and Research Director for the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, which advocates for and educates about ethical, thorough, compassionate coverage of trauma stories and those affected.

Evolving Journalistic Norms with Steve Bien-Aime

In this episode, we explore the journalistic norms that have driven the profession, and why evolving those norms could lead to stronger coverage of the stories that affect us. This includes using more inclusive language, seeking sources outside the realms of official authorities, and striving for newsroom diversity.

My guest is Steve Bien-Aime, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Journalism at Northern Kentucky University… and adjunct instructor at the Poynter Institute.