NPC Update-1 Podcast

Pete Muntean was born into aviation but a tragic airshow accident that took his mother’s life forced him to consider his future as a pilot and journalist. In this edition of Update-1, Muntean speaks with NPC Broadcast/Podcast co-vice chair and aviation industry communicator Adam Konowe about that fateful day and the coverage that followed. Muntean also addresses his approach to journalism as a certified flight instructor, challenges associated with covering aviation and other transportation modes, the value of aviation trade media, as well as working with communicators and sources.

Sue Dorfman is a photojournalist who has traveled more than 45,000 miles visiting polling sites and watching activities that promote voting. In this edition of Update-1, she talks with Broadcast Podcast member Debra Silimeo about how attending a "Don't Vote" rally in South Africa convinced her of the importance of people exercising their right to vote. She discusses driving to more than two dozen states to document the 2020 presidential election, saying "What could possibly happen in a normal election cycle?" Her takeaway from that unusual election is that democracy works. Dorfman says she's committed to social justice, which is why she is interested in whether Americans are using or abusing the right to vote.

After more than 15 years of distinguished service to the National Press Club, Bill McCarren has announced his upcoming retirement. On this edition of Update-1, McCarren speaks with Broadcast/Podcast Team Co-vice Chair Adam Konowe about what drew him to the club, what he found when first hired as general manager, the business transformation that followed, the challenges of integrating broadcast and digital media into the club’s membership and operations, as well as the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic closures and threats to press freedom.

Eileen O’Reilly, managing editor of standards and training at Axios, recently began her one-year term as the 116th president of the National Press Club. In this episode of Update-1, O’Reilly speaks with Broadcast/Podcast Team Co-Vice Chair Adam Konowe about her priorities in office. Not surprisingly, press freedom and media literacy top the agenda, but so do in-person events to help journalists and communicators derive maximum benefit from their membership. O’Reilly also discussed the importance of demystifying and humanizing journalism to help stem a slide in trust not just here in the United States, but in other democratic countries around the world.

How can reporters do a better job covering Congress? What do advocates need to consider to communicate effectively with members of Congress? With the 118th Congress underway, the Congressional Management Foundation is working with members to improve their operations and make Congress more effective. On this edition of Update-1, CMF President Brad Fitch talks with Broadcast Podcast team member Debra Silimeo about what he has learned about the newest lawmakers, tips for reporters covering Congress, and how advocates and communicators can open doors on Capitol Hill.

Military Veterans in Journalism is a professional association that works to get more veterans into newsrooms. According to Census data, about seven percent of Americans have served in the Armed Forces, but only two percent of media workers have military experience. The group has recently launched an initiative to fight the disinformation aimed at military members and veterans by extremist groups. MVJ founder Zack Baddorf discusses these issues on the latest episode of Update-1.

Longtime talk show host Maury Povich says these days a niche audience is needed to have a successful daytime television show. Povich, whose syndicated show Maury ended a record 31-year run in the fall, also discusses the advice he offers young journalists trying to launch a TV news career in the latest Update-1 podcast. In the second of a two-part interview with Broadcast Podcast member Gemma Puglisi, Povich explains the pressure he felt to succeed during his years as a talk show host and why playing golf became so important to him. 

The 2021-22 television season marked the end of an era. The daytime syndicated talk show Maury wrapped up its record 31-year run, ending the 60-year TV career of host Maury Povich. In this edition of Update-1, Broadcast Podcast member Gemma Puglisi talks to Povich about his career, which began in Washington and included stops in Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and New York. They discuss his early days as a news reporter, how he became the longest serving daytime talk show host in television history, and his future plans, including his desire to get involved in print journalism.

A three-year study published by the International Center for Journalists shows online violence against women journalists has reached an all-time high. In this edition of Update-1, ICFJ Research Director Julie Posetti talks with Broadcast Podcast team member Irv Chapman about the study, which documents alarming trends. Dr. Posetti describes the internet as a "sea of toxicity" for women journalists, who she says are now exposed to more online violence with worse impacts. Dr. Posetti discusses the study's findings, including 20 percent of women responding to a survey saying they experienced offline abuse, harassment or attacks that they attribute to online violence.

American Legion Post 20 at the National Press Club was chartered more than a century ago, and a new commander took the reins this year. In this edition of Update-1, NPC Broadcast Podcast team member Shannon Fisher talks to the new Commander of American Legion Post 20, Tom Young. Young is a decorated Air National Guard veteran flight engineer who carries his military experience throughout all aspects of his life. They discuss the history of the veterans’ organization and the services the American Legion provides to veterans and communities at large.

The number of Americans listening to podcasts has risen dramatically since 2006, when listenership was first measured. What has led to the steady increase over the years? Which podcasts are most popular? Do men and women prefer different subject matters when listening to podcasts? And what caused last year's slight drop in podcast listeners? These are some of the topics discussed in the latest edition of Update-1. Broadcast Podcast Team Chair Mark Hamrick interviews Melissa Kiesche, a senior vice president at Edison Research, who was a guest at the committee's monthly meeting in October.

From Asia to Latin America, journalists are increasingly being harassed, imprisoned and even killed for pursuing the truth wherever the story takes them. In this edition of Update-1, Broadcast/Podcast Team Co-vice Chair Adam Konowe interviews Rachel Oswald, chair of the National Press Club’s press freedom team, and Dagmar Thiel, team member and head of the Latin American press freedom advocacy group Fundamedios. They provide updates on the cases of Austin Tice in Syria, Maria Ressa in the Philippines, Frantzsen Charles and Tayson Lartigue in Haiti, plus numerous others covering the full length of Latin America from Mexico to Chile.

With a Congressional election only weeks away, social media companies want to avoid a repeat of 2016, when according to the U.S. intelligence community, Russia used social media to interfere in the U.S. presidential election. The companies have since adopted policies and hired personnel to prevent a repeat. On this edition of Update-1, longtime Press Club member Irv Chapman interviews Paul Barrett, the deputy director of the New York University Center for Business and Human rights and an adjunct professor of law. He's also the author of a new report about the ways in which social media is being used to spread falsehoods about election fraud. They discuss the policies social media companies are using in an attempt to protect the 2022 midterm elections.

As journalists around the world face challenges in the line of duty, this edition of Update-1 examines the state of press freedom in Africa. NPC Broadcast Podcast Committee member Lincoln Smith interviews African journalist Oral Ofori, an award-winning Ghanaian-American digital media producer, blogger, freelance journalist, entrepreneur, and writer, based at the Ghana Embassy in D.C. Ofori, the founder of the U.S.-based communication consultancy The African Dream, highlights his journalism career and discusses which countries in Africa have the highest and lowest levels of press freedom. He also spotlights changes that have occurred over time in both print and broadcast media in Ghana and Africa.

The head of the American school superintendent’s association shares the concerns of school leaders as students head back to school. Dan Domenech, who leads the American Association of School Administrators, the school superintendents’ association, talks about the enormous challenges school leaders face as students head back to school. In this edition of Update-1, he says his 13,000 members are worried about a lot more than test scores. He spoke with Broadcast Podcast team member Debra Silimeo about school safety, the teacher and staff shortages, students’ mental health needs, COVID, and the culture wars that have found their way into classrooms.