Journo is back

“At one point the cabinet secretary pointed out through my window to a block of flats across the water and said, ‘You realise the Chinese will be in there and they’ll have a laser on that tumbler of water, and they’ll have turned it into a microphone. They can listen to what we’re saying now’. So, the curtains came down immediately. At home, I did the same. I unplugged everything. And if I wanted to talk to my wife, we went out into the woods. We did all the things that spies are supposed to do.” Alan Rusbridger was the editor of The Guardian newspaper when a whistle blower called Edward Snowden reached out with documents suggesting the National Security Agency (NSA) in the US was spying on its own civilians. The extraordinary claims landed them in hot water with governments in both the US and the UK, and ultimately forced Snowden into exile in Russia where he remains today. So, what’s it like when you’re the one responsible for hitting publish on the most explosive story of the decade? One that involves spies and spooks, encrypted messages, and an international hunt for both the source of the story and the journalists who broke it? Alan Rusbridger is now the editor of Prospect Magazine, the chair of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, and a member of Facebook’s Oversight Board. He’s been at the forefront of journalism’s transition to the digital and social world – all while juggling this century’s most complex stories in news.

War. Environmental peril. The never-ending pandemic. No wonder audiences are tired of bad news. And in worse news for the media, that widespread news fatigue is rapidly becoming active news avoidance. Constructive journalism offers a solutions-based approach to reporting, which is appealing to audiences. But how do you convince the rest of the newsroom of its value? Australian ABC journalist Sabra Lane, The New York Times reporter Tina Rosenberg, Flint Beat founder Jiquanda Johnson and UK-based Positive News editor Seán Wood are all pioneering solutions journalism practitioners. In a world where we just want to hear about something going right, they’re rethinking the age-old adage “if it bleeds, it leads” — and they say it results in more nuanced, engaging reporting. In this episode of Journo, Nick Bryant finds out whether solutions journalism is really the answer to re-engaging our disillusioned news audiences. Journo is a production of Deadset Studios. This episode was made with support from the Judith Neilson Institute.

Investigative reporting might make great fodder for Hollywood movies, but the reality is far from glamourous. Blockbuster investigations can take years, even decades, and require grit and determination. So, what drives this special breed of journalists? Take Chicago-based journalist Jim DeRogatis, who pivoted from pop music critic to investigative journalist when he was faxed a tip off he almost consigned to the rubbish bin. That fax had information about the crimes of Robert Sylvester Kelly, aka the disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly. It took decades of persistence before Kelly was brought to justice. Kate McClymont is the Chief Investigative Reporter at one of Australia’s biggest papers — The Sydney Morning Herald. She’s spent decades exposing corrupt politicians. She’s covered Australia’s criminal underworld, been sued for defamation and worked with sources who are themselves targets of violence. So what precisely does this special breed of reporter have in their DNA that pushes them to pursue a story for 20 years, to put their lives on the line to prove that anonymous tip and get the most sensitive, impactful stories to print? In this episode of Journo, Kate and Jim share with Nick Bryant the stories they simply couldn’t let go. Journo is a production of Deadset Studios. This episode was made with support from the Judith Neilson Institute. Host: Nick Bryant Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain Producers: Grace Pashley & Britta Jorgensen Sound Design: Melissa May Managing Editor: Kellie Riordan Commissioning Editor: Andrea Ho See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“It's the power of the story. It's the same thing, whether it's drum and bass, or much more serious news. If you tell stories that people want to hear the end of, they are much, much more likely to consume your work, whatever it is." Ros Atkins’ relentless experimentation with finding an audience means his stories aren’t just devoured by the news cycle. His team at the BBC produce a particular type of viral video, one that starts a conversation and has staying power. On his show BBC Outside Source, Ros seems to have perfected the art of the explainer — reports that work just as well on digital platforms as they do on TV. In this episode of Journo, Nick Bryant sits down with Ros, the man they call the BBC’s ‘Explainer-in-Chief', to understand the precision that goes into making his explainers must-watch content. Journo is a production of Deadset Studios. This episode was made with support from the Judith Neilson Institute. Host: Nick Bryant Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain Producers: Grace Pashley and Britta Jorgensen Sound Design: Krissy Miltiadou Managing Editor: Kellie Riordan Commissioning Editor: Andrea Ho See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I wasn't just doing what was right. I was doing what was journalistically correct.” Veteran sports reporter Jim Trotter was doing a live cross for ESPN when the host began describing American footballer Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem as “disrespectful to the flag”. Jim had a choice — to let the host’s opinions go unchecked or to report the facts. As sports arenas more frequently become platforms for cultural debate, reporters like Jim have expanded their old beats from player drafts and starting positions to include athlete activism and political commentary. From the taking the knee to boycotting the Olympics, it’s become increasingly common for off-field controversies and cultural shifts to make their way onto those hallowed grounds. But as the clubs and codes grow richer, while many media outlets become poorer, is there now a power imbalance that’s impacting our coverage? In the latest episode of Journo Nick Bryant asks the NBC’s Rebecca Lowe, NFL Network’s Jim Trotter and cricket writer Gideon Haigh: when back page stories are increasingly front-page affairs, can sports journalism still primarily be about sport? Journo is a production of Deadset Studios. This episode was made with support from the Judith Neilson Institute. Host: Nick Bryant Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain Producers: Grace Pashley and Britta Jorgensen Sound Design: Krissy Miltiadou Managing Editor: Kellie Riordan Commissioning Editor: Andrea Ho See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.