
Channels with Peter Kafka Running a Newsroom in Minneapolis + How to Make a Game of Thrones For Less
10 snips
Jan 28, 2026 Ira Parker, showrunner who adapted a George R.R. Martin novella for HBO, talks about making a lighter, cheaper Game of Thrones spinoff with practical effects and faster shoots. Kathleen Hennessey, editor of the Minnesota Star Tribune and former New York Times reporter, discusses rapid newsroom mobilization, verifying ubiquitous phone footage, and sustaining local coverage under intense pressure.
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Staff For Sustained Crisis Coverage
- Staff proactively by beefing up weekend, morning, and night shifts to handle prolonged crises.
- Track workloads closely and force breaks when reporters exceed sustainable hours.
User Video Isn't Verified Evidence
- UGC video floods the information environment but doesn't equal verified truth.
- Newsrooms must slow down, verify, and forensically analyze clips before reporting.
Collect UGC For Reporting, Don't Publish Raw
- Collect user-submitted video for journalistic use but avoid publishing unverified clips as news.
- Use UGC to support verified reporting, not replace it.




