

On the Media
WNYC Studios
The Peabody Award-winning On the Media podcast is your guide to examining how the media sausage is made. Hosts Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger examine threats to free speech and government transparency, cast a skeptical eye on media coverage of the week’s big stories and unravel hidden political narratives in everything we read, watch and hear.
Episodes
Mentioned books

4 snips
Apr 24, 2024 • 23min
A War Photographer Watches Alex Garland's 'Civil War'
Award-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario discusses the real-life experiences of covering wars abroad and compares them to the depiction in Alex Garland's new film 'Civil War'. The podcast delves into the emotional toll and impact of being a war photographer, the changing perception and treatment of journalists, the emotional toll of war photography, and documenting human rights abuses and war crimes.

Apr 19, 2024 • 51min
Meet the Media Prophets Who Preach Christian Supremacy. Plus, Journalism in ‘Civil War’
Guest Matthew D. Taylor discusses Christian nationalism shaping American politics and the role of independent charismatic Christianity. Zack Beauchamp talks about the new film Civil War and its portrayal of journalism during societal collapse.

Apr 17, 2024 • 22min
Happy Bicycle Day!
Explore the wild ride of LSD's origins with Albert Hofmann, Ken Kesey's acid-fueled journeys, and Tom Wolfe's insights on Kesey's legacy. Dive into the counterculture revolution sparked by psychedelics, challenging societal norms and fostering creative genius.

Apr 12, 2024 • 52min
The Rise and Fall of Alt-Weeklies, and Backpage.com vs The Feds
Tricia Romano discusses The Village Voice's impact on journalism, focusing on its early days and eventual demise due to Craigslist. The rise and fall of alt-weekly mogul Mike Lacey is explored, shedding light on his controversial online presence and legal battles. The podcast dives into the influential legacy of alternative weeklies and the changing media landscape, emphasizing the importance of free speech and journalistic defiance.

Apr 10, 2024 • 44min
How The Village Voice Changed Journalism
Tricia Romano, author of The Freaks Came Out To Write, discusses the rise and fall of The Village Voice, an iconic alt-weekly. They explore the unconventional journalism of amateur writers, Robert Chris Gao's music grading system, the paper's evolution under new ownership, provocative performances, and its lasting impact on journalism and culture.

9 snips
Apr 5, 2024 • 51min
Warring Narratives Around UNRWA. Plus, Media Bets on Sports Gambling
Mehul Srivastava, a Financial Times correspondent, and Chris Van Hollen, US Senator from Maryland, delve into how conflicting media narratives are endangering UNRWA’s operations amidst the Gaza crisis. Lex Takkenberg, a humanitarian law expert, provides a historical lens on UNRWA's journey. The discussion also shifts to the evolving relationship between sports media and gambling, featuring insights from scholars and reporters on the impact of betting on journalism and how it alters the fabric of sports coverage.

Apr 3, 2024 • 19min
Happy Birthday to Basketball Great, Walt "Clyde" Frazier
With his cool rhymes and even cooler clothes, Basketball Hall of Famer Walt "Clyde" Frazier made a successful transition from NBA star to sports broadcaster on the MSG Network. Frazier sat down with Brooke back in 2012 for a live event to discuss basketball, broadcasting, and the art of being cool. We're re-airing it now because a) it was Mr. Frazier's birthday this week! and b) we're in a sporting mood — we have a big piece in the hopper for this week's show all about sports betting, reported by OTM producer Rebecca Clark-Callender.
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Mar 29, 2024 • 50min
Boeing Conspiracy Theories Take Flight. Plus, the Politics to TV News Pipeline
Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, conspiracy theories proliferated. On this week’s On the Media, hear how memes and misinformation obscure the real causes of tragedies, from bridges to planes. Plus, what Ronna McDaniel’s hiring and firing from NBC News tells us about the revolving door from politics to tv news.
1. David Gilbert [@daithaigilbert], reporter for Wired covering disinformation, and Katya Schwenk [@ktyschwnk], reporter at The Lever, on why disasters are fertile ground for conspiracy theories, which obfuscate real quality control issues. Listen.
2. Michael Socolow [@MichaelSocolow], media historian at the University of Maine, on the history of the revolving door between politics and news.Listen.
3. Calvin Trillin, contributor at The New Yorker, on his career and his latest book, The Lede: Dispatches from a Life in the Press. Listen.
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Mar 27, 2024 • 24min
Beyoncé and the History of Black Country Music
Beyoncé’s new album, Cowboy Carter, comes out on Friday — and the record has already sparked plenty of conversation about race and the country music genre. This week, we're sharing an episode from our friends at the podcast Today, Explained from Vox media, on this very topic. Hear co-host Noel King take a journey through the history of black musicians making country music, and more.
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Mar 22, 2024 • 52min
Trump’s Rhetoric Intensifies, and Russia’s Fake Journalists
Donald Trump said if he isn’t elected there will be a bloodbath. Or did he? On this week’s On the Media, how to understand the GOP nominee’s double speak, eight years into his political career. Plus, a deep dive into Russia’s latest disinformation invention– journalists that don’t really exist. And, life in Russia-occupied Ukraine.
1. Jennifer Mercieca [@jenmercieca], professor at Texas A&M University, on how Trump's rhetoric has intensified. Listen.
2. Steven Lee Myers [@stevenleemyers], disinformation reporter at The New York Times, explains how Russia is creating fake journalists and fake stories to sow animus against Ukraine. Listen.
3. Shaun Walker [@shaunwalker7], central and eastern Europe correspondent at The Guardian, on Russian propaganda and re-education in occupied regions of Ukraine. Listen.
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.