Sword and Pen

On this episode of the Sword and Pen, MVJ Partnerships Director Devon Lancia sits down with Drew F. Lawrence, Marine Corps reporter at Military.com, host of the Fire Watch and Army veteran. Listen in as Drew discusses his own career journey, his advice for learning as much as possible early on, and the importance of readiness and taking care of yourself before - and after - becoming a journalist.Sword and Pen is a ⁠Military Veterans in Journalism⁠ production.

On this episode of the Sword and Pen, host Caron LeNoir-Kelly discusses women veterans issues and considerations with Ginger Baine Miller, the CEO of Women Veterans Interactive Foundation. Listen in as the two talk about WVIF's efforts to build community for women veterans.Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production.

On this episode of the Sword and Pen, MVJ Partnerships Director Devon Lancia sits down with Sara Samora, MVJ Advisory Board member, Manufacturing Dive journalist and Marine Corps veteran. Tune in to learn about Sara's journey to get to where she is today and her advice for fellow vets looking to get started in business coverage.Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production.

On this episode of the Sword and Pen, host Caron LeNoir-Kelly sits down with Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon, journalist, happiness scholar and co-chair of NABJ's Wellness Task Force, to discuss her efforts to support mental health in newsrooms. Listen in as the two discuss the value of journalists and newsrooms seeking ways to maintain stability and seek happiness in the churn of the news cycle.Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production.

On this episode of the Sword and Pen, host Caron LeNoir-Kelly honors Black history and Black military history while looking back at the Military Veterans in Journalism community in 2024. Listen in as LeNoir-Kelly and MVJ Board Member Zack Baddorf talk about what MVJ accomplished over the past year, what the future holds, and the importance of including veteran voices in journalism.Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production.

Military Veterans in Journalism board members Lucy Bustamante and Zack Baddorf start off the year talking about the value of vets in covering the new administration, plus some tips on how to jumpstart your career in media. Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production.

On this episode of the Sword and Pen, host Lori King speaks with navy veteran, MVJ member and NPR radio producer Jason Burrows. Burrows broke into radio onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln by volunteering for the ship's radio station, KRUZ-FM. After ETSing from the navy, he landed his first radio gig as the "Jack of all Trades" at 96.5 Jack-FM, where he served for 15 years. Burrows, a Seattle resident, is part of the production team for KUOW's Soundside. KUOW is an NPR affiliate. Listen as Burrows talks about: how he broke into radio on the USS Abraham Lincoln following his heart when he quit a secure job with a barge company with benefits for a less secure part-time radio job his roller blading podcast that lasted five years valuable tips, tricks and advice for anyone wanting to break into podcasting and radio Find Jason on his webiste and X Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production.

On this episode of Sword and Pen, host Lori King speaks with army broadcast journalist Lance Milsted, a former Defense Information School instructor. Milsted, the chief of production services at DoD's Defense Media Activity (DMA) talks about his belief that everyone has a story to tell, and an important part of journalism is to tell those stories, to make people feel something, to get to know the subjects of our stories and ensure we stay out of the way and let them tell stories. Listen as Milsted also talks about: how being a radio DJ in high school led him to join the army as a broadcast journalist the Defense Information School and the broadcast track he attended then taught how attending the National Press Photographers Association Workshop in Norman, Oklahoma changed his life the power of storytelling, and tips and tricks of the broadcast journalism trade Got an idea for a podcast guest or topic? Shoot Lori an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lorikingblog@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production.

On this episode of Sword and Pen, host Lori King speaks with investigative reporter and former marine infantryman James LaPorta, who, after exiting the military, broke into journalism by cold calling editors and agreeing to work for bylines. You are about to hear an inspiring story of how LaPorta, with no journalism experience or degree, tenaciously built a journalism career working for multiple mainstream news outlets, the first being the Washington Post. LaPorta, who was recently laid off from The Messenger, also shares his story about that sudden job loss. The Messenger was a startup nonpartisan news website that hired more than 300 journalists and, in less than a year, laid them all off with no warning. He was the national security and military affairs reporter. Listen as LaPorta talks about: how he became a contributing writer for Hollywood, including This is Us, FBI and Chicago P.D. how he covered his two award winning stories how he broke the story of contaminated water on the USS Boxer, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy and what it's like to have a military reporting beat Find James LaPorta on his ⁠website⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Got an idea for a podcast guest or topic? Shoot Lori an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lorikingblog@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production.

In a lively discussion, Mike Reilley, a journalism tool expert and author, shares his passion for digital reporting and AI. He delves into the evolution of the Journalist's Toolbox, a comprehensive resource for journalists. Reilley reveals the staggering number of new AI tools released monthly and the importance of adapting in a digital-first landscape. He also critiques how news organizations mishandled their print products online. Ultimately, he emphasizes the blend of tradition and technology, advocating for ethical journalism and continuous learning.