>> WELCOME BACK TO THE COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM STUDENT EDITION OF OFF THE RECORD.

THE LEAD STORIES ARE THE TOTAL IMPACT OF THE TRUCKERS PROTEST AT THE AMBASSADOR BRIDGE AND THE MICHIGAN SENATE PASSES AN INCOME TAX ROLLBACK THAT THE GOVERNOR IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT.

ON THE PANEL WE HAVE MSU JOURNALISM MAJORS SIT IN WITH US AS WE GET THE INSIDE OUT OFF THE RECORD.

>> NOW, THIS EDITION OF OFF THE RECORD.

>> THANK YOU AND WELCOME TO THE SPECIAL EDITION OF OFF THE RECORD.

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO LAST YEAR WE DID A STORY WITH A PANEL WITH SOME JOURNALISM STUDENTS AND FOUR TO FIVE PEOPLE ACTUALLY LAUNCHED THE PROGRAM SO WE WANTED TO REPLICATE IT BY OFFERING THESE JOURNALISM STUDENTS A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEIR VIEW OF LIFE IS.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

I WANT TO INTRODUCE EVERYONE.

SOPHIA, WHERE ARE FROM?

>> I AM ORIGINALLY FROM MICHIGAN.

I'M A SENIOR THIS YEAR AT MICHIGAN STATE AND I'M DOUBLE MAJORING IN JOURNALISM AND POLITICAL SCIENCE WITH A MINOR IN PUBLIC RELATIONS AND A CONCENTRATION IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM.

>> GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT?

NOT A LOT.

BUT THAT'S OKAY.

>> YOU ALSO HAVE A GIG, YOU'RE WORKING AT A LOCAL NEWSPAPER IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

CURRENTLY I AM A NEWS ASSISTANT AT THE LANSING STATE JOURNAL AND I JUST COVER SOME COMMUNITY NEWS AND LOCAL EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> ARE YOU LEARNING ANYTHING?

>> TONS OF.

YOU CAN ONLY LEARN SO MUCH IN THE CLASSROOM SO IT'S GREAT TO GET TO EXERCISE THE SKILLS IN THE REAL WORLD.

>> THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP THIS MORNING, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE PANEL.

KYLE, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

TELL US THAT GOOD INFORMATION.

>> YES, I AM FROM MICHIGAN.

LIKE SOPHIA, I AM A SENIOR AT M S U I MAJORED IN JOURNALISM AND POLITICAL SCIENCE AND IN ADDITION TO THAT I WORKED IN LOCAL NEWS AND POLITICAL NEWS THROUGHOUT THE STATE FOR THE PASS TWO YEARS AND I'M HAPPY TO BE ON THIS PROGRAM.

>> YOU WERE PART OF THE NEWS PROGRAM HERE IN THE JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT, TELL THE PEOPLE WHAT IT'S LIKE.

>> YES, I HAVE TO SAY, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT CAPITOL NEWS SERVICE.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MICHIGAN'S JOURNALISM PROGRAMS THAT YOU ACTUALLY GET TO WORK WITH PUBLICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE STATE.

>> ERIC FRIEDMAN TO FORMER COLLEAGUE OF MINE AND A PULITZER PRIZE WINNER.

YOU KNOW, ALSO AN ALL-AROUND GOOD GUY.

HE HELPED ME COME UP WITH THE FOLKS TO BE WITH IT TODAY.

DANNY, WHAT ARE YOU TWO?

HE, 50 OR JOURNALISM MAJOR WITH A CONCENTRATION IN INTERNATIONAL REPORTING, I'M DOUBLE MINORING IN MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE AFTER YOU GET DONE WITH THIS?

DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE AND GO TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY?

>> REALLY I AM INTERESTING IN DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY WHICH IS ONE OF MY MINERS AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN DOING INTERNATIONALLY BUT ALSO I'M INTERESTED IN POLITICAL REPORTING WHICH IS WHAT I'M DOING NOW.

WE WILL SEE.

>> THAT'S FASCINATING BECAUSE IN YOUR.

GROUP AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT, POLITICS IS NOT ON THE FRONT MIND OF A LOT OF YOUR COLLEAGUES AND IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT DANNY?

I KNOW YOU PREFER THAT OVER DANIELLE.

>> AT THE ENDING IS PERFECT.

AND I WOULD SAY I A LOT OF THE MEDIA DESIGN IS WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE BUT THERE IS A DECENT CORE GROUP OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN POLITICS IN MY COHORT.

>> SOPHIA, WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES?

>> A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE INTERESTED IN FASHION JOURNALISM, FOOD JOURNALISM, SOME ENVIRONMENTAL, I TEND TO OFTEN BE ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE IN MY CLASS WHO IS INTERESTED IN POLITICAL JOURNALISM ASIDE FROM OF COURSE TAKING THE CAPITOL NEWS SERVICE.

>> WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO ABOUT YOUR COLLEAGUES?

EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT INTERESTS BUT IF YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON SITTING IN THAT ROOM WITH ANY KIND OF PASSION FOR POLITICS IT SAYS THAT SOMETHING DOES IT NOT?

>> I MEAN, IT DOES COME DOWN INTEREST AND LOOKING AT THE PARTICLE SPHERE TODAY, IT'S A STRESSFUL WANT TO BE A PART OF OF ESPECIALLY WHERE WE HAVE POLITICAL LEADERS WHO SOME ARE LIKE ANTI- JOURNALISM AND YOU KNOW FAKE NEWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND SO IT IS A TOUGH SPHERE TO BE A PART OF AS A PHOTOJOURNALIST.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

KYLE?

>> IN MY EXPERIENCE I HAVE HUNG AROUND WITH PRETTY MUCH THE CAPITOL NEW SERVICE COHORT AND YOU KNOW TO ME, AS DANNY MENTIONED YOU DO SEE A LOT OF INTEREST IN ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS AS WELL AS SOPHIA SAID LIKE FASHION JOURNALISM BUT FOR ME I HAVE SEEN WITH MY PEERS A LOT OF INTEREST IN POLITICAL JOURNALISM, NOT NECESSARILY SO MUCH OF THE STATE LEVEL BUT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

>> WHY JOURNALISM KYLE?

WHY NOT UNDERWATER BASKET WEAVING?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, IT IS A LONG STORY GOING BACK AS I WATCH THE NEWS WITH MY FAMILY GROWING UP WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND I REMEMBER SITTING IN HIGH SCHOOL AND HEARING A BUNCH OF NEWS ABOUT THE 2016 ELECTION AND I REMEMBER KNOWING THAT I DID SOME RESEARCH FOR CLASS PROJECTS ABOUT SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION SURROUNDING THE 2016 ELECTION AND IT CIRCULATED AND MOSTLY GONE UNCHECKED BY THE LARGER MEDIA AS A HOLE AND SO THINGS WENT ON AND I THOUGHT THIS JOURNALISM STUFF IT IS INTERESTING LET'S GIVE IT A GO.

>> WHY?

>> I WAS AN ACTOR AND I ADAPTED A SHORT STORY ONTO A STAGE PLAY FOR OLD ACTING COACH AND I DID THAT AND SO I THOUGHT I WOULD GO TO COLLEGE FOR ACTING BUT HEARING THEM IN JOURNALISM.

>> SOME WOULD SAY IT'S THE SAME THING.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PUT ON THE FRONT.

THE TO DO OVERLAP BECAUSE WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, I THINK JOURNALISM HAS DEGENERATED INTO A PART OF SHOW BUSINESS WHICH, BY THE WAY, I THINK IS A LOUSY IDEA DON'T YOU?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE.

THE STRONG CONNECTION HERE IS A LOT OF THE STORYTELLING ASPECT AND I KNOW THAT IS WHAT DREW ME IN VERSUS A LOT OF THAT AND IN ADDITION TO COVERING POLITICS I LOVE COLOR VERY -- COVERING FEATURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO I DO THINK IT IS INTERESTING TO HAVE THAT THEATRICAL BACKGROUND AT THE TOUCH ON THE ENTERTAINMENT ASPECT WILL ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU CAN WRITE AN INFORMATIVE PIECE WHILE ALSO PRESENTING THE NARRATIVE IN A WAY THAT IS INTERESTING TO PEOPLE AND GETS THEM ENGAGED WITH THE MATERIAL.

>> I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU ARE ALL INTERESTED IN POLITICS AND SOPHIA, WHY JOURNALISM AND WHAT DID YOU CONSIDER PRIOR TO THAT DECISION?

>> IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS ON MY SCHOOL PUBLIC SPEAKING TEAM.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

>> SENIOR YEAR I WAS IN A CATEGORY SIMILAR TO JOURNALISM WHERE WE HAD A HALF HOUR OF PREP TIME TO COLLECT A NEW SOURCES AND THEN PRESENT THEM IN A WAY THAT WAS UNDERSTANDABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND WE EVEN WROTE EDITORIALS AND HEADED CHEESY INTROS AND TRANSITIONS AND I REALIZED THAT I REALLY LIKED IT, NOT JUST THE SPEAKING PART BUT KEEPING UP WITH CURRENT EVENTS AND KEEPING UP WITH POLITICS AND ADJUST TO BEING IN THE KNOW.

THAT'S A MADE ME LAND ON JOURNALISM BUT, PRIOR TO THAT, BASICALLY I HAD CONSIDERED EVERYTHING YOU COULD THINK OF RIGHT BEFORE I WAS MOSTLY THINKING ABOUT MUSIC BECAUSE SIMILAR TO KYLE I HAVE A PERFORMING ARTS BACKGROUND AND SO MUSIC BUT, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND WANTED TO BE AN ASTRONAUT OR AN ASTRONOMER AND YOU KNOW I WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE APPEAR >> WERE YOU IN THE BANDITO OF THE CHOIR?

IT >> THE CHOIR.

>> YOU WERE AN ALTO?

>> SOPRANO.

>> CLOSE I HAD A 50, 50 CHANCE.

>> I RULED OUT TENOR AND BASS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

>> DNA, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE BEFORE YOU KNEW YOU WANTED TO GO INTO JOURNALISM?

>> THAT IS A TOUGH ONE, I'VE ALWAYS HAD SUCH A WIDE RANGE OF INTEREST WHICH IS PART OF WHY I PICKED JOURNALISM BECAUSE I LIKE TO WRITE ABOUT A LARGE VARIETY OF TOPICS AND I GET EASILY BORED BY THE SAME THING AND SO I THINK THAT IS WHY I GRAVITATED TOWARD JOURNALISM OVER OTHER TYPES OF WRITING BUT THEN AGAIN, I HAD A PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY I THINK PHOTOJOURNALISM INTERESTS ME AS WELL, I NEVER CONSIDER POLITICS BEFORE CAPITOL NEW SERVICE AND GETTING INTO IT BUT I AM ENJOYING IT NOW SO THAT IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS WELL.

>> WHAT DID YOU FIND FASCINATING ABOUT IT?

IT >> A COMBINATION OF POLITICS AND JOURNALISM.

>> A BIT OF POLITICAL REPORTING.

WHAT SURPRISED ME MOST WAS HOW MUCH PEOPLE THERE ARE.

IT SOUNDS BAD.

>> KEEP TALKING THAT'S EXCELLENT YOU KNOW, I FIRST STARTED SO I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE STIFF AND BORING BUT VERY BUTTONED UP AND YOU KNOW YOU HAVE POLITICIANS AND PEOPLE THAT YOU IDOLIZED AND BUT, IT TURNS OUT THAT PEOPLE LIKE US ARE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT AND GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS AND I DO -- AND I DO ENJOY THAT I THINK IT MAKES IT MORE INTERESTING.

>> ON VALENTINE'S DAY I THINK THAT WAS A SURPRISE FOR ME I HAD NO IDEA ONE OF THE THINGS I SEE IN POLITICS IS THE SENSE OF HUMOR THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE IN THIS BUSINESS.

SOPHIA, DO YOU NOTICE IT?

>> FOR SURE, I FEEL LIKE EVERY POLITICAL REPORTER I SPOKE TO HER TALK TO IS SO FUNNY AND HE KIND OF HAVE TO BE, A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU COVER AREN'T NECESSARILY HAPPY OR FUNNY AND SO HAVING HUMOR OUTSIDE OF -- HAVING THIS OUTSIDE OF THE POLITICAL COVERAGE IS IMPORTANT.

>> DANIELLE?

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE.

I AM AN INTERN FOR THE NEWS RIGHT NOW AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO READ IS THE QUOTES ON TOP OF EVERY ADDITION AND IT IS A QUOTE FROM POLITICIANS BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS FUNNY OR WITTY OR SOMEWHAT ENTERTAINING AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT DRAWS PEOPLE IN.

TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE.

>> YOU AND I ARE COLLEAGUES AT MIRRORS AND WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE MONDAY MORNING MEETING WHERE EVERYONE SITS AROUND ZOOMS AND LOOKS AT HER SMILE?

BE HONEST.

IT'S A BUNCH OF CRAZY PEOPLE ISN'T IT?

>> I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR THIS COMMENTARY AND IT HELPS ME STAY UP TO DATE BUT DEFINITELY THIS IS A JOKE FAST, IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

>> KYLE, SOPHIA MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE JOURNALISM PROFESSION HAS BEEN UNDER ATTACK THANKS TO MR. TRUMP AND OTHERS AND YOU KNOW, CAN YOU RESPOND TO THAT PLEASE WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT?

>> I ENTIRELY AGREE.

I WORKED OVER THE SUMMER DURING BREAKING NEWS AND EVEN DOING SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS REPORTING THE COVID CASES AND THE INFECTION RATE FOR THE DAY I WOULD GET A FLOOD OF E-MAILS TO MY INBOX OF PEOPLE SAYING VARIOUS THINGS TO ME.

EVEN SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS REPORTING STATISTICS RELEASED BY THE STATE WE GET A LOT OF PUSHBACK I REMEMBER EVEN THINGS WE MENTIONED NOT BEING RELATED TO CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS WE GET BLOWBACK.

I WROTE A STORY ON BOARD GAMES APPLY IN THE HOW THIS IS A HOT COMMODITY AND I LOOK AT THE COMMENTS AND OF COURSE I SEE PEOPLE MAKING COMMENTS ABOUT THE POLITICAL SPHERE AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND BUT DEFINITELY I THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT OF PUSHBACK AND VITRIOL DIRECTED TOWARD JOURNALISTS IN THIS MODERN ERA.

>> HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT?

IS IT WATER OFF A DUCKS BACK?

DO YOU GO HOME AND TALK TO YOUR PARENTS AND FRIENDS AND STAY THEY ARE AFTER ME AGAIN?

HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT?

>> I TRY TO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT IT BECAUSE OFTEN THE E-MAILS THAT PEOPLE SEND YOU ARE RATHER HUMOROUS.

I REMEMBER AT ONE POINT I HAD A NOT A GREAT PROFILE PHOTO FOR ONE OF MY PREVIOUS PUBLICATIONS AND I HAD AN E-MAIL FROM SOMEONE WHO HAD BLASTED TO ME ABOUT REPORTING COVID STATISTICS AND THEN TOLD ME TOO GO WASH MY HAIR AND SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT IT.

>> DID YOU WRITE THEM BACK?

>> IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO RESPOND AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS WORTH MY ENERGY.

>> MAY BE WERE CONCERNED WITH YOUR IMAGE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO TO WASH HER HAIR?

>> YOU'RE NOT BUYING IT?

>> NOPE.

>> SOPHIA, YOU BROUGHT IT UP, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS JOURNALISM ATTITUDE THAT'S OUT THERE?

AND PREVALENT?

>> I THINK DEFINITELY THE ATTITUDE TOWARD IT JOURNALISM IS, YOU KNOW NOT GREAT AND NOT NECESSARILY GETTING BETTER BUT I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT JOURNALISM IS ON THIS ENDLESS SPIRAL INTO OBLIVION, I THINK WE HAVE A LOT TO WORK WITH HERE.

THE WAY WE DO IT HAS TO CHANGE A BIT.

JUST TO BETTER GET INFORMATION TO PEOPLE IN AN ERA WHERE MOST PEOPLE GET THEIR INFORMATION FROM SCROLLING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE WAY THAT SOCIAL MEDIA WORKS IS, IF YOU DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH WHAT IN THE NEW STORY IT'S PROBABLY NOT EVEN GOING TO SHOW UP ON YOUR FEED AND SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY GOING DOWNHILL FOR SURE, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO ALTER THE WAY THAT WE GET INFORMATION TO PEOPLE.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR OPTIMISM.

I WANT TO GET INTO SOCIAL MEDIA FOR A SECOND BUT LET'S CHECK INTO THIS ATTITUDE ABOUT JOURNALISM.

>> I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY CHANGING AND AS MUCH AS I WANT TO SAY THAT YES JOURNALISM IS COUNSELING UNDER ATTACK I THINK IT'S ALSO VERY HEAVILY RELIED ON AND WE ARE THE PEOPLE LOOKS TO.

IT'S OPTIMISTIC.

I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE AND A REQUIREMENTS WILL CHANGE AS WELL MAKING SURE THAT WE STAY VIGILANT AND FACTUAL BUT AT THE SAME TIME I AM NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE PROFESSION.

>> DO YOU THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR ROLE IN THIS PROCESS IS?

>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ON THE FOUR INDEPENDENT STUDIES OF MINE LOOKING AT FAKE NEWS AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND CORRECTIONS AND OFTEN PEOPLE CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE SO IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK OFTEN TIME OUR ROLE IS A LITTLE BIT MESSY AND CONVOLUTED BECAUSE NOT THAT WE DON'T MAKE IT CLEAR BUT BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE POLITICIANS THAT CURRENTLY TALK ABOUT THINGS.

HE COULD DO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT WERE DOING AND WHY WERE DOING IT?

>> SOME PEOPLE DO BUT AT TIMES OTHER PEOPLE HAVE A BIT OF MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT IT.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK WE PAID TO TALK TO OUR SOURCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE AT ALL I REMEMBER SOMEONE REACHING OUT TO ME ASKING HEY, CAN I SEND SOMETHING YOUR WAY TO ONE OF YOUR WRITERS?

CAN YOU PASS IT ALONG?

SHOULD WE OFFER THEM SOME MONEY AND I'M LIKE ABSOLUTELY DO NOT OFFER THEM ANY MONEY BECAUSE THAT IS NOT HOW THIS BUSINESS WORKS WE DON'T PAY FOR STORIES.

>> WHERE DID THEY GET THAT FROM?

>> I DO NOT KNOW BUT I WISH THEY COULD HAVE TOLD ME BECAUSE CERTAINLY IT WAS AND IMMEDIATELY A RED FLAG IN MY MIND.

>> SOPHIA, BACK TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA THING, DO YOU THINK UNBALANCED SOCIAL MEDIA VIS-À-VIS GETTING INFORMATION OUT JOURNALISM POLITICS STUFF OUT IS A PLUS OR MINUS?

>> I THINK IT SWINGS BOTH WAYS.

>> IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO POLITICS AT THE VERY POLITICAL QUESTION -- ANSWER.

>> AND A POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR.

>> IT'S COMING THROUGH LOUD AND CLEAR IT'S COMING THROUGH.

>> IT SWINGS BOTH WAYS, ON ONE HAND I COULD NOT NAME A SINGLE PERSON IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW WHO IS NOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO REACH PEOPLE BUT ON THE OTHER HAND AGAIN LIKE JUST OF THE WAY THE SOCIAL DILEMMA IF YOU'VE SEEN THE DOCUMENTARY ON NETFLIX YOU KNOW THERE IS AN ALGORITHM THAT CURATES THESE FEEDS FOR PEOPLE BASED ON WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND WHAT WILL KEEP THEM SCROLLING AND IF A NEW STORY ABOUT SOMETHING THEY DISAGREE WITH SHOWS UP THAT THEY MIGHT NOT WANT TO SCROLL ANYMORE, MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO CLICK ON IT SO I THINK IT DEFINITELY GOES BOTH WAYS I THINK OVERALL IT IS A POSITIVE THING BUT DEFINITELY IT COULD GO EITHER WAY.

>> DANNY, +?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER AND AGREE WITH SOPHIA ON THAT ONE, THERE ARE GREAT WAYS TO REACH PEOPLE IN SOCIAL MEDIA BUT I DO THINK IT IS A BIT OF A BUBBLE AS WELL AND I DON'T THINK WE WILL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO POP THE BUBBLE YET AND SO UNTIL WE DO IT IS ABOUT BEST REACHING OUT TO THE AUDIENCE THAT DOES WANT TO READ WHAT YOU WRITE.

>> IS THERE INTELLECTUAL DISCOURSE GOING ON ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS?

>> THERE IS SOME, I WOULD SAY IN MY EXPERIENCE I THINK MY FEET IS 5050 BETWEEN POLITICAL REPORTING AND ALSO PROFESSIONAL CONVERSATION AND THEN MEMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO YOU KNOW JOINED -- TRYING TO KEEP IT INTERESTING.

>> THERE ARE INSTANCES OF LEGITIMATE POLITICAL DISCOURSE ONLINE BUT SOMETIMES IT IS LIMITED TO THE PLATFORM, OBVIOUSLY WITH TWITTER YOU'RE LIMITED BY CHARACTER SO I THINK IT'S THE INSTANTANEOUS NATURE OF THE PLATFORM AT THE CHARACTERS I THINK MAKES IT HARD BECAUSE IT LIMITS CONVERSATIONS, YOU CANNOT NECESSARILY GET A HOLE LOT OF NUANCE OUT OF THE SMALL SET NUMBER OF CHARACTERS AND SO WHILE THERE ARE SOME DISCUSSIONS OUT THERE I DO THINK THERE IS ALSO A LIMIT TO WHAT THE PLATFORMS ARE CAPABLE OF AND SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF HOSTING.

>> WHAT PEOPLE SAY TO YOU I GET MY NEWS FROM FACEBOOK, DO YOU CRINGE?

>> I DIE A LITTLE BIT.

I HAVE FRIENDS THAT TELL ME THAT THEY GET THEIR NEWS FROM FACEBOOK AND TIK-TOK AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND IMMEDIATELY I AM LIKE HEY, DO NOT DO THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF WONDERFUL REPORTERS WITHIN THE STATE THAT ARE VERY VERY DEDICATED TO THEIR CRAFT AND DO A VERY GOOD JOB AT KEEPING THE NEWS FACTUAL AND ACCURATE BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHY YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO READ WHAT THEY ARE READING VERSUS VERSUS THE THOUGHTS OF SOMEONE ONLINE WHO MAY -- VERY WELL MAY BE A JOURNALIST BUT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE TRAINING, MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE THE BACKGROUND AND THEY SIMPLY JUST CLAIM TO BE IN A POSITION.

>> SOPHIA, ARE REPORT BIAS?

>> WHAT A QUESTION, THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK A LOT ABOUT, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TOPICS TO COVER IN JOURNALISM AND IN SOME OF THAT, OBVIOUSLY I'LL HAVE HER OWN EXPERIENCES AND BIAS AND SO IT DOES MAKE IT HARD BUT DO I THINK REPORTERS COVER STORIES IN A BIASED WAY?

I DO NOT BUT ARE THE REPORTERS HIMSELF BIAS?

OBVIOUSLY, THEY OUR PEOPLE.

>> BUT HOW DO YOU CONTROL YOUR BIAS?

WHAT DO YOU DEAL IF ANYTHING?

>> IT IS THE GOOD OLD COVERING BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.

FOR ME, AS A WHITE WOMAN I PROBABLY AND MOST LIKELY GOING TO REACH OUT TO WHITE FEMALE SOURCES BECAUSE THAT IS YOU KNOW WHAT IS FAMILIAR TO ME.

BUT THAT IS BIAS AND SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN JOURNALISM IS COUNTER THAT WITH OKAY, WHAT OTHER SOURCES COULD BE REACH OUT TO YOU TO SHOWCASE MORE DIVERSE VOICES AND ALSO SHARE DIFFERENT OPINIONS OTHER THAN WHAT WE HAVE OURSELVES?

THERE IS A WAY TO NOT BE BIASED AND I THINK MOST REPORTERS DO A GOOD JOB OF IT BUT I THINK THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO.

>> DANNY, HOW DO YOU CONTROL YOUR BIAS?

IF YOU ARE?

>> EVERYONE HAS PERSONAL BIASES THAT'S PART OF BEING A PERSON BUT THE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT BEING A REPORTER ISN'T KNOWING THE BIASES AND UNDERSTANDING THEM IN UNDERSTANDING HOW THAT AFFECTS YOUR REPORTING AND LIKE SOPHIA SAID, JUST TRYING TO COVER BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY, INTERVIEW SOURCES THAT MAY BE DON'T AGREE WITH AND KEEP YOUR PERSONAL OPINIONS TO YOURSELF BUT ALSO KNOWING WHEN A STORY MAY NOT BE THE BEST IDEA FOR YOU SPECIFICALLY TO COVER BECAUSE YOU HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST STRUCK KYLE?

>> IF IT'S IN A SITUATION WE WE CAN'T ALIGN YOURSELF TO REPORT ON SOMETHING FAIRLY AND OBJECTIVELY THAN SOMETIMES TAKE A PASS ON IT BUT, OTHER THAN THAT, IT IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK WHEN COVERING SOMETHING AND GO OKAY, AM I GETTING THE FULL PICTURE HERE?

WHAT NARRATIVES ARE BEING REPRESENTATIVE, WHICH ONES ARE NOT?

AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING THE HOLE OF THE STORY NOT JUST ONE PERSPECTIVE ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU AGREE WITH.

>> SOPHIA MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT ALL POLITICIANS ARE CROOKS, ARE THEY RIGHT?

>> UNFORTUNATELY TIM, THEY ARE PROBABLY INCORRECT, I MEAN OBVIOUSLY ALL POLITICIANS HAVE SOME FORM OF AGENDA THAT IS THEIR JOB AS A POLITICIAN IS TO GET THINGS DONE AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE AN AGENDA BUT ARE THEY CROOKS?

YOU KNOW, I DEPENDS UPON THE POLITICIAN.

>> KYLE, THE MEDIA TENDS TO FEED INTO THIS IMAGE.

ALL POLITICIANS ARE NOT CROOKS OKAY.

EVERYONE IS ENGAGED IN SOME OF THE COURT OF WRONGDOING FOR SELF-AGGRANDIZEMENT CAN YOU PLEASE RESPOND TO THAT.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO HOLD POLITICIANS ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THERE ARE INSTANCES OF WRONGDOING THE PART OF IT IS JUST BECAUSE OF HOW THE MEDIA CYCLE WORKS I MEAN, PEOPLE LIKE TO HEAR HEY, THIS POLITICIAN THAT YOU DISAGREE WITH IS DOING THIS THING THAT MAY NOT BE ETHICAL AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR GOOD REPORTERS TO CUT THROUGH THAT YOU KNOW AS MENTIONED EARLIER IN ONE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS, A LOT OF POLITICIANS ARE JUST PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME, THEY HAVE THEIR AGENDAS, THEY HAVE FAMILIES, THEY HAVE THINGS THAT THEY LIKE TO DO ON THE WEEKENDS, AND WHILE THEY ARE MAKING THE POLICIES THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES, IT IS ULTIMATELY MOST OF THEM ARE REGULAR PEOPLE AND THEY'RE JUST LOOKING TO SERVE THE INTERESTS OF EITHER THEMSELVES, THEIR PARTY, OR THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

>> IF YOU WANT TO ASK A QUESTION DANNY, LET'S GO TO YOU.

>> SOMETHING I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR FROM YOU IS IN YOUR 50 YEARS ON THE SHOW, WHAT'S MOST VALUABLE THING YOU'VE LEARNED IT'S A JOURNALIST?

IT >> MY DIRECTOR WAS SPEAKING IN MY EAR AS YOU ASK THE QUESTION AND CAN WE PLEASE TRY THIS AGAIN?

THAT'S A REAL TV FOLKS APPEAR >> OF COURSE, WHAT'S THE MOST VALUABLE THING THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED IN YOUR 50 YEARS ON THE SHOW AS A JOURNALIST?

>> THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH IN POLITICS IS VERY DIFFICULT.

I USED TO THINK THAT IT WAS VERY CLEAR, YES, NOW, TRUE, FALSE, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT AREAS AND EVERY SET OF EYES AND EARS THAT COMES TO A STORY SEES IT DIFFERENTLY AND, THE TRUTH IS OFTEN VERY VERY ELUSIVE THAT IS A TAKE AWAY.

WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE.

SOPHIA.

>> WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING ON THE SHOW, WHAT IS FUN?

WHAT IS FUNNY?

WHAT'S COMEDIC?

HE BEING WITH THE PEOPLE.

THAT SOUNDS HOKEY BUT I DO LOVE HANGING AROUND WITH REPORTERS AND POLITICIANS AND IN GENERAL THEY ARE ALL GOOD PEOPLE AND THEY ARE ALL DOING THIS FOR THE RIGHT REASON.

OUR DEMOCRACY IS WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT AND WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEMOCRACY WORKS IN THE MUSIC IS GOING AND KYLE, I OWE YOU A QUESTION AT SOME LATER DATE SO STAY TUNED.

LISTEN, YOU GUYS ARE ACTUALLY FABULOUS I'M SORRY WE DID NOT GET TO THE NEWS PORTION, YOU ARE SO GOOD TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF SO I DECIDED TO LET IT GO, GOOD LUCK ON YOUR CAREERS, KEEP WATCHING GUYS I APPRECIATE IT AND LIKEWISE WITH YOU WE WILL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE NEXT WEEK WITH MORE OFF THE RECORD.