{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Sidewalk Talks","title":"Local Journalism Matters with Justin Engel","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/9febe7fa\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2858,"description":"In his first-ever podcast appearance, MLive journalist Justin Engel talks about his history and work in local journalism. The conversation centers on defining journalism and discusses misinformation, clickbait, and AI-generated content, and argues for news literacy and reading beyond headlines and comment sections. Justin and Phil emphasize the value of strong local media in the Great Lakes Bay Region, explain why journalism isn’t free and needs subscriptions to survive, and describe how reporting broadened Justin’s perspective by exposing him to different communities across the county. They close with advice to young aspiring journalists to follow the calling, adapt to changing formats, and keep learning—even when it means stepping outside comfort zones.00:00 First Podcast EVER00:36 Movie Podcasts & First Theater Memory 01:57 Why Star Wars Hit So Hard03:24 Favorite Films: Aliens, Almost Famous & the Power of a Great Scene04:51 Zodiac and Why Journalism Matters in the Real World06:21 Becoming a Journalist: Early Writing, High School Paper & Grandma’s Tip10:37 College to Career: Delta, SVSU, and Joining The Saginaw News13:05 What Is Journalism? Verification, Sources, and Getting It Right16:23 Context vs. Social Media Narratives 19:58 Scanner Traffic, Clickbait, and How Misinformation Spreads22:56 AI-Generated News & Clickbait: Why It Looks Real23:36 News Literacy 101: Verifying Sources in the AI Era24:57 Why Local Journalism Still Matters (and What Reporters Actually Do)30:03 Support Local News: Paywalls, Sharing vs. Stealing, and Sustainability34:38 How Reporting Changes You: Seeing Your Community Through Others’ Eyes38:12 Story Advocate Mindset: Curiosity, Craft, and Saginaw’s Storytelling Legacy42:33 Advice for Future Journalists: Follow the Calling & Learn the Business Side45:21 New Formats, On-Scene Video, and Final Thanks","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/21JugzgWpH40WHYagG_Nx643SoMhpyDMC9hjtLHzZPI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8xM2U2/ZmJkMTVhNDkxMjk5/ZTJiOWY0Nzg0MDgw/MTI5My5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}