Listen & Subscribe
News Over Noise is a co-production of WPSU and Penn State’s Bellisario College of Communications. Listen, download, and subscribe from your favorite podcast platform.
Episodes
- Episode 308
The Campus Free Speech Panic: Who’s Fueling the Misinformation Machine?
Universities are under attack—not by students or faculty, but by a wave of misinformation framing higher education as a threat to free speech. On this episode of News Over Noise, Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with Dr. Bradford Vivian, author of Campus Misinformation, about how these distorted narratives take shape, why they spread, and what’s really at stake for democracy when public trust in higher ed erodes.
- Episode 307
Defunding Public Media: Threats, Stakes, and the Future of Democracy
PBS and NPR are facing renewed political pressure, with calls to cut federal funding resurfacing under the Trump administration. Media scholar Victor Pickard joins Matt Jordan and Cory Barker to unpack what these challenges mean for the future of public broadcasting—and why a healthy democracy may depend on what happens next.
- Episode 306
The Internet Got Ensh**ified: Monopoly Power and the Fight for Digital Democracy
"Ens**tification"—a term coined by author, activist, and journalist Cory Doctorow—describes how once-promising online platforms inevitably decline as the relentless pursuit of profit degrades user experience and content quality. Named “Word of the Year” by the American Dialect Society, the Macquarie Dictionary, and New Scientist, the concept has far-reaching implications for digital media and the future of news. In this special episode of News Over Noise, Matt Jordan and guest co-host Jenna Spinelle (Democracy Works podcast) talk with Doctorow about how ensh**tification threatens journalism, democracy, and the way we access information online.
- Episode 305
The New Mainstream Media: How Lifestyle Podcasts are Becoming the Go-To Information Source for American Men
These days, more people are getting their news from podcasters and influencers than ever before. What does this mean for democracy? On this episode of Noise Over Noise, hosts Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with Bloomberg journalists Davey Alba and Leon Yin about their reporting on how podcasters and YouTubers are influencing politics, reshaping the media landscape, and altering our news ecosystem.
- Episode 304
Call me Daddy: The Danger of Strongman Framing
President Trump has frequently been framed as a “strong man” and “strict father.” When news outlets lean into this type of rhetoric, they miss a vital opportunity to draw attention to critical issues at the heart of a story. This goes beyond burying the lede; it fundamentally changes the nature of a story, downplaying the threats posed to the Constitution, democracy, and the very idea of law, while simultaneously bolstering the personal mythology of the person behind these actions. On this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with we'll talk with journalist Gil Duran about the role framing plays in our perception of the news.
- Episode 303
Changing the Spread: What Legalized Betting Means for Sports Reporting
When the Supreme Court struck down the Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, it opened the door to legalized sports betting. Today, almost 40 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico allow some form of this pastime. But an unintended consequence has been the growing presence of gambling coverage in the news. On this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Matt Jordan and Cory Barker with sports writer Bill King to tackle this issue and explore the ramifications of this shift on sports journalism.
- Episode 302
Creating Equitable Newsrooms that Connect with Communities
Once upon a time, Americans turned to trusted news organizations to learn about their shared reality. Today, the media people consume as “news,” fractures that shared world, leaving a divided and distrustful public. What can news organizations do to reverse this? And why does the survival of journalism as an institution matter for communities and democracy? On this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with Media Scholar Andrea Wenzel about success stories in local news organizations and what they mean for the future of journalism.
- Episode 301
A Long Way From Cronkite: Implications of Streaming the News
The history of news is also the history of how technology changes the way it’s delivered. From radio to television to streaming, each new platform brings with it unique opportunities and challenges—and influences the norms around how news is curated and presented. On this episode of News Over Noise, host Matt Jordan talks with media scholar Cory Barker about the implications of streaming the news.
- Episode 211
Skipping the Horse Race: Issues-Based Election Reporting
When it comes to election coverage, horse race journalism has become the norm. The focus has shifted from policies to polling data, leaving a void where citizens should be able to find meaningful information about the future of their democracy. But some news outlets are pushing back. Hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jordan talk with news editors Elizabeth Estrada and Scott Blanchard about an approach to reporting that focuses on issues instead of candidates.
- Episode 210
The Ultimate Noise: AI and News Pollution
AI has been in the news a lot lately. But what happens when AI starts making the news? Generative AI–the type of artificial intelligence that pulls from existing data to create new content–presents a significant challenge to journalism. It can enable misinformation to spread like wildfire. How can the average consumer tell what’s real and what’s not? Hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jordan find out by talking with Jack Brewster from NewsGuard, an organization that provides transparent tools to counter misinformation.
- Episode 209
Podcasts: News to Your Ears
In 2014, the podcast Serial debuted, sparking a fascination with true-crime reporting and long-form storytelling that continues to this day. Virtually every major news outlet has a podcast as part of their brand, some have multiple series, with each dedicated to a different beat. what is it about this medium that captures our attention? Can this be a place where investigative journalism could find a viable outlet? Hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jourdan find out by talking with researcher, journalist, and artist Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika.
- Episode 208
Bad Press: The Muskogee Creek Citizens’ Fight to Protect Freedom of the Press
Although the US constitution guarantees the right to a free press, that right does not extend to indigenous nations, who have the sovereignty to make their own laws and constitutions. The documentary Bad Press explores what happens when the Muscogee Creek Nation faces a threat to its free press. Hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jordan talk with director Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Angel Ellis, one of the journalists featured in the film.
- Episode 207
Covering the Cover-up of Climate Change
Climate change was once a bipartisan issue…until it wasn’t. What happened? To find out, hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jordan talk with Geoff Dembicki, an investigative climate journalist about how fossil fuel companies used the public media system to sew skepticism and cynicism about climate change.
- Episode 206
Breaking the News to Fix It
Newsroom leadership can make a big difference in what stories are told and how they're covered, and whose voices are elevated. So, what happens when the makeup of those positions is out of alignment with the demographics of the population? On the next episode of News Over Noise, hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jordan talk with Emily Ramshaw, the CEO and co-founder of The 19th* about what news looks like when it's reported by the nation’s first independent nonprofit newsroom at the intersection of gender, politics and policy.
- Episode 205
Vertical Journalism: The Future of News?
When you think of TikTok videos, what comes to mind? What about...news? On the next News Over Noise, hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jordan talk with multimedia journalist Enrique Anarte about how and why he is using Tik Tok to reach a very news averse demographic—and about the implications this type of reporting might have for the future of journalism.
- Episode 204
Saving Democracy Through Modeling Healthy News Habits
Younger Americans pay less attention to the news than any other age group. And this is kind of a big deal, since a functioning democracy relies on an informed citizenry. While many news organizations are pinning their hopes on interactive and mobile technologies to try to engage younger audiences, research shows there may be a simpler, lower-tech way to cultivate the next generation of news consumers. In this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Lead Dajches and Matt Jordan with media scholar Stephanie Lynn Edgerly about the concept of news socialization and parent-learning model.
- Episode 203
When Tech Reporting Needs an Upgrade
It’s hard to go a day without seeing mention of AI. While the technology itself may be groundbreaking, the reporting of it isn’t. News about technology is not new; it’s dominated the front pages for decades, with near constant reporting on the next best thing that will change the world as we know it. And, clearly it has, but not always in a good way. What happens when technology reporting misses the mark and fails to give us the full story? On the next News Over Noise, hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jordan talk with reporter Karl Bode about what technology reporting has done well and the times it has fallen short and failed to serve the public interest.
- Episode 202
Hope, Helplessness, and Health Misinformation
Ever feel lousy and look up your symptoms on the internet? Sometimes the information you find can hurt as much as it helps. Health misinformation is something we’ve all experienced and our emotions play a big role in how vulnerable we are to it. Subtle differences in wording or the order in which a story is presented to you can make a massive difference in how you respond to it and what actions you take—or don’t take—going forward. On this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jordan talk with media scholar Jess Myrick about what this all means for health reporting and the spread of misinformation.
- Episode 201
The Case for Change: How Business-as-Usual Political Reporting Threatens Democracy
The reporting styles and strategies that served us well in the past—in a time when debate and political ads still had the potential to sway voters—are falling short when it comes to conveying the depth of division in our country. By adhering to outdated conventions, media outlets are failing to call out moves towards fascism, violence, and even civil war. In this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jordan talk with Will Bunch, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, about how business-as-usual political reporting can endanger democracy.
- Episode BONUS
U.S. Media Literacy Week Special Edition
In this special U.S. Media Literacy Week edition of News Over Noise, Matt Jordan speaks with NAMLE Executive Director Michelle Ciulla Lipkin and Education Manager Megan Fromm. NAMLE, the National Association for Media Literacy Education unites a community of educators committed to advancing media literacy education and hosts U.S. Media Literacy Week. The mission of U.S. Media Literacy Week is to highlight the power of media literacy education and its essential role in education all across the country. U.S. Media Literacy Week calls attention to media literacy education by bringing together hundreds of partners for events and activities around the country.
- Episode 110
Rebuilding Trust Through Solutions Journalism
Do you feel discouraged or even defeated about the state of the world? So much so that you find yourself disengaging? What if we told you that there was another path? That there’s a form of reporting that doesn’t just tell you what's wrong in your community but actively works to empower you to help set it right? On this episode, we talk with James Causey a projects reporter and columnist about solutions journalism and the potential it holds for strengthening democracy.
- Episode 109
Protecting Public Interest: The Role of Regulation in Media
Who owns the news? Media buyouts and mergers have become so commonplace you might not even realize that your local paper or news station is owned by a massive corporation in some far-off place. You might think, “I’m still getting access to information, so why does diversity in media ownership matter?” To find out, we talk with Michael Copps, a former commissioner for the Federal Communications Commission.
- Episode 108
A Pro-democracy Case Against Objectivity
“My experience is that audiences want us to be truthful and fair, but they don’t want us to be robots.” That’s a quote from a blog post by journalist Lewis Raven Wallace—a post that led to him being fired from Marketplace. Wallace has become an outspoken critique of the notion that “objectivity” is a catchall for accurate journalism. In this episode, we talk with Wallace about the concept of journalistic neutrality and about what can be done to restore some lost public trust in journalism.
- Episode 107
Overcoming Pride and Prejudice Through Persuasion
How do you respond when someone disagrees with you? If you’re like many Americans, you probably end the conversation and write them off. And who can blame you when debates are frequently framed as moralistic disputes between the righteous and the enemy? But what's the cost of walking away instead of making an effort to engage? We find out by talking with best-selling author Anand Giridharadas.
- Episode 106
Trolling the News in an Attention Economy
Terms like trolls and butterfly attacks sound like something out of a childhood fable. Unfortunately, in the digital information landscape, these terms represent very real tactics that can have devastating effects on democracy. What are these bad-actors are trying to accomplish? And, how can you protect yourself from becoming prey to their malicious schemes? To find out, we talk with Dr. Joan Donovan, one of the leading experts on media manipulation, and disinformation campaigns, and online extremism.
- Episode 105
Social Media: Friend or Foe to the News Cycle?
Social media often gets a bad rap, but it plays an undeniably critical role in today’s media landscape. With younger people increasingly opting to get their information from platforms like TikTok instead of traditional news sources, its significance is only likely to increase. On this episode, we talk with journalist, activist, and social media strategist Annie Wu about the power of social media to drive the agenda when it comes to news, politics, and public opinion.
- Episode 104
The Danger of the "News Finds Me" Mentality
Most Americans get their information fed to them through their smartphones. Constant bombardment and easy access to headlines, video clips, and sound bites help create the illusion that we are well-informed about the goings-on of our world. But...are we? In this episode, we explore what the News Finds Me mentality is, how it impacts civic engagement, and why it might be leaving us less informed than we realize.
- Episode 103
What’s Missing From Economic News?
Whether your eyelids get heavy at the mere mention of an economic story or you're a seasoned economic news consumer and want to know how you can find reliable, quality reporting, this is a discussion for you. We talk with Bob Frick, Navy Federal’s Corporate Economist, about what makes for quality—and not so quality—economic reporting and how you can tell the difference. We also discuss how you cut through the buzzwords and vague characterizations to get to the bottom of what’s actually going on.
- Episode 102
What Happened to Local News?
When people consume quality local journalism they vote more, get more engaged in their community, and trust each other more. Guest Tim Lambert, the Multimedia News Director at WITF, discusses the implications of what happens when local news outlets start disappearing and offers some tips on how to evaluate the credibility of the news you consume.
- Episode 101
News Avoidance and Why It Matters
On this episode, we delve into news avoidance, what it is, and why it matters. We also offer some strategies for how to overcome your own reluctance to engage with journalism.
About News Over Noise
Cory Barker Ph.D.
Cory is an assistant teaching professor in the Film Production & Media Studies department and co-host of News Over Noise. His research explores media industry convergence, focusing on legacy media's use of new technologies in production and distribution. His book, Social TV: Multi-Screen Content and Ephemeral Culture (2022), examines the U.S. television industry's failed social media revolution and won the 2023 Outstanding Book Award from the Media Industries Studies Interest Group. Before joining Penn State, Cory was a tenured faculty member at Bradley University and earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University.
More about Cory
Matt Jordan, Ph.D.
Matt is head of the Department of Film Production and Media Studies in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State University, and Director of the News Literacy Initiative. He is host of the podcast News Over Noise. He writes and teaches classes about how today’s media systems have been altered by digital technology and what it means for democracy. He is executive producer of the documentary series HumIn Focus and author of dozens of articles and books on popular culture in America and Europe. His latest book is Danger Sound Klaxon! The Horn that Changed History.
More about Matt
News Over Noise is produced by the Penn State, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications and WPSU. This program has been funded by the office of the Executive Vice President and Provost of Penn State and is part of the Penn State News Literacy Initiative.