The Journalism Salute

Mark Simon

The Journalism Salute is a journalism appreciation podcast. We interview working journalists about who they are and what they do. Our aim is to have diverse guests, thoughtful questions, and interesting conversation. If you're an aspiring journalist, you'll learn potential careers to pursue and tips to put to use. If you're an experienced journalist, you'll learn about like-minded members of your profession with notable stories to tell. And if you're not a journalist, we hope you'll garner or further an appreciation for journalists and realize that they are NOT the enemy. Try us! And find us at our website or on Twitter and e-mail us at journalismsalute@gmail.com

  1. Jackson Juzang, Founder: Philadelphia Student Press Association

    JAN 27

    Jackson Juzang, Founder: Philadelphia Student Press Association

    On this episode we're joined by Jackson Juzang. Jackson is a student journalist at Haverford College in Pennsylvania. He's quite busy. He's a research and editorial intern at NBC Sports, he's the founder of the Philadelphia Student Press Association, and he's the co-founder of PBJ Productions, whose services include podcasts, films and video series. And he does other things too, like serve as an associate editor on the Haverford school paper (The Clerk) and run on the school track team. We talked with Jackson mostly about the Philadelphia Student Press Association, what it does and what its goals are (it's the kind of organization that should exist in every state). We also addressed the various other projects he's involved in and what his overall aspirations are Philadelphia Student Press Association is a nonprofit coalition of student-run newsrooms across Philadelphia’s colleges and universities. We are founded to amplify student voices, promote press freedom, and build pathways into professional journalism. Jackson's salute: The Leinfest Institute for Journalism and all student journalists. You can find all our episode guides for teachers and professors here, Please support your local public radio station: adoptastation.org Thank you for listening. You can e-mail me at journalismsalute@gmail.com Visit our website: thejournalismsalute.org  Mark’s website (MarkSimonmedia.com) Bluesky at @marksimon.bsky.social Subscribe to our newsletter– journalismsalute.beehiiv.com

    31 min
  2. Alana Van Der Sluys, Journalism Teacher at Kinnelon High School

    JAN 19

    Alana Van Der Sluys, Journalism Teacher at Kinnelon High School

    On this episode we're joined by Alana Van Der Sluys. Alana is a journalism teacher at Kinnelon High School in Kinnelon, New Jersey. Alana was a guest on episode 16 on this podcast back in December 2020. She's back nearly 250 episodes later to reflect on what happened since, which includes writing a book. Alana is a graduate of Iona University with masters' from there and Montclair State. Alana talked about her experience as a teacher, how her program includes the possibility of college credit, how the value of journalism goes beyond the class itself, and her own writing about a difficult personal experience. Kinnelon Colt Chronicle School Newspaper: https://coltchronicle.org/ Alana's salutes: Ava Gutkin (Colt Chronicle editor-in-chief), The Garden State Scholastic Press Association, Anna Helhoski (Nerd Wallet) Alana's book: https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Food-Fitness-Alana-Sluys/dp/1953027199 You'll also hear from Anita Pinto, a speech therapist for Urban Assembly Gateway School for Technology, a high school in Manhattan in which she started a journalism club last year. Anitahas been checking in with us once a month to let us know how her club is doing, the challenges the students face, and the things they learn. We thank the non-profit Press Pass NYC for connecting us with her. Anita'sSchool Newspaper: The Gateway Times You can find all our episode guides for teachers and professors here, Please support your local public radio station: adoptastation.org Thank you for listening. You can e-mail me at journalismsalute@gmail.com Visit our website: thejournalismsalute.org  Mark’s website (MarkSimonmedia.com) Bluesky at @marksimon.bsky.social Subscribe to our newsletter– journalismsalute.beehiiv.com

    38 min
  3. David Covucci, Founder and Editor-in-Chief: FOIABall.com

    JAN 6

    David Covucci, Founder and Editor-in-Chief: FOIABall.com

    On this episode we're joined by David Covucci. David is the editor-in-chief of FOIAball – FOIA standing for "Freedom of Information Act." It's a newsletter that uses public records reporting to investigate college football. As he said- collectives, consultants, cops, contracts, and communications. Whether or not you like sports, I think you'll find this conversation informative as we're going to talk about the idea of finding a niche in a very crowded field. David's past experience in journalism includes time as a news editor for BroBible and the senior tech and politics editor for nearly 9 years at The Daily Dot. He's a graduate of Virginia Tech.  David talked about his experience with FOIA requests and what led him to doing a newsletter centered around them. He gave examples of the kinds of stories he's done (from tax fraud allegations to how much schools spend on entertaining recruits), and how accidental discoveries can lead to significant revelations. The website: FOIAball.com David's salutes: College sports newsletter founder Matt Brown, Daniel Libit (Sportico), Matt Baker (The Athletic), Jason Leopold (Bloomberg News) You can find all our episode guides for teachers and professors here, Please support your local public radio station: adoptastation.org Thank you for listening. You can e-mail me at journalismsalute@gmail.com Visit our website: thejournalismsalute.org  Mark’s website (MarkSimonmedia.com) Bluesky at @marksimon.bsky.social Subscribe to our newsletter– journalismsalute.beehiiv.com

    34 min
  4. Sam Donndelinger, Investigative Journalist & Lead Designer, Uncloseted Media

    12/30/2025

    Sam Donndelinger, Investigative Journalist & Lead Designer, Uncloseted Media

    On this episode we're joined by Sam Donndelinger. Sam is an investigative journalist and lead designer for Uncloseted Media. Uncloseted Media is a non-profit newsroom started by NYU professor Spencer MacNaughton to do investigative reporting on LGBTQ issues. It has 4 full-time employees and well-followed Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok accounts. Sam has won multiple awards for her reporting. She's a recent graduate of NYU. Sam talked about the kinds of stories she covers and the importance of being an empathetic and present reporter. She explained the design role she has. And she shared why a job like this is the best fit for her. Sam's salute: Liz Plank Examples of stories: Transgender men and struggles with eating disorders https://www.unclosetedmedia.com/p/transgender-men-experience-eating Google and conversion therapy https://www.unclosetedmedia.com/p/google-sends-parents-of-lgbtq-kids Unequitable access to drugs that would deter HIV https://www.unclosetedmedia.com/p/unraveling-the-urgent-unspoken-struggle More on Sam's life and backstory https://www.unclosetedmedia.com/p/why-am-i-still-explaining-being-bisexual You can find all our episode guides for teachers and professors here, Please support your local public radio station: adoptastation.org Thank you for listening. You can e-mail me at journalismsalute@gmail.com Visit our website: thejournalismsalute.org  Mark’s website (MarkSimonmedia.com) Bluesky at @marksimon.bsky.social Subscribe to our newsletter– journalismsalute.beehiiv.com

    33 min
  5. Ben Chase, Managing Editor - Huron Plainsman

    12/23/2025

    Ben Chase, Managing Editor - Huron Plainsman

    On this episode we're joined by Ben Chase. Ben is a two-time guest. We talked to him in 2021 when he was a reporter for the Huron Daily Plainsman in Huron, South Dakota (population ~14,000, one-third of which is Hispanic or Asian). Now he's the paper's managing editor, a role he's held for roughly a year … and it's been quite a year as he’ll share. The paper was shut down (briefly), sold, and brought back, but with some changes, including fewer print editions and a directive to be more local. Ben talked about running a small-town newspaper, the types of things the paper covers, how he writes his weekly op-ed piece, and how his stress relief is … more journalism (of a different type). Ben's salute: South Dakota Searchlight Example of Ben's Op-Eds – "It's Not The Same." https://www.plainsman.com/stories/its-not-the-same,163806 Background on the sale of the newspaper   https://www.plainsman.com/stories/plainsman-three-other-south-dakota-papers-purchased-by-champion-media,148535 https://www.midstory.org/can-local-news-survive-south-dakota-says-yes/ You can find all our episode guides for teachers and professors here, Please support your local public radio station: adoptastation.org Thank you for listening. You can e-mail me at journalismsalute@gmail.com Visit our website: thejournalismsalute.org  Mark’s website (MarkSimonmedia.com) Bluesky at @marksimon.bsky.social Subscribe to our newsletter– journalismsalute.beehiiv.com

    36 min
  6. Jules Roscoe, Freelance Journalist (404 Media, Matter News, The Boston Guardian)

    12/16/2025

    Jules Roscoe, Freelance Journalist (404 Media, Matter News, The Boston Guardian)

    On this episode we're joined by Jules Roscoe. Jules is an independent journalist (freelance writer) who covers labor and technology from a national perspective and politics from a local perspective. Jules has written for (among other places), 404 Media, The Boston Guardian, Vice, Wired, and Matter News, is a 2024 graduate of NYU, and works full-time as a legal proofreader. We talked about Jules' experience, approach to writing stories (why it needs to sound good to the ear) and why a 'stupid question' is often a good question. Plus, we'll get an update from Anita Pinto, adviser to The Gateway Times at Urban Assembly Gateway School for Technology in New York City. She's been providing monthly reports on what her students have been doing. One highlight: They got to visit the New York Post. You can hear Anita's original interview with me here. Jules' salutes: 404 Media, and journalists Ken Klippenstein and Matthew Gault Work examples UPS workers driving in heat story https://www.vice.com/en/article/ups-workers-share-horror-stories-about-driving-in-heat/ Indonesian fishermen story https://www.404media.co/they-sometimes-worry-that-im-dead-already-deep-sea-fishers-fight-for-wi-fi/ Other stories https://muckrack.com/julesaroscoe You can find all our episode guides for teachers and professors here, Please support your local public radio station: adoptastation.org Thank you for listening. You can e-mail me at journalismsalute@gmail.com Visit our website: thejournalismsalute.org  Mark’s website (MarkSimonmedia.com) Bluesky at @marksimon.bsky.social Subscribe to our newsletter– journalismsalute.beehiiv.com

    39 min
4.8
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

The Journalism Salute is a journalism appreciation podcast. We interview working journalists about who they are and what they do. Our aim is to have diverse guests, thoughtful questions, and interesting conversation. If you're an aspiring journalist, you'll learn potential careers to pursue and tips to put to use. If you're an experienced journalist, you'll learn about like-minded members of your profession with notable stories to tell. And if you're not a journalist, we hope you'll garner or further an appreciation for journalists and realize that they are NOT the enemy. Try us! And find us at our website or on Twitter and e-mail us at journalismsalute@gmail.com