The News Nirvana Podcast

In this episode of the News Nirvana Podcast, Sarah McNamara, VP of Sales for Evvnt, joins host Nick Parker to discuss the intersection of events and content generation in the news business. The pair delves into how events can be more than just fun gatherings, serving as powerful revenue generators and community builders. From leveraging existing community events to hosting your own, explore strategies for news organizations to stay hyper-local and engage audiences effectively.

"How can we be better together?" This is the driving question behind Frank Mungeam's work with local media organizations on both the content and revenue-generating sides of the business. The Chief Innovation Officer at Local Media Association joined host Nick Parker for a conversation about using old-fashioned community-oriented focus to create sustainable business partnerships that also help drive meaningful content generation and journalism for the news side of the organization. Want to stay up-to-date on the News Nirvana podcast? Sign up for our monthly news digest at newsnirvana.com/newsletter.

Julia Campbell has a fantastic title; Chief Business Transformation Officer just sounds cool. You might think she's a "robot in disguise", or you could just think the Local Media Association executive has one of those jobs where she gets to play with all the new toys and work with members to establish innovative and sustainable systems for their news organizations. One of those—the latter, of course—is actually correct. In this episode, Julia sits down with host Nick Parker to talk about LMA's labs and the power coming from those exchanges and learning environments, as well as one of her favorite topics, cause marketing.

Let's get back to our roots. It's not that the phrase is almost a cliche, it is a cliche. But here's the thing about cliches—they exist because they're true. So, whether it's going back to their roots or getting back to basics, Orestes Baez and Scott Davis are committed to a personal and hyper-local approach that has brought new life to a national niche publication, TravelHost. Just 18 months after taking over the print and digital publication, Baez and Davis join News Nirvana host Nick Parker for an in depth conversation about their business and vision for the future.

Join host Nick Parker in a riveting conversation with veteran journalist Mike Reilley as they delve into the behind-the-scenes tales of newsrooms past and the essential tools every journalist needs in today's rapidly evolving media landscape. From swapping stories to unveiling the secrets behind Reilley's popular Journalist's Toolbox, this episode offers insights for both seasoned reporters and aspiring journalists alike. Discover how Reilley's journey from reporter to educator has shaped the latter part of his career as a newsroom trainer and Senior Lecturer of digital and data journalism at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Ask Tobias Bennett what excites him about the media industry and you'll get the same answer every time—it's the unknown. Bennett, VP of Partnerships and Revenue, and Fran Wills, CEO, for Local Media Consortium join host Nick Parker for a look into the current state of the news industry, and how their association helps member organizations traverse the ever-changing landscape and embrace what comes next.

Veteran editor and digital news guru Bob Rose joins host Nick Parker on this latest episode of the News Nirvana Podcast. Their in-depth conversation focuses on rebuilding trust and fostering partnerships with the communities we cover. The episode also explores the importance of aligning our content with both our varied modes of delivery and with the business partners we look to for continued revenue.

Host Nick Parker and producer Cherry Wolf take a look back at the 2023 season of the News Nirvana podcast reflecting on some favorite episodes, why the show is important to them, and some guests they're looking forward to in 2024.

Industry expert Gordon Borrell joins host Nick Parker to discuss the evolving relationship between editorial and business. The two explore challenges faced by media outlets when adapting to the ever-changing advertising trends all while maintaining impactful news coverage. Reflecting on past revenue models versus modern equivalents, Borrell offers valuable insights into the ongoing evolution of news media.

In this episode of the News Nirvana podcast, Jared Frank from KHQ-TV and Josh Kidd from Block Communications join host Nick Parker to explore the challenges we may face adopting a digital-first mindset. The conversation delves into content repurposing strategies, the immediate impact of digital channels, and the importance of owning digital spaces amid social media's uncertain future. Listen as they navigate the evolving digital landscape and strategies in media and broadcasting.

In this episode of the News Nirvana podcast, host Nick Parker engages in a conversation with Sean Evans, Director of OTT and Video at BLOX Digital. Together, they explore the dynamic realm of digital video, shedding light on platforms, audience growth strategies, and revenue maximization. Sean’s transition from a software development background to the world of broadcast news is a compelling example of our industry's adaptability. From clarifying essential terms like FAST channel and OTT to offering valuable insights, this episode underscores the value of embracing video both as a fundamental component of news delivery and as a revenue generator.

David Arkin returns to the podcast to talk about working with news organizations to understand and embrace branded content campaigns—and the new revenue streams that come with it.

Join host Nick Parker for the newest episode of the News Nirvana podcast as he welcomes Lori Flowers, Manager of Integrated Marketing at Radio One. In this episode, Lori and Nick explore innovative approaches to marketing partnerships and delve into the power of sponsored content, which not only captivates and retains audiences but also amplifies revenue streams. Tune in now for invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of marketing.

Steven Chappell and Matt Bird-Meyer continue their conversation with host Nick Parker on college media and how best to prepare student journalists to tackle our ever-changing media industry.

Host Nick Parker returns to the world of college journalism in the first of a two-part series delving into the student media departments at Northwest Missouri State University and Monroe County (Mich.) Community College. Northwest's Steven Chappell and MCCC's Matt Bird-Meyer join the show to talk about preparing the next generation of journalists and how to best make them "career ready" when they leave the program.

Recorded earlier this summer, Broadcast Dialogue Editor Connie Thiessen joins host Nick Parker to discuss her role covering broadcast media in the Canadian markets and her perspective on the state of the industry.

Whether from a place of excitement, trepidation or even curiosity, AI is the No. 1 topic right now for news organizations. Colin Benedict, VP of News for Morgan Murphy Media, and Ethan Holland, VP, Draper Digital Media, join News Nirvana podcast host Nick Parker for a dive into the tools currently available, tips on how to start implementing and exploring their use in the newsroom and even a look at how to start creating ethical guidelines around their use.

Recorded during BLOX Digital's Broadcast Summit in Vail, Colorado, Mike Cassetta and Richard Marques join host Nick Parker for a conversation on the future of the industry, including recruitment, AI and monetizing video on digital platforms.

Join host Nick Parker in this lively podcast episode as he sits down with Amy Martin and Kassandra Horton from WVUA 23 at the University of Alabama. Dive into the world of training the next generation of journalists and equipping them with the ability to captivate today's audiences. From mastering various storytelling formats across multiple platforms to navigating the art of self-branding on social media without compromising their integrity or key business connections, budding journalists have quite the task ahead. And hey, who knows, maybe they'll even pick up a thing or two about entrepreneurship and business along the way. Tune in to discover how these young journalists are not only expanding their skill sets but also becoming the ultimate jack-of-all-trades in the field.

Guy Tasaka, founder of Tasaka Digital, LLC, joins host Nick Parker for a dive into the world of technology and the role it plays in our ever-changing media industry. Tasaka, who also pens a regular column for Editor & Publisher, has spent most of his career leading technology advances and initiatives in the news media sector and says its more important now than ever for leaders to not only keep up with new technologies, but drive their implementation as power tools for their organizations.