The Feed

03/22/2025

After watching the season finale of Severance, I’m most drawn to how it depicts the plight of oppressed people through a new lens. People who would never watch a straight-up show about historical slavery can’t wait to cheer on “innies” fighting for their freedom. READ:

Here's my completely uninformed ideas on where the show might go from its mindbending, totally amazing season finale

03/19/2025

Here’s a short essay on how my love for teaching and media industry turbulence led me to a giant-sized career change after more than 30 years as a journalist and critic. READ:

Why helping train young journalists and shape ideas about the industry makes sense amid media’s growing turbulence

03/12/2025

I have, as is often said these days, some news: Later this year, I'll take over as the next John S. and James L. Knight Chair in Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, while remaining a critic-at-large at NPR. DETAILS:

Eric Deggans, television critic, media analyst and guest host with NPR, has been selected to serve as the next John S. and James L. Knight Chair in Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee…

02/25/2025

Here’s a piece for my Substack on how the departures of Joy Reid and Lester Holt are signs of a disturbing retrenchment in TV news which will, ultimately, repel many supporters of mainstream media just when journalists need them most. READ:

Though not connected, news of Reid leaving MSNBC and Holt stepping down from the NBC Nightly News signal a troubling trend in TV news

01/14/2025

If you’re a musical artist looking to get to the next level, join us at NPR’s Tiny Desk - the annual contest for a vaunted spot in the Tiny Desk lineup is upon us again! DETAILS:

The 11th edition of the Contest is now accepting submissions.

10/30/2024

Happy to announce my band Soul Mafia will perform Dec. 7 at the Arts Annual organized by Creative Pinellas, which has been expanded into a hurricane relief fundraiser, with 80% of proceeds going to help local artists. For a sample of the show, check this:

The Soul Mafia band performs "Pick Up the Pieces" for WUSF's Soul Sessions performance series. See WUSF page here: https://www.jazzonartsaxisflorida.org/soul...

10/30/2024

Happy to announce my band Soul Mafia will perform Dec. 7 at the Arts Annual organized by Creative Pinellas, which has been expanded into a hurricane relief fundraiser, with 80% of proceeds going to help local artists. For MORE DETAILS and TICKETS:

Our beloved arts community, which has weathered budget vetoes and now two historic hurricanes, is in need of your support more than ever. Join us for the Arts Annual Hurricane Relief Fundraiser... Read More

10/30/2024

Talk about a closing argument: Jimmy Kimmel delivers a monologue aimed at convincing Republicans not to vote for Donald Trump by providing a long list of reasons. "This is about sanity and security and democracy."

Tonight’s monologue is for Republicans. If you have someone in your life who is either planning to vote for Trump or thinking about it, please send this to t...

10/29/2024

Axios reports most U.S. counties have little to no local news sources, as the rise of locally-focused digital news platforms moves slower than the pace of local newspaper closures. READ:

Digital news sites aren't offsetting the dramatic rate of newspaper closures.

10/29/2024

The Tampa Bay Times has joined the list of newspapers refusing to endorse candidates for president or U.S. Senate. Never understood logic of issuing recommendations for all but the biggest races readers might need the most help parsing, but...

The question has come up in the wake of controversies at the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post.

10/28/2024

My colleague David Folkenflik is reporting that there have been more than 200,000 subscription cancellations following the Washington Post's decision not to endorse a candidate for president. READ:

Over 200,000 people canceled their subscriptions in the first few days following news that The Washington Post would not endorse any presidential candidate.

10/28/2024

As important as this opinion page is, given the Wash Post and LATimes decision to not endorse a candidate in this presidential election, I really don't understand NYTimes decision to NOT do endorsements for New York elections where readers might need the most guidance.

10/27/2024

Tampa's NPR member station WUSF has a wonderful array of resources for voters in Florida looking for information on candidates, constitutional amendments, early voting rules and much more. Check it out:

The general election is underway and WUSF wants you to be empowered before you vote. The Our Changing State podcast breaks it down – from “deep fakes” to constitutional amendments.   Every episode this season breaks down a topic in a way that you - a Florida voter - can get a clear idea of th...

10/26/2024

Brian Stelter outlines stakes of newspaper endorsement scandal in his Reliable Sources newsletter for CNN: "The appearance of caving to Trump does real and lasting damage to any enterprise that isn't identified as pro-Trump."

Let's get this part out of the way first: Newspaper endorsements normally don't matter much. If The Washington Post had gone ahead with its expected endorsement of VP Kamala Harris, we wouldn't be sending out a special Saturday edition.

10/25/2024

The Wrap is reporting the LATimes had also planned a "Case Against Trump" series to run alongside its Kamala Harris endorsement before the owner quashed it:

Patrick Soon-Shiong's interference with the paper's editorial freedom has sparked a crisis that includes canceled subscriptions and several high profile resignations

10/25/2024

The Washington Post makes it official: It has published a statement from its publisher saying that, for the first time in many years, it will not endorse a candidate in the presidential race, though it has endorsed candidates in other races.

For the first time in decades, The Washington Post will not endorse a presidential candidate, the newspaper’s publisher announced Friday.

10/25/2024

Honored to be among instructors who will work w/amazing crop of 16 journalists chosen for the Poynter Institute's Diverse Voices program - which helps journalists of color learn to bring personal experience and perspectives to their work. Here's the list:

16 journalists have been chosen for Poynter’s 2024 Power of Diverse Voices seminar for writing and coaching sessions.