The News Nirvana Podcast

Ep. 31: Jumping into AI and finding your coalition of the willing

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. 

Ep. 30: Looking to the future with AI and video monetization

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.

Ep. 29: Self-branding, relationship-building & thinking digital first. Is the next generation ready?

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.

Ep. 28: Using technology to push forward

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.

Ep. 27: Coach Ryan Dohrn on the approach to sales and maximizing revenue for our news orgs

Join host Nick Parker in an eye-opening conversation with Ryan Dohrn, a renowned media sales consultant and coach. In this episode, we explore the urgent need to reshape our mindset and strategies to boost revenue for news organizations in today's ever-changing media landscape. Dohrn, a strong advocate for permission-based media, reveals the essential ingredients for success: adopting a systematic approach and understanding the emotional dynamics of selling media partnerships within our communities. Discover the invaluable wisdom of Ryan Dohrn, the visionary founder and president of Brain Swell Media, and the driving force behind the highly regarded Niche Media conference. Prepare for a transformative experience as we unravel groundbreaking perspectives on the future of media. Tune in now to gain fresh insights and unlock new possibilities!

Ep. 26: Thinking digital first means using all your content to tell the whole story

For 20 years or more we've been telling ourselves and our teams that we have to change, and we have to start thinking "digital first." But what does that really mean? And why aren't we doing it after reciting this chant for so long? Denise Yost, director of digital content for Allen Media Broadcasting, joins host Nick Parker for a conversation about storytelling and how we can use our digital channels to tell the whole story and enhance what we're delivering to our audiences over the air and in print.

Ep. 25: ’What matters most is audience’

Audience, not product. This has been the focus of Star Local Media president Rick Rogers since purchasing the DFW-area media company almost exactly 1 year ago. Rogers joins host Nick Parker for a look back at the past 12-months and his team’s efforts to turn around what was a struggling collection of 10 community newspapers. The secret, he says, has been focusing on audience and re-emphasizing the importance of community involvement.

Ep. 24: The big brand unveil... and the story of how they got there

Our benevolent News Nirvana sponsor has a big announcement to make! (Listen to find out what it is.) While the announcement is exciting in its own right, host Nick Parker thought this would also be a good time to talk about rebranding—a conversation many news organizations are having as they continue to adjust and remold their news business to meet the changing technologies and demands of news consumers. Returning guest Tony Bangert, CRO, is joined by Aaron Gillette, Director of Marketing on this episode.

Ep. 23: Using data to create successful strategies

Successful strategies rely on more than just collecting the data and looking at the numbers on a dashboard. Developing a strategy that works means taking some time to identify your goals and what data will help you chart, and track, the path to reaching them. Digital architect and data guru Kyle Rickhoff, of Align Simple, joins host Nick Parker for part two of our data series.

Ep. 22: Bridging the gap between print & digital readers

Executive editor Chris Coates and senior editor Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch join the show to talk about how they're using e-Editions to bridge gaps between traditional print readers and the digital subscribers.

(As we've all learned in the news production business, there's no time like a deadline to experience technical issues. Host Nick Parker had some audio equipment troubles on his end during this interview. But we persevered and let Chris and Michael tell their story of producing the news every day in Richmond.)