Questioning Everything with Journalist Brian Reed (S-Town, This American Life)

The Media Roundtable is back! This week we’re bringing you a hard-hitting story featuring a unique, journalistic perspective on the landscape of audio and media.

Dan Granger, (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) sits down with journalist Brian Reed, (Host of S-Town, The Trojan Horse Affair, Producer for This American Life) about Brian’s new hit podcast Question Everything, 7 years in the making.

Back in 2017, Australian journalist Gay Alcorn criticized S-Town as being “morally indefensible”. After brushing off that criticism, Brian Reed did something extremely clever… he sat down for an in-depth chat with Alcorn in the Question Everything podcast pilot.

Together, Dan and Brian discuss: the origins of S-Town and Question Everything, ethics and bias in storytelling, journalistic principles for advertisers, and more. Let’s dive in.

“There's interesting data that's been coming out suggesting that podcasts and hosts are the most trusted figures in media.”

Intellectual Honesty 🤔 - In a divided world, feedback is the breakfast of champions. If you or your brand receive criticism, listen and look for ways to bring it into a larger conversation. You could even be like Brian Reed and bring one of your biggest critics onto your show…

Journalistic Limitations ✍️ - Good stories aren’t always good for everyone. Just because a hot-button topic appeals to your audience, doesn’t mean there might not be collateral damage. Choosing which elements to include or omit in your story is a careful balancing act. In Brian’s words, “You're always trying to minimize harm while serving the public interest.” 

The Power of Audio Storytelling 👂 - With great audio power comes great responsibility. The growing trust in podcast hosts over other media formats is likely part of a bigger trend toward people seeking knowledge from individuals more so than institutions. Like a solid journalist, hosts and advertisers can benefit by deeply exploring how they interpret, incorporate and communicate factual information.

For audio and storytelling insights that will prepare you for the future, check out the full episode below. 

Bianca Gorodinsky