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/

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Thank you for listening. You can e-mail me at journalismsalute@gmail.com

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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

On this episode we're joined by Megan Tagami. Megan is a reporter covering education for Honolulu Civil Beat, a non-profit newsroom in Hawaii. She's a native of Honolulu and a 2023 graduate of UCLA with a degree in political science and government.

Megan talked about her entry into journalism, how she overcame her hesitance to ask people questions, explained her writing process, and shared the kinds of stories she covers on the education beat. Lots of good lessons for aspiring journalists from the perspective of a young writer beginning her career.

Megan's story about mental health and Hawaii schools

https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/08/the-crisis-isnt-over-maui-kids-mental-health-needs-are-mounting/

Megan's story about the librarian shortage

https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/03/hawai%ca%bbi-school-libraries-are-shrinking-when-students-may-need-them-most/

Megan's story about how teachers are dealing with free speech and challenging discussion topics, like Charlie Kirk's assassination

https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/11/whats-controversial-teachers-grapple-with-free-speech-in-hawaii-schools/

Megan's salute: Joe Hong, WNYC

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