With the arrival of spring, many journalism students are quickly nearing the end of their college careers. In the exciting and excruciating pursuit of their first job in journalism, how can young reporters keep their cool in the face of chaos?

Budding reporters and DePaul journalism alumni Samantha Moilanen and Alyssa Gomez join hosts Carol Marin and Lisa Parker to discuss how students can break into the industry, stand out to employers, make the most of their time in school and prepare for what the classroom can't teach them.

Produced by Sabrina Castle, music by Lucas Weisman. "So You Want to be a Reporter" is made possible by DePaul University's Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence.

Though we usually focus our podcast on young journalists, this episode is dedicated to someone completely different: consumers who aren't familiar with the ins and outs of the news media industry. Trust in journalism has taken a nosedive, so this episode dives deep into the systems and standards that are the heartbeat of reliable reporting.

Seasoned journalists and DePaul faculty Martha Irvine and Chris Bury join hosts Carol Marin and Lisa Parker to discuss the process of story writing, common misconceptions around journalism and rebuilding the relationship between readers and reporters.

Produced by Sabrina Castle, music by Lucas Weisman. "So You Want to be a Reporter" is made possible by DePaul University's Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence.

Over the last few months, we've watched the Trump administration sue the parent company of CBS, put restrictions on White House reporters and apply pressure to suspend Jimmy Kimmel from his show — all of which begs a serious question: how free is our free press right now?

DePaul journalism alumni Brenden Moore, Brendan Pedersen and Deni Kamper join hosts Carol Marin and Lisa Parker to discuss the current state of news media and offer guidance on how young reporters can adapt to this changing climate.

Produced by Sabrina Castle, music by Lucas Weisman. "So You Want to be a Reporter" is made possible by DePaul University's Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence.

AI is rapidly changing the world of journalism — but is it for better or worse?

Poynter Institute faculty member Al Tompkins and Chicago-based reporter Mills Hayes join hosts Carol Marin and Lisa Parker to discuss how AI is transforming story writing, newsrooms and the industry as a whole.

The guests discuss how they utilize AI in their reporting, offering guidance for young reporters on how to use it and not abuse it.

Produced by Sabrina Castle, music by Lucas Weisman. "So You Want to be a Reporter" is made possible by DePaul University's Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence.

Each year at its Annual Center Awards, the Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence honors one distinguished alum alongside a fellow distinguished journalist and awardee.

In their careers, the honorees have worked to represent the principles of the Center—upholding truth, accuracy, fairness, and context during the reporting process.

On this special episode of 'So You Want to be a Reporter', co-hosts Carol Marin and Lisa Parker are joined by the 2025 awardees: ABC 7 Chicago’s Stephanie Wade (CMN '16) and Astead Herndon of The New York Times.

DePaul graduate student Lina Gebhardt also joins the conversation to explore the awardees’ roots in Chicago, their successes, and their message to the next generation of journalists.

Being an early-career reporter takes a lot of work—both Wade and Herndon reflect on those early ups and downs, from college life and camera equipment to creating meaning through their work.

***

Produced by Lina Gebhardt, music by Lucas Weisman. 'So You Want to be a Reporter' is made possible by DePaul University’s Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence.

The future of journalism is evolving, but what happens to those "legacy media" outlets that helped build its foundation?

Veteran journalists Chris Fusco, former managing editor of the Chicago Sun-Times, and Jen Sabella, co-founder of Block Club Chicago, join hosts Carol Marin and Lisa Parker to discuss the role of legacy media in today's shifting news landscape.

From navigating the digital world to rebuilding trust, this episode takes a look at whether or not "legacy" is a badge of honor—or a burden.

Produced by Lina Gebhardt, music by Max Duggan. "So You Want to be a Reporter" is made possible by DePaul University's Center for Journalism Integrity & Excellence.

Tahera Rahman is a groundbreaker, the first news anchor in the U.S. to report the news wearing a hijab. Now a reporter at NBC5 in Dallas, she previously was a news anchor in Austin, Texas. She tells her story to Carol Marin.

What is it like to cover a political convention? As Republicans and Democrats prepare to officially nominate their candidates, we talk to Chris Bury, an ABC News veteran, and Melody Mercado, a reporter with Block Club Chicago. Covering an convention is a benchmark for many reporters. Learn what to expect!