The Press Box

Latest Episodes:

What It’s Like to Work at The Athletic With Lindsay Jones. Plus, ESPN and Newsroom AI. Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

Bryan and David are joined by colleague Lindsay Jones to discuss her experience working at The Athletic. They review Bob Kravitz’s piece on Substack, touch on Jones’s experience at the site, and discuss how things are progressing after the merger with the Times (4:33). Later, they debate just how well our new member of the newsroom, Genesis, an artificial intelligence tool, could integrate into the workplace (40:05). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Guest: Lindsay Jones

Producer: Erika Cervantes

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Astead Herndon on Campaign 2024, Midwest Diners, Podcasting vs. Writing, and The New York Times. Jul 21, 2023

Show notes

Bryan is joined by New York Times reporter and podcaster Astead Herndon from ‘The Run-Up’ to discuss life on the campaign trail. They talk through the transition from print stories to podcasting, dive into the inner workings behind the stories reported for ‘The Run-Up,’ then unpack voters' response to candidates on the trail.

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Astead Herndon

Producer: Erika Cervantes

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What Should The New York Times Do With The Athletic? Plus: No More Hollywood Profiles. Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

Bryan and David brainstorm how The New York Times and The Athletic could restructure heading into the new phase of coverage (3:40). Then, amid the ongoing strikes in Hollywood, they discuss a few more media side effects, including the loss of the celebrity profile, actor promos, and more (34:10). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Erika Cervantes

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The We’re-Back Show: RIP New York Times Sports, ESPN Layoffs, GQ, and More Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

Bryan and David discuss The New York Times replacing its sports section with The Athletic and what that means for their sports writers (2:10). Then, they talk about GQ’s column about Warner Bros. Discovery president David Zaslav (32:06). Later, they get into the latest round of ESPN layoffs and how it is now affecting the people we see on air (41:01). Finally, Bryan has some notes for David from his summer vacation (58:37).

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producers: Erika Cervantes and Carlos Chiriboga

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Jake Tapper on Writing Novels, the '70s, Print Days, Rupert Murdoch, and the New CNN Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

Bryan is joined by CNN’s Jake Tapper to discuss his upcoming thriller novel, ‘All the Demons Are Here.’ They begin talking through the writing process whilst being a lead anchor, discuss why Tapper chose to write a novel based in the 1970s, and touch on which characters in his novel were inspired by actual media members. Then later, they assess how CNN should define itself in the year 2023, and finally, Tapper explains just how difficult it was to watch the Philadelphia Eagles lose in the Super Bowl.

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Jake Tapper

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Assistance: Eduardo O'Campo

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One Perfect Story: Chris Jones on "The Things That Carried Him" Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

Bryan is joined by journalist Chris Jones to remember his 2010 piece in Esquire, "The Things That Carried Him," a true story about Sgt. Joe Montgomery’s last trip home. They discuss how Jones knew he was ready to write this particular story, the process of covering the death of a loved one, and how this story resonated with readers. Then, they touch on Jones's experience writing for Esquire Magazine in the early aughts and working for David Granger.

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Chris Jones

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Assistance: Eduardo O'Campo

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The 20th Anniversary of 'Shattered Glass' with Writer-Director Billy Ray Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

Bryan is joined by Billy Ray, writer and director of ‘Shattered Glass,’ a movie that covers the Stephen Glass New Republic scandal, for the 20th anniversary of its release. They discuss Ray’s experience transitioning from writer to director, how he cast Hayden Christensen as the lead, what it was like writing for a protagonist such as Glass, how Tom Cruise received a producer credit, and much more!

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Billy Ray

Producer: Erika Cervantes

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Tim Mak on Reporting From Ukraine, Going Solo for Substack, and the Life of a War Correspondent Jun 21, 2023

Show notes

Bryan is joined by journalist Tim Mak in Kyiv to discuss his time reporting from Ukraine. They talk through his time in the country when the invasion began, why he decided to return to Kyiv to continue war coverage, and his unique, journalistic style, which captures an immersive picture of life in Ukraine.

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Tim Mak

Producer: Erika Cervantes

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Did We Ever Decide How to Cover Trump? Plus: The Athletic Pivots and the End of the Draft-Night Woj Bomb Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

Ahead of the NBA draft, Bryan and David talk through the announcement from Woj that he will not tip the picks on Twitter before they’re made (0:25). Then, they discuss Trump’s outing in Miami and the media’s uncertain coverage of such events amid his second indictment (9:53). Then they touch on news of layoffs at The Athletic and consider what this means for the website and beat writers (25:55). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Erika Cervantes

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Live From the U.S. Open With Kevin Van Valkenburg and NBC's John Wood Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

Bryan is live from the U.S. Open and dives into news of the LIV Golf–PGA Tour merger with Kevin Van Valkenburg (2:07). They discuss how the story broke, what the relationship is like between both entities, and what it’s like as a golf writer during these events. Later, NBC’s John Wood joins to talk about his experience as an on-course reporter, including inspecting the course, talking with the audience, and grabbing exclusive bits for the viewers (31:02).

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guests: Kevin Van Valkenburg and John Wood

Producer: Erika Cervantes

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