The Press Box

Latest Episodes:

The AP's Philip Crowther on Covering Ukraine, Live Shots, and Reporting in Six Languages Mar 15, 2022

Show notes

Bryan is joined by Associated Press international correspondent Philip Crowther from Lviv, Ukraine. They discuss Crowther’s day-to-day operations, summarizing the news for other countries when recording live shots, covering this war in comparison to others, and more.

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Philip Crowther

Associated Producer: Erika Cervantes

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Joe Buck to ESPN, Quarterback Media Transactions, 'Broadcast News,' and a Tribute to Brent Renaud Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

Bryan and David address the news that Joe Buck will also be leaving Fox to join Troy Aikman at ESPN. (0:26) Then, they weigh in on media involvement surrounding player communications and breaking news, from Aaron Rodgers staying in Green Bay to Russell Wilson being traded to the Broncos (29:10).

Later, they pay tribute to journalist and filmmaker Brent Renaud who was killed in Ukraine as well as actor William Hurt, who starred in 'Broadcast News.'

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes

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Covering the MLB Lockout and Announcer Musical Chairs With the Washington Post's Ben Strauss Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

The Washington Post’s Ben Strauss joins Bryan to discuss the news that after 99 days the baseball lockout has come to an end. They talk through the weight of the story and how coverage was perceived, break down Major League Baseball’s reaction to the lockout, and discuss theories that could potentially influence the coverage of labor issues. Plus, more on Troy Aikman leaving Fox for ESPN and Strauss’s paternity leave experience.

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Ben Strauss

Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes

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Ukraine’s Media Strategy, Russia’s Ban on Journalism, and the Ongoing Coverage of the War in Ukraine. Mar 07, 2022

Show notes

Bryan and David follow up on the ongoing coverage of the war in Ukraine. They discuss The New York Times’ decision to publish a photograph of Ukrainian civilians who were killed as they tried to flee a battle zone, then weigh in on how both countries’ media approaches could affect the perception of the war (0:28).

Later, they switch gears and touch on the debut of the new HBO show ‘Winning Time,’ about the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, and discuss the ongoing conversation surrounding Adam McKay and Will Ferrell (23:37).

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes

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CBS News’s Margaret Brennan on Covering Ukraine, TV News During a War, and Hosting ‘Face the Nation’ Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

Bryan is joined by CBS’s Margaret Brennan following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address and amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They talk through the ongoing war in Ukraine and touch on how the United States is responding. Then, they discuss the responsibility TV news has to its viewers, and break down the preparation and execution involved in Brennan’s Sunday show, ‘Face the Nation.’

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guest: Margaret Brennan

Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes

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CNN and More on the Coverage of Ukraine Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

Bryan and David discuss the latest coverage developments from the invasion of Ukraine. They break down the “fog of war” and decipher what we can understand from recent reports, weigh in on CNN’s on-ground coverage, and discuss media moments surrounding the invasion (0:39). Later, they touch on the sports news that Troy Aikman will be leaving Fox for ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Football' (24:10).

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes

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Watching the Coverage of the Invasion of Ukraine Feb 24, 2022

Show notes

Bryan and David break down the cable news coverage of the invasion of Ukraine. They discuss first impressions of videos and photos being aired, talk through the type of cable news coverage we’re seeing in comparison to the papers, and then specifically dissect CNN’s coverage of the events.

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes

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Russia and Ukraine Coverage, NBA Locker Rooms, and RIP P.J. O’Rourke Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

Bryan and David kick off the pod by reacting to coverage about Russia’s invasion of eastern Ukraine and discussing the latest war correspondent to capture America’s heart (00:50). They then break down Adam Silver’s recent comments about restricting locker room access (22:15) and dive into the legacy of satirist P.J. O’Rourke (38:22), before David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline (55:14).

Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker

Producer: Devon Manze

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Trashy Tabloids and True Crime With Clare Malone and the Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle Feb 18, 2022

Show notes

Bryan is joined by The New Yorker’s Clare Malone to break down The Ringer’s new podcast, ‘Just Like Us: The Tabloids That Changed America.’ They talk through the era of Bennifer, the evolution of celebrity, and discuss the values of America seen through celebrity media (0:33). Then, Bryan is joined by musician and novelist John Darnielle to dive into the genre of true crime, touch on writing songs vs. novels, and discuss his new book ‘Devil House’ (31:52).

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guests: Clare Malone and John Darnielle

Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes

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The Glory Days of Entertainment Weekly and Covering the Olympics With Ty Burr, Owen Gleiberman, and Jason Gay Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

Bryan is joined by film critics Ty Burr and Owen Gleiberman to break down Entertainment Weekly dating back to the '90s. They discuss the evolution of the magazine, the environment and culture that Entertainment Weekly fostered, and of course, the letter-grade reviews (0:33). Later, Bryan is joined by The Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay to discuss his experience covering the Winter Olympics in Beijing. They touch on preparations prior to flying to China, what it’s like covering the Games in the middle of a pandemic, and weigh in on why it’s important for reporters to be on site (50:51).

Additional information: Ty Burr's Watch List (https://tyburrswatchlist.substack.com/)

Host: Bryan Curtis

Guests: Ty Burr, Owen Gleiberman, and Jason Gay

Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes

Production Assistance: Isaiah Blakely

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