Eric Deggans
@edeggans.bsky.social
Knight Professor of Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington&Lee U. Critic at Large, NPR. Blerd. Drummer. Author: Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation. Media bloviator.
Pinned
Is the journalism industry turning its back on (some) women and people of color?
The deafening silence from industry leaders as people lose jobs and are marginalized - again - leaves me wondering exactly what they stand for.
open.substack.com
As the news media struggles for relevance in a diversifying country, why does it seem as if the journalism industry has turned its back on (some) women and people of color? My Substack essay: https://loom.ly/lz9wJqg
Would love to think it was a passive-aggressive swipe at a conservative structure which never really embraced him. Or maybe a wayward employee who snuck one past the boss.
I'd love to know why Musk thought this was a good idea. I mean, it was for us, not so much for him.
November 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Would love to think it was a passive-aggressive swipe at a conservative structure which never really embraced him. Or maybe a wayward employee who snuck one past the boss.
This here.
I wrote about the fake account blowup on X this weekend. A genuine post-truth nightmare and proof that these companies have polluted their platforms so thoroughly and traded reality for profit that they've undermined the very idea of what the internet is supposed to be.
That MAGA Account Might Be a Troll From Pakistan
How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature
www.theatlantic.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
This here.
One of the coolest days in NPR-land is here! Books We Love, the gigantic compendium of bite-size book reviews publishes today. Under staff picks, you'll see my take on books about Desi Arnaz and Lorne Michaels. But there's much more to love here. READ: https://loom.ly/DqKKH90
Books We Love
Here are 380+ great reads from 2025 handpicked just for you by NPR staffers and trusted critics.
apps.npr.org
November 24, 2025 at 2:05 PM
One of the coolest days in NPR-land is here! Books We Love, the gigantic compendium of bite-size book reviews publishes today. Under staff picks, you'll see my take on books about Desi Arnaz and Lorne Michaels. But there's much more to love here. READ: https://loom.ly/DqKKH90
Unfortunately, that was a drum machine programmed by Prince. But you can hear his groove on later tunes.
His solo in 777-9311 >>>
When I was a young player learning ways of The Funk, Jellybean Johnson of The Time was a player we all looked up to, straining to cop the grooves behind The Bird and Jungle Love. RIP to a master musician who always grooved harder than anyone else onstage. https://loom.ly/FFrhEzY
November 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Unfortunately, that was a drum machine programmed by Prince. But you can hear his groove on later tunes.
Drummer, of course! lol.
November 23, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Drummer, of course! lol.
When I was a young player learning ways of The Funk, Jellybean Johnson of The Time was a player we all looked up to, straining to cop the grooves behind The Bird and Jungle Love. RIP to a master musician who always grooved harder than anyone else onstage. https://loom.ly/FFrhEzY
Jellybean Johnson, the Time Musician and a Pioneer of the Minneapolis Sound, Dead at 69
Jellybean Johnson — one of the pioneers of the Minneapolis Sound, the Time drummer, and multi-instrumentalist/producer — died on Nov. 21 at age 69.
www.rollingstone.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:05 AM
When I was a young player learning ways of The Funk, Jellybean Johnson of The Time was a player we all looked up to, straining to cop the grooves behind The Bird and Jungle Love. RIP to a master musician who always grooved harder than anyone else onstage. https://loom.ly/FFrhEzY
Yeah. I said that in my post.
And maybe worse, I don't believe the spokesperson.
November 21, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Yeah. I said that in my post.
I am horrified we have reached a point in government and public life where a White House spokesperson must assure that the President does not want to execute members of the opposing party in Congress. (worse, it's a denial I don't believe for a moment). https://loom.ly/OEwHWIg
White House condemns Democratic lawmakers' video but backs off Trump's posts
The Democratic lawmakers said that members of the military can and must refuse illegal orders by their superiors.
www.npr.org
November 21, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I am horrified we have reached a point in government and public life where a White House spokesperson must assure that the President does not want to execute members of the opposing party in Congress. (worse, it's a denial I don't believe for a moment). https://loom.ly/OEwHWIg
I saw what you did there! Brilliant!
A new area of expertise takes wing!
November 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I saw what you did there! Brilliant!
This may be my most interesting bit of punditry yet: Quoted in a Town and Country story about how some TV characters are depicted as expert birders in Netflix's The Residence and HBO Max's Task. https://loom.ly/o-ou8SQ
Status Birds: How Ornithology Became Prestige TV’s Favorite Pastime
Forget moving into a big house or driving a flashy car. These days if a television series wants to let you know a character has money or problems, their trophies will have wings.
www.townandcountrymag.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:14 PM
This may be my most interesting bit of punditry yet: Quoted in a Town and Country story about how some TV characters are depicted as expert birders in Netflix's The Residence and HBO Max's Task. https://loom.ly/o-ou8SQ
Of course you are. But note you are trading messages with an actual journalist who has spent a lot of time in this space talking with people about the craft. You have a narrative you would prefer to believe based on one interaction. Not sure why that makes sense.
Is this an example of a “journalist eagerly explaining what he does,” or…what?
Pretend my anecdote isn’t representative, no one will stop you. But I am very comfortable with my experience being representative of the news media at large.
Pretend my anecdote isn’t representative, no one will stop you. But I am very comfortable with my experience being representative of the news media at large.
November 21, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Of course you are. But note you are trading messages with an actual journalist who has spent a lot of time in this space talking with people about the craft. You have a narrative you would prefer to believe based on one interaction. Not sure why that makes sense.
The editorial board is a group of writers separate from the newsroom (read the notation at the bottom of the editorial). I'm wondering what the folks who actually edit the news content of the Washington Post think.
Well here it is - straight from their Editorial Board
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | ‘Things happen’
Setting the record straight about our murdered colleague.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The editorial board is a group of writers separate from the newsroom (read the notation at the bottom of the editorial). I'm wondering what the folks who actually edit the news content of the Washington Post think.
So...because one journalist reacted badly to one question you asked them -- and we have no way of knowing how nice you were in asking the question -- that justifies concluding that most journalists won't explain what they do to the public? Again, this makes no sense.
A media person explicitly told me “I don’t have to answer to you” when I pressed her to explain why she wouldn’t reveal a source that lied. Then she blocked me.
Yeah, eager to explain what you do well. Uh huh. Sure.
Yeah, eager to explain what you do well. Uh huh. Sure.
November 20, 2025 at 4:49 PM
So...because one journalist reacted badly to one question you asked them -- and we have no way of knowing how nice you were in asking the question -- that justifies concluding that most journalists won't explain what they do to the public? Again, this makes no sense.
Wonder if anyone currently editing the Washington Post will have the guts to criticize Trump's terrible comments about slain Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashogghi. https://loom.ly/mjXiyYw
Former Washington Post Editor Calls Trump’s Jamal Khashoggi Comments 'A Disgrace' | Exclusive
Martin Baron, who was the Post’s top editor when the columnist was killed, tells TheWrap: “Just when you think Trump has gone as low as possible, he goes still lower”
www.thewrap.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Wonder if anyone currently editing the Washington Post will have the guts to criticize Trump's terrible comments about slain Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashogghi. https://loom.ly/mjXiyYw
My Substack essay asking why it seems as if the journalism industry has turned its back on (some) women and people of color? READ: https://loom.ly/lz9wJqg
November 18, 2025 at 8:31 PM
My Substack essay asking why it seems as if the journalism industry has turned its back on (some) women and people of color? READ: https://loom.ly/lz9wJqg
John Oliver had masterful segment on public media and how pulling federal money hurt rural consumers legislators said they were defending, while making it more likely those stations need NPR and PBS. And he's doing a cool auction to raise money. WATCH: https://loom.ly/t7FRhXc
November 18, 2025 at 2:12 PM
John Oliver had masterful segment on public media and how pulling federal money hurt rural consumers legislators said they were defending, while making it more likely those stations need NPR and PBS. And he's doing a cool auction to raise money. WATCH: https://loom.ly/t7FRhXc
As the news media struggles for relevance in a diversifying country, why does it seem as if the journalism industry has turned its back on (some) women and people of color? My Substack essay: https://loom.ly/lz9wJqg
Is the journalism industry turning its back on (some) women and people of color?
The deafening silence from industry leaders as people lose jobs and are marginalized - again - leaves me wondering exactly what they stand for.
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:56 PM
As the news media struggles for relevance in a diversifying country, why does it seem as if the journalism industry has turned its back on (some) women and people of color? My Substack essay: https://loom.ly/lz9wJqg
In the case of the Times reporting on transgender issues, several of the newspapers own contributors responded: 'NYTimes' accused of biased coverage of transgender people
www.npr.org/2023/02/15/1...
www.npr.org/2023/02/15/1...
November 16, 2025 at 10:05 AM
In the case of the Times reporting on transgender issues, several of the newspapers own contributors responded: 'NYTimes' accused of biased coverage of transgender people
www.npr.org/2023/02/15/1...
www.npr.org/2023/02/15/1...
Journalists often struggle to combat truthiness - the idea that because people believe strongly something is true it must be true. Unfortunately, sometimes people can strongly believe things that aren’t entirely correct, especially if they don’t have all the facts. And that’s what I’m telling you.
I am telling you, after decades of consuming legacy news media, that this is how I feel. This is why I dumped those subscriptions and sought indie media instead. There are many, many people who feel this way.
Your response was to tell me I’m full of shit …
Your response was to tell me I’m full of shit …
November 16, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Journalists often struggle to combat truthiness - the idea that because people believe strongly something is true it must be true. Unfortunately, sometimes people can strongly believe things that aren’t entirely correct, especially if they don’t have all the facts. And that’s what I’m telling you.
Fox News is a conservative boosting political operation disguised as a cable news channel. Its fact based reporting exists to give the outlet access to areas that ideologically focused, opinion based outlets would never have.
I learned alot about the difference between a journalist and editorial from Julie Mason on Potus. The journalists job is the facts. She had Fox News reporters on because they reported facts and it pissed people off. There is no way Blueskyers would allow it here.
November 16, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Fox News is a conservative boosting political operation disguised as a cable news channel. Its fact based reporting exists to give the outlet access to areas that ideologically focused, opinion based outlets would never have.
Sorry to be so blunt. But that’s BS. There are plenty of journalist, including this one, who are eager to explain what we do. And we respect our audience. But I won’t tolerate someone disrespecting me.
Absolutely. I have a hard time thinking of a profession that treats its consumers/audience with the disdain that journalists show us. They act as if explaining themselves to us is beneath them
November 16, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Sorry to be so blunt. But that’s BS. There are plenty of journalist, including this one, who are eager to explain what we do. And we respect our audience. But I won’t tolerate someone disrespecting me.
True. I’m afraid people really won’t know until a fair amount of great journalism is gone.
They have an idea of it based on whatever they have seen as a plot device in a television procedural or whatever FOX has told them.
We are different than what people think, and I think that is a problem for us because they don’t know why we matter.
We are different than what people think, and I think that is a problem for us because they don’t know why we matter.
November 16, 2025 at 1:47 AM
True. I’m afraid people really won’t know until a fair amount of great journalism is gone.
I know. And when I try to explain, I get accused of being defensive or clueless. But journalists have got to talk more openly about what we do well and what we don’t.
after watching people getting fussy with you and with Elizabeth Spiers these past few days, I get the sense that they really don’t know what a journalist is
November 16, 2025 at 1:33 AM
I know. And when I try to explain, I get accused of being defensive or clueless. But journalists have got to talk more openly about what we do well and what we don’t.
Again, look at my job description. It’s what I do all day, every day.
If you want good journalism to survive you must be willing to forcefully call out bad journalism or the slop will strangle the good. Everyone who's not biased can see this happening at the times, it's declining into slop and insiders are sticking their heads in the sand.
November 16, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Again, look at my job description. It’s what I do all day, every day.
This is true.
i keep seeing this falsehood repeated - including in response to your post - that people working in news are so very well paid. not only are there fewer news jobs than before but the pay is only ok (if that) not great & stability hard to find. www.bls.gov/ooh/media-an...
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
News analysts, reporters, and journalists keep the public updated about current events and noteworthy information.
www.bls.gov
November 16, 2025 at 1:26 AM
This is true.