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Megan Burbank

@meganburbank.bsky.social

4.4K followers 320 following 350 posts

former news editor at Cascade PBS. reporter covering abortion policy in the absence of Roe at NPR, The New Republic, Axios. girl about town at Burbank Industries. formerly Seattle Times, Portland Mercury, The Stranger. meganburbank.substack.com ✨

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Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 16d

Today, I was laid off from Cascade PBS along with my entire team and most of the newsroom. I'll have more to say, but I have loved my time as news editor alongside some of the best journalists I have ever worked with. Every time a newsroom closes, stories go with it. The silence that follows is loud

KUOW Public Radio @kuow.org · 16d

The move, attributed to the loss of federal funding for public media, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers and the creation of three new positions.

Seattle's Cascade PBS announces layoffs, end of online long-form journalism

The move, attributed to the loss of federal funding for public media, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers and the creation of three new positions, station President and CEO Rob Dunlop told KUOW.

www.kuow.org

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Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 2d

link for those who are curious meganburbank.substack.com

Burbank Industries | Megan Burbank | Substack

Reproductive health policy reporting. Pop culture commentary. Click to read Burbank Industries, by Megan Burbank, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

meganburbank.substack.com

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Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 2d

if you had asked me two weeks ago how to grow your newsletter audience I would not have suggested “get laid off from your public media job” but that is in fact the answer

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Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 5d

back on my bullshit*

*reviewing the ballet + writing candidly about my experiences
meganburbank.substack.com/p/i-got-laid...

I Got Laid Off But I'm Still Writing

And we're talking about PNB's Jewels.

meganburbank.substack.com

Reposted by Megan Burbank

Jessica Ellis @baddestmamajama.bsky.social · 7d

A woman who did good for decades and encouraged the expansion of our empathy beyond our species. We were lucky to have her. She changed many of us for the better.

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 7d

Jane Goodall, ethologist and conservationist, has died. She was 91

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Reposted by Megan Burbank

Ned Lannamann @nedl.bsky.social · 11d

Of all the days to wage war on Portland, this is probably the stupidest possible day. It has been a genuinely gorgeous, tranquil, lovely, and absolutely peaceful day.

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Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 12d

please do! not! sleep! on the work our newsroom has been producing up to the bitter end

Cascade PBS Newsroom @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social · 13d

LISTEN: A new podcast series, Ferguson vs. Everyone, explores the state's puzzling reception to its 24th governor. Host Sara Bernard and politics reporter Laurel Demkovich speak with lawmakers, a pollster and reporters about the unexpected moves of Gov. Bob Ferguson.

Ferguson vs. Everyone: How WA’s new governor has defied expectations

From lawmakers to voters, Governor Bob Ferguson has surprised and confused people on all sides during his first few months. Northwest Reports digs in.

www.cascadepbs.org

Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 13d

Literally any time. I seem to be extremely available these days

Reposted by Megan Burbank

Cascade PBS Newsroom @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social · 13d

Newly uncovered audit findings allege a South Sound property manager fraudulently obtained nearly $1 million in pandemic rent assistance money, in a scheme that led Thurston County to shut down emergency aid for months.

Olympia ‘Diaper Guy’ named in $940K rent aid fraud investigation

Auditors flagged dozens of payments to Lance Benson’s property management company as suspected fraud. But county leaders chose to go after the nonprofit aid distributor instead.

www.cascadepbs.org

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Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 13d

Perfect Match on Netflix. You could also make the case that Love Island fits this description. It’s bad that I know this but I must share my truth

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Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 13d

I'm sorry to tell you this but it kind of already exists

Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 14d

I mean LISTEN to the pod! lol I am a PROFESSIONAL writer

Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 14d

this is SO NICE Bob Ham🥲thank you

Robert Ham @robertham.bsky.social · 14d

Megan was one of my favorite people to work with at the Portland Mercury and Seattle Times. She's a brilliant, savvy, no bullshit reporter. If you're smart, you will hire her immediately.

Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 15d

Now that I've had a moment to process, I am interested in lining up work. I do it all: editing, reporting, proofreading, interim editing, teaching freshman comp (seriously). I specialize in enterprise reporting on reproductive health policy, and am ready to get back to it. My gmail is megan.burbank

Reposted by Megan Burbank

Lex Vaughn @lex.vaughn.theneedling.com · 14d

At this point, it's all a team effort to better report on our community no matter where you're working. You get that story. I'll get this one. Even together, we'll never get to it all. Not enough local reporters left!

Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 16d

I completely agree. The loss of any journalist or outlet harms our whole community; competition makes us stronger. Thank you for the solidarity

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Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 14d

You should absolutely read the whole thing, and the accompanying podcast our department worked so hard to produce. Laurel is an amazing reporter and I have loved editing her sharp, well-sourced takes on the machinations in Olympia. Wherever she lands next will be extremely lucky to have her

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Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 14d

The last story I edited before Monday's news was @laureldemkovich.bsky.social's excellent examination of Bob Ferguson's first 8 months as governor, a tenure marked by low public approval, decisions baffling to Dems and Republicans, and reduced press availability.
www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...

The Curse of the Middle Guy: Ferguson’s first 8 months as governor

Expectations were high for Bob Ferguson. For many across the political spectrum, the reality has been baffling and disappointing. What happened?

www.cascadepbs.org

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Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 14d

you heard it here first

AHHHHHH! real monsters 👹 @allirico.bsky.social · 14d

Megan is an amazing editor! Hire her!

Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 15d

Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 14d

Thank you, Alli! 🥰

Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 15d

If you want to support my work this is a good way way to do it: meganburbank.substack.com. Thank you to everyone who's reached out since yesterday. Your care and kindness are everything and I'm working on getting back to all of you individually ♥️ now I think it's time for a snack and a ballet class

Burbank Industries | Megan Burbank | Substack

Reproductive health policy reporting. Pop culture commentary. Click to read Burbank Industries, by Megan Burbank, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

meganburbank.substack.com

Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 15d

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Reposted by Megan Burbank

AHHHHHH! real monsters 👹 @allirico.bsky.social · 16d

I’m absolutely gutted by this news and the loss of so many excellent colleagues and friends. This is a huge loss for independent journalism in the PNW 😞💔

KUOW Public Radio @kuow.org · 16d

The move, attributed to the loss of federal funding for public media, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers and the creation of three new positions.

Seattle's Cascade PBS announces layoffs, end of online long-form journalism

The move, attributed to the loss of federal funding for public media, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers and the creation of three new positions, station President and CEO Rob Dunlop told KUOW.

www.kuow.org

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Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 16d

Thank you, Kristin! 💕

Reposted by Megan Burbank

Jeong Park @jeongpark.bsky.social · 16d

Yes, Cascade PBS is our (Seattle Times's) "competitor," so to speak, but also its journalists and their work has pushed us to do better ourselves -- When a region loses a journalist, its impact goes far beyond just a single job.

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Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 16d

I completely agree. The loss of any journalist or outlet harms our whole community; competition makes us stronger. Thank you for the solidarity

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Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 16d

Thanks, Jim

Megan Burbank @meganburbank.bsky.social · 16d

Thank you, Catherine. That means a lot 💕