Washed Up Journalists

Episode Notes Author, educator and journalist Eileen Wirth grew up in a household where everyone loved to read (anything, even ketchup labels). Wirth recounts her early years as a pioneering woman of journalism, the value of one-on-one editing with students, the importance of having broad interests, and the skills needed to write (lots of) books.

Episode Notes David Krajicek emerged from a long line of bartenders and meatpackers to become a crime reporter and columnist for the tabloid-style New York Daily News. Krajicek explains what it was like covering the Gotti crime family, reporting on New York's citywide crime crisis, and how to deal with dentists who have hairy hands. He also discusses writing books, including his mo

Episode Notes Investigative journalists and book collaborators Jeff Testerman and Daniel Freed discuss their new book, Call Me Commander: A Former Intelligence Officer and the Journalists Who Uncovered his Scheme to Fleece America. Testerman was working for the St. Petersburg Times in 2009 when he latched onto the story of the U.S. Navy Veterans Association and its mysterious leade

Episode Notes Longtime newspaper cartoonist Tom Kerr recalls his early days cartooning in Australia, the adrenaline rush of a newsroom, chronicling the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan, and some harsh days at the New York Post. He also explains why watercolor is his go-to medium and how he came to spend a decade illustrating McGruff the Crime Dog. Support Washed Up Journali

Episode Notes Award-winning author Paul Hendrickson (Hemingway's Boat, Plagued by Fire, and others) joins the pod to explore his decades-long career as a Style section reporter at The Washington Post (1977-2001). He explains his obsession with finding the humanity in his subjects, writing through the use of storytelling pockets, the advent of the digital revolution, and inheriting

Episode Notes Ozark writer and executive producer Chris Mundy joins Episode 009 of Washed Up Journalists to recount the early days of his career as a journalist for Rolling Stone magazine. Mundy recounts times spent profiling celebrities such as Paul McCartney, writing cover stories on deadline, the art of composing scenes, and that time he got the cold shoulder from Oasis. He also

Episode Notes The best way to start 2020 is with an airing of grievances, which is exactly what previous guests James Fogarty and John Prescott do in this episode of Washed Up Journalists. They share and discuss the things that annoy them most in journalism, including misspellings, "shocking" news items, and a phenomenon called addictive telescopic syndrome. How many hot dishes can

Episode Notes Longtime Warren Buffett columnist Steve Jordon joins Washed Up Journalists to discuss his time covering the legendary investor. Jordon expands on his dealings with Buffett and his time researching and writing his 2013 book The Oracle and Omaha. He also recounts his stint on the rewrite desk, the differences between book writing and daily journalism, and the curse of b

Episode Notes Legendary photojournalist Dave Hamer joins Washed Up Journalists in Episode 006 to discuss the multi-state pursuit of American spree killer Charles Starkweather in the 1950s. Hamer also recounts his time working with a young Tom Brokaw, being one of the first American journalists on the ground in Vietnam, and the time he inadvertently led JFK's presidential motorcade

Episode Notes In Episode 005 of Washed Up Journalists, Jennifer Savage connects with John all the way from Valencia, Spain. After a unique childhood in Alaska, Savage became a critical member of the team at Time, Inc., which started and eventually grew an impressive international portfolio. Savage explains how she helped develop business for publications such as Sports Illustrated,