Byline Confidential

Briana Bierschbach

Minnpost newswoman Briana Bierschbach didn't plan on becoming a political reporter. She wanted to review films.

But Briana didn't get the Arts and Entertainment gig she wanted in college and wound up covering city government at the Minnesota Daily. The rest of the story is fun times covering important issues, fiscal notes, whacky characters and much more! A good conversation with a great (tough) journalist!

Leah Pickett

Chicago arts journalist Leah Pickett joins us to talk about her career covering music, movies, and FOOD at places like the Chicago Tribune, WBEZ and Consequence of Sound! A fun chat about film soundtracks, screenplays, ballet, the Lion King and a whole lot more! Check out her latest project, Music at the Movies!

Pam Zekman

CBS 2's Pam Zekman is a living legend in Chicago journalism whose reporting has helped change the city for the better.

Check out this episode to hear Pam talk about her recent stories revealing ambulance shortages in the city, the time she helped expose clinics where doctors performed abortions on women who weren’t pregnant and the Mirage Tavern, where she became “Pam the Barmaid” for an unforgettable series about the city’s corruption. A fun chat about investigative journalism, the ethics of undercover reporting and much more!

Jared Strong

Disillusioned with corporate journalism, Jared Strong left the Des Moines Register for the family-owned Carroll Daily Times Herald.

From an embarrassing childhood appearance in a column by "Iowa Boy" Chuck Offenburger to finding his footing at a prestige paper before leaving for a brand new world in a small town, Jared's had a fascinating career in the news business. Along the way, he's reported excellent stories about the mentally ill and others marginalized by society and earned a reputation for excellence. An interesting chat with a reporter who likes to tell the sad stories!

Martin Cizmar

Willamette Week's Arts and Culture Editor Martin Cizmar heard he could get free tickets to a Pearl Jam concert by working at The University of Akron's student newspaper so he started writing for the Buchtelite.

Over the years, Martin has written fascinating stories about lost treasure hunters and he's antagonized rich people for the public's good. He's learned to be embarrassed by the praise lavished upon him by a local mayor at his first job in Virginia ("If the politicians of a small town are thanking you for how you do your job you are probably doing a terrible job as a reporter") and he's gotten his bosses to sign off on projects where he gets to drink tons of beer and write about it.

A fun chat with a true alt-weekly guy who says his favorite way to get a story is to "read a crappy under-reported story in a daily" and start asking questions.

Octavio Lopez

It's a classic journalism tale: The reporter who walked into the newsroom and asked for a job. That's what Octavio Lopez, who had just immigrated to the United States from Mexico, did while working as a busboy and elevator guy.

Octavio is the current breaking news editor at Hoy, Chicago's Spanish daily, and you couldn't find a nicer man. This week’s episode features a fun chat about what it’s like to work in Mexican journalism, how bribes work in Mexican newspapers ("Mexico is doing well!") and how he transitioned from one society to another.

David Hanners

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Hanners helped free a wrongfully convicted man from prison while working at the Dallas Morning News and set a high bar for his fellow Twin Cities journalists with his writing at the Pioneer Press.

Hanners shares great stories from his career in this episode along with his thoughts on why much newsprint isn’t very interesting. Blame J-school! He took a buyout earlier this year and is moving to Kuwait next month. Check out his latest folk album, “There Are No Secrets in this Town."

Alison Leiby

Alison Leiby is funny! She's written e-books spoofing Sheryl Sandberg and Princeton Mom, articles for Eater and women's magazines and a bunch of other cool things. We have a fun talk about her writing partnership with Alyssa Wolff, her favorite comedians, what the differences are between being funny in print and in person, how to become King of Central Park and much more!

Heather Haddon

Heather Haddon has gone from helping found an indie paper to covering cockroach infestations for AM New York to pursuing Sunday scoops and stakeouts at the New York Post. Today Ms. Haddon covers New Jersey and Chris Christie – Bridgegate – for the Wall Street Journal. Not bad for someone who never planned on going into the news business! An interesting chat with a great reporter, live from Central Park. (Apologies for the miscellaneous outdoors noise.)

Steve Dolinsky

Fun fact about Steve Dolinsky, ABC's Hungry Hound: An Arkansas news director once tried to rename him "Steve Dolin," but he declined.

A real fun conversation with an entertaining journalist about Good Eating, great food, why he found hard news depressing and sports reporting boring, moving from smaller television markets to the big city, getting thrown out of Graham Elliot's restaurant and more! He also has good advice for aspiring TV reporters and recommends a few off-the-radar restaurants in town. If you enjoy this chat -- you'll enjoy this chat -- check out his podcast, The Feed Podcast, with Rick Bayless.