Welcome to Ink and Airwaves, where the timeless craft of journalism meets the dynamic energy of podcasting. Each season, we explore the world of storytelling and news creation through the lens of news literacy. Hosted by students, this podcast dives deep into the principles that define journalism—from the ethics that guide it to the challenges it faces in a rapidly changing world.
Join us as we uncover untold stories, examine the forces shaping our media diets, and reflect on what it means to be news-literate. Whether you're a news junkie, a curious listener, or just someone who wants to think more critically about the news you consume, Ink and Airwaves invites you to question, explore, and discover the power of a well-told story.
In this reflection episode, the team steps back from reporting and compares notes on what changed in their own news habits after analyzing Spectrum News 1 Milwaukee. They talk through where local news fits into their day-to-day lives, what pulls them toward national headlines or social feeds instead, and how emotions like stress, avoidance, and "doomscrolling" shape what they choose to watch or ignore. The group also names where Spectrum's approach to circulation and access met them or missed them, then connects those observations to bigger course ideas about news literacy, trust, verification, and civic responsibility. The episode closes with concrete next steps each person plans to take to stay more engaged with local news without letting it take over their attention.
4 Aug 2026
How Spectrum News 1 Milwaukee finds (or loses) its audience
This episode traces how Spectrum News 1 Milwaukee moves audiences from platform to platform, and what that design implies for access to local information. Using only what is publicly visible, we follow one story's "audience journey" from social discovery to a click-through on the site, then zoom out to the site's structure: a dominant top module, recirculation widgets that steer readers to additional stories, and navigation that organizes news by content type. A key finding is that Spectrum appears to prioritize its app as the main relationship tool in place of newsletters, which changes who gets consistent updates and how directly people can build habits around local news. We also look at Instagram activity through Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin, where posting cadence is steady but visible engagement appears low, raising questions about how circulation strategies translate into sustained attention in a specific local market.
31 Jul 2026
FoodShare uncertainty in Milwaukee and how USA Today framed it nationally
In this episode of Ink & Airwaves, the team compares how the same national policy pressure becomes two different stories depending on scale and audience. We break down Spectrum News 1 Milwaukee's reporting on FoodShare funding concerns and Gov. Tony Evers' letter urging the USDA to act, then compare it with USA Today's national coverage focused on whether SNAP benefits will be sent in November. Using a close read of each article's lead, nut graf, evidence, sourcing, and tone, we show how local coverage tends to foreground immediate community impact and state-level action, while national coverage emphasizes broader uncertainty, federal timelines, and system-wide consequences. The takeaway is about craft: framing and sourcing do not just describe an issue, they shape what the public thinks is at stake and who is responsible to respond.
Who has been a guest on Ink and Airwaves
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Students
The Columbia Chronicle team
Jaslie Fang
Luisa Sanchez
Jorge Ramos
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 46 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
93
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Ink and Airwaves
Who hosts Ink and Airwaves?
Naaman and Naaman Rutabanzibwa host the show. Published by Patrick R. Johnson.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes daily, based on its RSS feed.
Does Ink and Airwaves take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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