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When the Supreme Court struck down the Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, it opened the door to legalized sports betting. Today, almost 40 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico allow some form of this pastime. But an unintended consequence has been the growing presence of gambling coverage in the news. On this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Matt Jordan and Cory Barker with sports writer Bill King to tackle this issue and explore the ramifications of this shift on sports journalism.

In recent years, a network of conservative podcasters has gained significant influence, particularly among disaffected men, by positioning themselves against traditional media institutions. On this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Matt Jordan and Cory Barker speak with reporters Davey Alba and Leon Yin to examine how these podcasters build trust, spread political messages, and shape public discourse—often without adhering to journalistic standards. They also explore the broader implications of this media ecosystem, including its role in supporting political agendas and its impact on news consumption and media literacy.

Once upon a time, Americans turned to trusted news organizations to learn about their shared reality. Today, the media people consume as “news,” fractures that shared world, leaving a divided and distrustful public. What can news organizations do to reverse this? And why does the survival of journalism as an institution matter for communities and democracy? On this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with media scholar Andrea Wenzel about success stories in local news organizations and what they mean for the future of journalism.

The history of news is also the history of how technology changes the way it’s delivered. From radio to television to streaming, each new platform brings with it unique opportunities and challenges—and influences the norms around how news is curated and presented. On this episode of News Over Noise, host Matt Jordan talks with media scholar Cory Barker about the implications of streaming the news.

The reporting styles and strategies that served us well in the past—in a time when debate and political ads still had the potential to sway voters—are falling short when it comes to conveying the depth of division in our country. By adhering to outdated conventions, media outlets are failing to call out moves towards fascism, violence, and even civil war. In this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jordan talk with Will Bunch, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, about how business-as-usual political reporting can endanger democracy.

When it comes to election coverage, horse race journalism has become the norm. The focus has shifted from policies to polling data, leaving a void where citizens should be able to find meaningful information about the future of their democracy. But some news outlets are pushing back. In this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jordan talk with news editors Elizabeth Estrada and Scott Blanchard about an approach to reporting that focuses on issues instead of candidates.

AI has been in the news a lot lately. But what happens when AI starts making the news? Generative AI–the type of artificial intelligence that pulls from existing data to create new content–presents a significant challenge to journalism. It can enable misinformation to spread like wildfire. How can the average consumer tell what’s real and what’s not? On this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jordan find out by talking with Jack Brewster from NewsGuard, an organization that provides transparent tools to counter misinformation.

Whether your eyelids get heavy at the mere mention of an economic story or you're a seasoned economic news consumer and want to know how you can find reliable, quality reporting, this is a discussion for you. On this episode of News Over Noise, Hosts Matt Jordan and Leah Dajches talk with Bob Frick, Navy Federal’s Corporate Economist, about what makes for quality—and not so quality—economic reporting and how you can tell the difference. They also discuss how you cut through the buzzwords and vague characterizations to get to the bottom of what’s actually going on.

The U.S. has one of the highest-news avoidance rates in the world, with more than 42 percent of Americans saying they actively avoid the news.On this episode of News Over Noise, we’ll delve into news avoidance, what it is, and why it matters. We’ll also offer some strategies for how to overcome your own reluctance to engage with journalism.

Consuming quality local journalism has a profound impact on civic engagement. People vote more, get more engaged in their community, and trust each other more. So, what happens when local news outlets start disappearing? On this episode ofNews Over Noise, hosts Matt Jordan and Leah Dajches talk with Tim Lambert, the Multimedia News Director at WITF, about the state of local news and the implications this has for all of us. They also offer some tips on how to evaluate the credibility of the news you consume.