In this episode of Off Deadline, host Melissa DiGianfilippo sits down with Paul Thompson, Managing Editor of the Phoenix Business Journal, for an honest conversation about journalism, leadership, and responsibility in today’s media landscape.

Paul reflects on how covering crime early in his career shaped his approach to reporting, why journalists must chase difficult stories, and how newsroom debates help sharpen truth rather than dilute it. He also discusses separating emotion from reporting, managing pressure under deadline, and what business journalism gets right and wrong in the public eye.

Discussion highlights

• Finding his path into journalism
• Early crime reporting and emotional resilience
• Why tough questions still matter
• Separating personal opinion from reporting
• Editorial judgment and newsroom debates
• Leading reporters under pressure
• Business journalism and public accountability
• Media trust, credibility and transparency
• Technology, AI and the future of news

Paul’s episode offers a thoughtful look at the responsibility behind editorial decisions and the leadership required to run a modern newsroom.

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube, and don’t forget to follow @proofpublicity for more episodes of Off Deadline.

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

In this episode of Off Deadline, host Melissa DiGianfilippo sits down with Cynthia Sassi, founder and publisher of Fabulous Arizona, the digital lifestyle publication spotlighting the people, places and brands shaping Arizona.

Cynthia shares how she built Fabulous Arizona from the ground up, why she went all in on her business without a safety net, and how losing a job days before rent was due became a defining moment. She opens up about expanding into additional Fabulous markets, managing a growing team, balancing editorial integrity with brand partnerships, and staying focused on ROI for clients while protecting trust with readers.

Discussion highlights

• Studying marketing and consumer behavior
• Discovering digital publishing early
• Launching Fabulous Arizona
• Going fully self employed
• Losing a job days before rent was due
• Why pressure fuels growth
• Expanding into additional Fabulous markets
• Managing teams and releasing control
• Editorial integrity vs brand partnerships
• Handling public criticism and improving on camera
• What people misunderstand about digital publishing
• The importance of relationships in business

Cynthia’s episode is an honest look at risk, resilience and building a modern media brand without a safety net.

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube, and don’t forget to follow @proofpublicity for more episodes of Off Deadline.

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com

In this episode of Off Deadline, host Melissa DiGianfilippo sits down with Michelle Glicksman, a 26-year media veteran and editor in chief behind multiple Arizona publications, including Scottsdale City Lifestyle and Chandler City Lifestyle.

Michelle shares how writing shaped her career early on, why magazine journalism ultimately won over television, and what it truly means to be responsible for editorial judgment under real deadlines. She reflects on pulling a magazine cover just hours before press, selecting stories worth publishing, covering nonprofit and community voices, navigating AI in journalism, and how personal loss deepened her empathy as an editor and storyteller.

Discussion highlights

• Discovering her voice as a writer early in life
• Moving from television to magazine journalism
• Editorial judgment and covering unfamiliar beats
• Interviewing Johnny Unitas without knowing who he was
• Working with her daughter on a fashion shoot
• Choosing nonprofit and community stories
• Covering Arizona food, travel and culture
• Pulling a magazine cover hours before press
• Managing nonstop PR pitches
• How AI is entering journalism
• Personal loss and deeper empathy in storytelling

Michelle’s episode offers a rare look at decision making, pressure and responsibility inside magazine publishing.

🎧 Listen now, watch on YouTube, and don’t forget to follow @proofpublicity for more episodes of Off Deadline.

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com