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The Journalism Salute

The Journalism Salute

Written by: Mark Simon
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About this listen

The Journalism Salute is a journalism appreciation podcast. We interview working journalists about who they are and what they do.

Our aim is to have diverse guests, thoughtful questions, and interesting conversation.

If you're an aspiring journalist, you'll learn potential careers to pursue and tips to put to use.

If you're an experienced journalist, you'll learn about like-minded members of your profession with notable stories to tell.

And if you're not a journalist, we hope you'll garner or further an appreciation for journalists and realize that they are NOT the enemy.

Try us!

And find us at our website or on Twitter and e-mail us at journalismsalute@gmail.com

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Episodes
  • Kaela Roeder, Lead Reporter in D.C. and Virginia for Technically
    Apr 21 2026

    On this episode we're joined by Kaela Roeder. Kaela is the lead reporter in Washington D.C. and Virginia for Technical dot LY, a national news organization that reports on local innovation economies in the United States, a newsroom that has done so since 2009.

    Kaela has been with them for 2 years. Prior to that she's had a few different jobs, including one as deputy editor for Street Sense Media, covering homelessness in the DC/Baltimore region and LGBTQ issues for the Washington Blade.

    Kaela is a graduate of American University with a journalism degree where, among other things, she won an award for aspiring LGBTQ journalists.

    Kaela explained Technical.ly's purpose and the kind of stories she reports on. She shared how she learned on the fly so that she could cover this beat. And she detailed important things for young journalists to know as well as those she's recently learned that help in the job.

    Kaela's salute: Street Sense Media

    Kaela's LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaela-roeder/

    Kaela's Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/kaelacoverstech/

    We also heard from Anita Pinto, filing her monthly update as advisor to The Gateway Times, the school newspaper at the Urban Assembly for Gateway Technology in Manhattan. This is done in conjunction with Press Pass NYC, a non-profit that helps advisors start journalism clubs and programs in schools that don't have them.


    Subscribe to our newsletter here

    You can find all our episode guides for teachers and professors here,

    Please support your local public radio station: adoptastation.org

    Thank you for listening. You can e-mail me at journalismsalute@gmail.com

    Visit our website: thejournalismsalute.org

    Mark’s website (MarkSimonmedia.com)

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    33 mins
  • Judith Smelser & Abe Aboraya, News Collaborative of Central Florida
    Apr 14 2026

    On this episode we're joined by Judith Smelser and Abe Aboraya of the News Collaborative of Central Florida.

    Judith is the president and general manager of Central Florida Public Media. She's been in that job since September 2021. That's the only non-profit news organization in Central Florida. She has experience as a reporter and editor as well as a news director, managing editor, and wine columnist. She is a graduate of Rhodes College.

    Abe is the government accountability reporter for Oviedo Community News. Judith and Abe's organizations work together as part of the News Collaborative of Central Florida. He's a graduate of the University of Central Florida and has been a journalist for almost 20 years.

    The two of them explained why this collaborative is necessary and provided examples of the wins that have happened as a result. They also shared what things they've learned within journalism recently and gave examples of traits necessary to succeed in news reporting.

    Abe's salutes: Roger Simmons, Orlando Sentinel and former Sentinel reporter Jason Garcia

    Judith's salutes: Oviedo Community News and also NPR Media Reporter David Folkenflik

    Subscribe to our newsletter here

    You can find all our episode guides for teachers and professors here,

    Please support your local public radio station: adoptastation.org

    Thank you for listening. You can e-mail me at journalismsalute@gmail.com

    Visit our website: thejournalismsalute.org

    Mark’s website (MarkSimonmedia.com)


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    38 mins
  • Elaine Díaz Rodríguez, Membership Director: Tiny News Collective
    Apr 7 2026

    On this episode we're joined by Elaine Díaz Rodríguez.

    Elaine is the membership director for Tiny News Collective, a non-profit organization whose goal is to equip visionary news entrepreneurs in underserved communities to transform journalism from the ground up, making it more equitable, accessible and connected.

    She's been with them since last August. Prior to that she worked in a similar role for another organization, Local Independent Online News Publishers for a little more than 3 years.

    Before that she was a journalist in Cuba and executive director at Periodismo de Barrio, a newsroom that covered the intersection of climate, environment, and social justice. And she was a professor at Univrsidad de la Habana, with one of her classes being – social impact of new technology.

    We talked about working in journalism roles that emphasize coaching, what her experience running a newsroom in Cuba was like, and her advice for aspiring journalists.

    Elaine's salute: Amy Bushatz, Mat-Su Sentinel

    Subscribe to our newsletter here

    You can find all our episode guides for teachers and professors here,

    Please support your local public radio station: adoptastation.org

    Thank you for listening. You can e-mail me at journalismsalute@gmail.com

    Visit our website: thejournalismsalute.org

    Mark’s website (MarkSimonmedia.com)

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
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