He is one of Washington’s most recognisable and influential journalists, who became even more well-known thanks to his facial expressions in that interview with US President Donald Trump in 2020.

But it wasn’t an easy road for political reporter Jonathan Swan.

The Aussie print journalist’s first ever TV interview was also with President Trump — only a couple of years before his Emmy-award winning one. Only that first interview was definitely NOT a critical success!

So how does this Axios journalist view the peaks and troughs of his career?

Swan attributes his success to constantly honing his reporting craft, and working harder than anyone else in one of the toughest rounds in journalism.

But he didn’t just work hard, he worked smarter — eschewing the daily press briefings to work his contacts, which led to him becoming one of the most reliable story-breakers of the Trump presidency.

Host Nick Bryant gets the inside track on the journalism of Jonathan Swan, and what’s behind his rise in Washington.

Grab your press pass: Journo helps you understand how your news is made, disseminated, and consumed. 

Journo is a production of Deadset Studios. This episode was made with support from the Judith Neilson Institute.

He is one of Washington’s most recognisable and influential journalists, who became even more well-known thanks to his facial expressions in that interview with US President Donald Trump in 2020.
But it wasn’t an easy road for political reporter <a href="https://twitter.com/jonathanvswan?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Jonathan Swan.</a>
The Aussie print journalist’s first ever TV interview was also with President Trump — only a couple of years before his Emmy-award winning one. Only that first interview was definitely NOT a critical success!
So how does this Axios journalist view the peaks and troughs of his career?
Swan attributes his success to constantly honing his reporting craft, and working harder than anyone else in one of the toughest rounds in journalism.
But he didn’t just work hard, he worked smarter — eschewing the daily press briefings to work his contacts, which led to him becoming one of the most reliable story-breakers of the Trump presidency.
Host Nick Bryant gets the inside track on the journalism of Jonathan Swan, and what’s behind his rise in Washington.
Grab your press pass: Journo helps you understand how your news is made, disseminated, and consumed. 
Journo is a production of <a href="https://www.deadsetstudios.com/">Deadset Studios</a>. This episode was made with support from the <a href="https://jninstitute.org/">Judith Neilson Institute</a>.

Journo unpacks the news, so you understand how it's made, disseminated and consumed. Ride shotgun with the world's best journalists as they explore the stories behind the headlines. Nick Bryant brings in-depth analysis of the issues, opportunities and challenges facing journalists and the media industry. Journo is brought to you by Deadset Studios.

Journo unpacks the news, so you understand how it's made, disseminated and consumed. Ride shotgun with the world's best journalists as they explore the stories behind the headlines. Nick Bryant brings in-depth analysis of the issues, opportunities and challenges facing journalists and the media industry. Journo is brought to you by Deadset Studios.

Journo

Journo unpacks the news, so you understand how it's made, disseminated and consumed. Ride shotgun with the world's best journalists as they explore the stories behind the headlines. Nick Bryant brings in-depth analysis of the issues, opportunities and challenges facing journalists and the media industry. Journo is a production of Deadset Studios.

Journo unpacks the news, so you understand how it's made, disseminated and consumed. Ride shotgun with the world's best journalists as they explore the stories behind the headlines. Nick Bryant brings in-depth analysis of the issues, opportunities and challenges facing journalists and the media industry. Journo is a production of Deadset Studios.

The story-breaker — The remarkable rise of Jonathan Swan

“At one point the cabinet secretary pointed out through my window to a block of flats across the water and said, ‘You realise the Chinese will be in there and they’ll have a laser on that tumbler of water, and they’ll have turned it into a microphone. They can listen to what we’re saying now’. So, the curtains came down immediately. At home, I did the same. I unplugged everything. And if I wanted to talk to my wife, we went out into the woods. We did all the things that spies are supposed to do.” 

Alan Rusbridger was the editor of The Guardian newspaper when a whistle blower called Edward Snowden reached out with documents suggesting the National Security Agency (NSA) in the US was spying on its own civilians. The extraordinary claims landed them in hot water with governments in both the US and the UK, and ultimately forced Snowden into exile in Russia where he remains today. 

So, what’s it like when you’re the one responsible for hitting publish on the most explosive story of the decade? One that involves spies and spooks, encrypted messages, and an international hunt for both the source of the story and the journalists who broke it? 

Alan Rusbridger is now the editor of Prospect Magazine, the chair of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, and a member of Facebook’s Oversight Board. He’s been at the forefront of journalism’s transition to the digital and social world – all while juggling this century’s most complex stories in news. 



Rusbridger also describes the time he played Chopin in a deserted hotel in Libya while waiting for officials to negotiate the release of a missing Guardian journalist, why he believes Wikileaks founder Julian Assange should be released from prison, and the legacy of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.  



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Journo is a production of Deadset Studios. 



Host: Nick Bryant 

Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain 

Interviewer: Kellie Riordan 

Producer: Liam Riordan 

Sound design: Melissa May 

Managing Editor: Kellie Riordan 

“At one point the cabinet secretary pointed out through my window to a block of flats across the water and said, ‘You realise the Chinese will be in there and they’ll have a laser on that tumbler of water, and they’ll have turned it into a microphone. They can listen to what we’re saying now’. So, the curtains came down immediately. At home, I did the same. I unplugged everything. And if I wanted to talk to my wife, we went out into the woods. We did all the things that spies are supposed to do.” 
Alan Rusbridger was the editor of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk">The Guardian</a> newspaper when a whistle blower called Edward Snowden reached out with documents suggesting the National Security Agency (NSA) in the US was spying on its own civilians. The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2013/nov/01/snowden-nsa-files-surveillance-revelations-decoded#section/2">extraordinary claims</a> landed them in hot water with governments in both the US and the UK, and ultimately forced Snowden into exile in Russia where he remains today. 
So, what’s it like when you’re the one responsible for hitting publish on the most explosive story of the decade? One that involves spies and spooks, encrypted messages, and an international hunt for both the source of the story and the journalists who broke it? 
Alan Rusbridger is now the editor of <a href="https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/">Prospect Magazine</a>, the chair of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, and a member of Facebook’s <a href="https://www.oversightboard.com/">Oversight Board</a>. He’s been at the forefront of journalism’s transition to the digital and social world – all while juggling this century’s most complex stories in news. 
 
Rusbridger also describes the time he played Chopin in a deserted hotel in Libya while waiting for officials to negotiate the release of a missing Guardian journalist, why he believes Wikileaks founder Julian Assange should be released from prison, and the legacy of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.  
 
+++ 
 
Journo is a production of <a href="https://www.deadsetstudios.com/">Deadset Studios</a>. 
 
Host: Nick Bryant 
Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain 
Interviewer: Kellie Riordan 
Producer: Liam Riordan 
Sound design: Melissa May 
Managing Editor: Kellie Riordan

Alan Rusbridger was the editor of The Guardian newspaper when a whistle blower called Edward Snowden reached out with documents suggesting the National Security Agency (NSA) in the US was spying on its own civilians. The extraordinary claims landed them in hot water with governments in both the US and the UK, and ultimately forced Snowden into exile in Russia where he remains today.  Rusbridger is now the editor of Prospect Magazine, the chair of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, and a member of Facebook’s Oversight Board. He’s been at the forefront of journalism’s transition to the digital and social world – all while juggling this century’s most complex stories in news.

Playing piano in a warzone – Editor Alan Rusbridger on spies, spooks, and breaking the biggest stories of our time

War. Environmental peril. The never-ending pandemic. No wonder audiences are tired of bad news.

And in worse news for the media, that widespread news fatigue is rapidly becoming active news avoidance.

Constructive journalism offers a solutions-based approach to reporting, which is appealing to audiences. But how do you convince the rest of the newsroom of its value?

Australian ABC journalist Sabra Lane, The New York Times reporter Tina Rosenberg, Flint Beat founder Jiquanda Johnson and UK-based Positive News editor Seán Wood are all pioneering solutions journalism practitioners.

In a world where we just want to hear about something going right, they’re rethinking the age-old adage “if it bleeds, it leads” — and they say it results in more nuanced, engaging reporting.

In this episode of Journo, Nick Bryant finds out whether solutions journalism is really the answer to re-engaging our disillusioned news audiences.

Journo is a production of Deadset Studios. This episode was made with support from the Judith Neilson Institute.



5d883091d101e5b87970574ff0d7021878377f0a

Host: Nick Bryant
Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain
Producers: Grace Pashley and Britta Jorgensen
Sound Design: Melissa May
Managing Editor: Kellie Riordan
Commissioning Editor: Andrea Ho

War. Environmental peril. The never-ending pandemic. No wonder audiences are tired of bad news.
And in worse news for the media, that widespread <a href="https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-06/Digital_News-Report_2022.pdf">news fatigue is rapidly becoming active news avoidance</a>.
Constructive journalism offers a solutions-based approach to reporting, which is appealing to audiences. But how do you convince the rest of the newsroom of its value?
Australian ABC journalist Sabra Lane, The New York Times reporter Tina Rosenberg, Flint Beat founder Jiquanda Johnson and UK-based Positive News editor Seán Wood are all pioneering solutions journalism practitioners.
In a world where we just want to hear about something going right, they’re rethinking the age-old adage “if it bleeds, it leads” — and they say it results in more nuanced, engaging reporting.
In this episode of Journo, Nick Bryant finds out whether solutions journalism is really the answer to re-engaging our disillusioned news audiences.
Journo is a production of <a href="https://www.deadsetstudios.com/">Deadset Studios</a>. This episode was made with support from the <a href="https://jninstitute.org/">Judith Neilson Institute</a>.
 
5d883091d101e5b87970574ff0d7021878377f0a
Host: Nick Bryant Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain Producers: Grace Pashley and Britta Jorgensen Sound Design: Melissa May Managing Editor: Kellie Riordan Commissioning Editor: Andrea Ho

Nick Bryant speaks to four solutions journalists on how to re-engage gloom-fatigued news audiences.

If it bleeds, bin it — Will your tired news audience click on a constructive news story instead?

Investigative reporting might make great fodder for Hollywood movies, but the reality is far from glamourous.

Blockbuster investigations can take years, even decades, and require grit and determination.

So, what drives this special breed of journalists?

Take Chicago-based journalist Jim DeRogatis, who pivoted from pop music critic to investigative journalist when he was faxed a tip off he almost consigned to the rubbish bin. That fax had information about the crimes of Robert Sylvester Kelly, aka the disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly. It took decades of persistence before Kelly was brought to justice.

Kate McClymont is the Chief Investigative Reporter at one of Australia’s biggest papers — The Sydney Morning Herald. She’s spent decades exposing corrupt politicians. She’s covered Australia’s criminal underworld, been sued for defamation and worked with sources who are themselves targets of violence.

So what precisely does this special breed of reporter have in their DNA that pushes them to pursue a story for 20 years, to put their lives on the line to prove that anonymous tip and get the most sensitive, impactful stories to print?

In this episode of Journo, Kate and Jim share with Nick Bryant the stories they simply couldn’t let go.  

Journo is a production of Deadset Studios. This episode was made with support from the Judith Neilson Institute.

Host: Nick Bryant
Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain
Producers: Grace Pashley & Britta Jorgensen
Sound Design: Melissa May
Managing Editor: Kellie Riordan
Commissioning Editor: Andrea Ho 

Investigative reporting might make great fodder for Hollywood movies, but the reality is far from glamourous.
Blockbuster investigations can take years, even decades, and require grit and determination.
So, what drives this special breed of journalists?
Take Chicago-based journalist Jim DeRogatis, who pivoted from pop music critic to investigative journalist when he was faxed a tip off he almost consigned to the rubbish bin. That fax had information about the crimes of Robert Sylvester Kelly, aka the disgraced R&amp;B singer R. Kelly. It took decades of persistence before Kelly was brought to justice.
Kate McClymont is the Chief Investigative Reporter at one of Australia’s biggest papers — The Sydney Morning Herald. She’s spent decades exposing corrupt politicians. She’s covered Australia’s criminal underworld, been sued for defamation and worked with sources who are themselves targets of violence.
So what precisely does this special breed of reporter have in their DNA that pushes them to pursue a story for 20 years, to put their lives on the line to prove that anonymous tip and get the most sensitive, impactful stories to print?
In this episode of Journo, Kate and Jim share with Nick Bryant the stories they simply couldn’t let go.  
Journo is a production of <a href="https://www.deadsetstudios.com/">Deadset Studios</a>. This episode was made with support from the <a href="https://jninstitute.org/">Judith Neilson Institute</a>.
Host: Nick Bryant Executive Producer: Rachel Fountain Producers: Grace Pashley &amp; Britta Jorgensen Sound Design: Melissa May Managing Editor: Kellie Riordan Commissioning Editor: Andrea Ho

Nick Bryant speaks to two very different investigative journalists about the tools of their trade.

The story-breaker — The remarkable rise of Jonathan Swan

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