Young people are often described as disengaged or indifferent to the news. But those labels miss what is actually happening.
In this episode of News Over Noise, Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with Rachel Besharat Mann, PhD of Wesleyan University about how adolescents and young adults navigate news in social media environments.
Drawing on her research, the conversation explores news avoidance, algorithmic trust, influencer culture, and how identity, emotion, and wellness shape the ways young people interpret information and develop early civic identities in a platform-driven media landscape.
I’ve wanted to tell the story of the Stompers Project® by the JANA MARIE FOUNDATION since I first learned about it, and I finally had the chance to document the creation of one of these incredible sculptures.
The Stompers Project uses creative expression to spark conversations about mental health and inspire positive change. Roughly 200 people contribute to every sculpture, making each one a powerful reflection of community voice and connection.
This video follows the creation of the “Consuelo” Stomper, created through a partnership between the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State and the Jana Marie Foundation, now on display in the Eisenhower Auditorium lobby.
It also highlights the “Serve” Stomper at the Pennsylvania Military Museum, created by family members of service members who were killed in action or died by suicide.
It was especially meaningful to premiere this piece during our March pledge drive with Marisa Vicere and other members of the Jana Marie Foundation joining us in the studio.
Projects like this are a reminder of what local public media can do. At WPSU, we try to create space for deeper storytelling around complex issues like mental health and suicide prevention, and to highlight the people working to strengthen our communities.
Prediction markets are starting to appear in the news.
Not just forecasts or analysis, but actual betting odds tied to political events, economic indicators, and global developments that are increasingly being integrated into mainstream coverage.
On the latest episode of News Over Noise, Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with Judd Legum, founder of Popular Information, about what happens when journalism begins adopting the logic of markets and speculation.
It is a fascinating and, at times, unsettling conversation about incentives, ethics, and what this shift could mean for accountability reporting and a free press.
I’m proud to produce the News Over Noisepodcast and wanted to share one of my favorite episodes from Season 4:
We hear a lot about “free speech.” But how much of what we’re hearing is actually accurate?
I’m excited to share the latest episode of News Over Noise. Matt Jordan and Cory Barker sit down with Amy Kristin Sanders, Penn State’s John and Ann Curley Chair in First Amendment Studies, for a conversation that feels especially timely.
They explore SLAPP suits, media ownership, and the difference between government censorship and private platform moderation. What stayed with me most is the reminder that democracy requires participation. It is not automatic. It is not guaranteed.
If you are trying to make sense of current debates about press freedom and the broader civic stakes, this episode offers clear, grounded perspective.
I’m excited to share the full launch of Season 4 of News Over Noise!
We previewed two episodes from this new season back in December, and now the full season is officially underway, with new episodes publishing biweekly for the rest of the season.
We’re kicking things off with a timely conversation with Sofia Rubinson of NewsGuard about how misinformation spreads, how generative AI is accelerating that process, and what it means for trust in news and institutions. Hosts Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with Sofia about how viral images, foreign disinformation campaigns, health misinformation, and AI-generated content are shaping today’s information environment.
One of my favorite parts of this episode is how actionable it is. We talk about simple habits that can help all of us slow down, check sources, and be a little more intentional before hitting “share.” Small steps, but they really add up in today’s information environment.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we create, consume, and trust information and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
In this special crossover episode of News Over Noise, Cory Barker and guest co-host Jenna Spinelle dig into AI’s impact on news, education, and democracy with three leading voices in media literacy:
Together, they unpack: -The rise of deepfakes and the “liar’s dividend” -Why speed and verification are increasingly in tension -How educators and journalists are helping audiences navigate misinformation -What ethical AI use can (and should) look like in the newsroom
This conversation gets at a core question for our moment: How do we maintain trust when technology can fabricate almost anything?
News Over Noise explores how to separate spin and clickbait from quality journalism and why that skill is essential for a healthy democracy. A co-production of WPSU and Penn State College of Commuications.
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