Eric Deggans
@edeggans.bsky.social
Knight Professor of Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington&Lee U. Critic at Large, NPR. Blerd. Drummer. Author: Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation. Media bloviator.
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Switching Codes w/Eric Deggans | Substack
Here's my work as a TV critic, media analyst and guest host at NPR, along w/stuff on music, race, journalism, media, navigating the codes we all switch thru in life. Also: author of Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation. Click to read Switching Codes w/Eric Deggans, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
ericdeggans.substack.com
Call me a social media nerd, but I'm really jazzed by the cool new look of my Substack platform, Switching Codes, featuring a few formatting tweaks. Check out the site, which has my take on controversy at Indiana University's student newspaper and more: https://loom.ly/5NbWwNI
On the day which marks the 50th anniversary of the Poynter Institute, I'm resurfacing a panel discussion I hosted a few months ago celebrating the 50th anniversary of both Poynter and the National Association of Black Journalists, featuring officials from both groups. loom.ly/UYQ7n4E
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November 11, 2025 at 2:54 AM
On the day which marks the 50th anniversary of the Poynter Institute, I'm resurfacing a panel discussion I hosted a few months ago celebrating the 50th anniversary of both Poynter and the National Association of Black Journalists, featuring officials from both groups. loom.ly/UYQ7n4E
if you need a ray of sunshine to get through this Monday, it's worth noting that Sesame Street debuts on Netflix today! Click this link to see your fave characters auditioning for select Netflix shows: https://loom.ly/mDaNXUY
Netflix US on Instagram: they may not have gotten the part but they won our hearts. SESAME STREET is now playing!
6,725 likes, 88 comments - netflix on November 10, 2025: they may not have gotten the part but they won our hearts. SESAME STREET is now playing!.
www.instagram.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
if you need a ray of sunshine to get through this Monday, it's worth noting that Sesame Street debuts on Netflix today! Click this link to see your fave characters auditioning for select Netflix shows: https://loom.ly/mDaNXUY
I teach my students a concept called Group Threat Theory, outlining how members of a larger group feel threatened when a smaller group in their number grows in power. This explains that unfortunate NYTimes story better than anything. But this comes close: https://loom.ly/UZ_eOdM
Women of Vanity Fair Consider: Wait, Did We Ruin the Workplace?
Today, The New York Times published a conversation between the conservative columnist Ross Douthat and two writers about just how bad ladies have screwed up corporate culture with their presence. We felt we should engage.
www.vanityfair.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I teach my students a concept called Group Threat Theory, outlining how members of a larger group feel threatened when a smaller group in their number grows in power. This explains that unfortunate NYTimes story better than anything. But this comes close: https://loom.ly/UZ_eOdM
NPR has aired a story about turmoil regarding Indiana University's treatment of the Indiana Daily Student newspaper, and the lawsuit its adult advisor filed after the school fired him. The story on preserving free speech for student journalists spreads. https://loom.ly/Q_eRgcg
Indiana University facing lawsuit after claims it tried to censor student newspaper
Indiana University's student newspaper is at the center of a lawsuit by its former advisor who says he was fired by the administration because he stood up against censorship.
www.npr.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:11 PM
NPR has aired a story about turmoil regarding Indiana University's treatment of the Indiana Daily Student newspaper, and the lawsuit its adult advisor filed after the school fired him. The story on preserving free speech for student journalists spreads. https://loom.ly/Q_eRgcg
Love to see platforms like Poynter.org fact checking big interviews like President Trump's Sunday appearance on 60 Minutes. But it seems to me that this factcheck is something CBS News should have done itself, published right along with the interview. https://loom.ly/zTNfWiI
Trump misleads on deportations and inflation in first ‘60 Minutes’ interview since 2020 - Poynter
The former president’s claims about immigration raids, grocery costs and the Insurrection Act don’t hold up to the facts
www.poynter.org
November 5, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Love to see platforms like Poynter.org fact checking big interviews like President Trump's Sunday appearance on 60 Minutes. But it seems to me that this factcheck is something CBS News should have done itself, published right along with the interview. https://loom.ly/zTNfWiI
Paramount wisely decided not to mess with what works, cutting a deal to keep Jon Stewart hosting The Daily Show on Mondays to December 2026. Best of all, we have few more weeks until someone writes another “late night TV is dying” story.
November 3, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Paramount wisely decided not to mess with what works, cutting a deal to keep Jon Stewart hosting The Daily Show on Mondays to December 2026. Best of all, we have few more weeks until someone writes another “late night TV is dying” story.
TV Producer/writer Brad Falchuk, who co-created Glee and American Horror Story w/Ryan Murphy, hosts Netflix's Famous Last Words, interviewing Jane Goodall for a talk aired after her death. I spoke w/him for KCRW's The Business on Goodall and how dyslexia fuels his writing. LISTEN: loom.ly/QMIVgek
Brad Falchuk on life, death, and ‘Famous Last Words’ | KCRW
Writer & producer Brad Falchuk talks about stepping in front of the camera for his Netflix series Famous Last Words. Plus, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni break down Taylor Sheridan’s exit from…
loom.ly
November 3, 2025 at 4:21 PM
TV Producer/writer Brad Falchuk, who co-created Glee and American Horror Story w/Ryan Murphy, hosts Netflix's Famous Last Words, interviewing Jane Goodall for a talk aired after her death. I spoke w/him for KCRW's The Business on Goodall and how dyslexia fuels his writing. LISTEN: loom.ly/QMIVgek
A Substack essay on how my time covering Bruce Springsteen in the '90s left me convinced the new film Deliver Me From Nowhere might have been more compelling if it focused on when he walked away from the E Street Band and toured as a solo artist. READ: https://loom.ly/Icv91bk
November 2, 2025 at 8:56 PM
A Substack essay on how my time covering Bruce Springsteen in the '90s left me convinced the new film Deliver Me From Nowhere might have been more compelling if it focused on when he walked away from the E Street Band and toured as a solo artist. READ: https://loom.ly/Icv91bk
Thanks so much!
That was a really good interview. I'm not a big fan of the "My learning disability is my secret superpower" trope, but Falchuk really sold it. @EDeggans @kimmasters.bsky.social
November 2, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Thanks so much!
Or…convince a talented filmmaker to make a better movie about a more interesting time. It’s not like they absolutely had to make this movie about that book…
Nice essay. As the current movie was based on Warren Zanes’ book, if ya want to see a movie about the ’90s period, you should… write the book! 😉
November 2, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Or…convince a talented filmmaker to make a better movie about a more interesting time. It’s not like they absolutely had to make this movie about that book…
As a reporter who covered Bruce Springsteen in the 1990s, I felt the new film about him was mostly a missed opportunity --- undone by the modern celebrity/media complex and the need to burnish a living superstar's legend. https://loom.ly/Icv91bk
How Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere was sabotaged by the Celebrity/Media Complex.
As a reporter who covered The Boss in the 1990s, I felt the current film was a missed opportunity, overloooking a more compelling story to burnish the superstar's legend.
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:06 PM
As a reporter who covered Bruce Springsteen in the 1990s, I felt the new film about him was mostly a missed opportunity --- undone by the modern celebrity/media complex and the need to burnish a living superstar's legend. https://loom.ly/Icv91bk
So true. Student leaders have shown more backbone than many professional editors and administrators.
Amazing show of solidarity among college journalists gave IU students the ability to persevere.
I wish larger media would adopt this tactic more often and collaborate across media companies and platforms.
It could save the country, frankly.
I wish larger media would adopt this tactic more often and collaborate across media companies and platforms.
It could save the country, frankly.
Heartened to see Indiana University resume print publication of Indiana Daily Student, dropping bizarre demand that newspaper not print news. I often say I learn from my students. Looks like the student editors of the IDS taught IU leaders something, too. https://loom.ly/JMYaFSU
October 31, 2025 at 3:09 PM
So true. Student leaders have shown more backbone than many professional editors and administrators.
Heartened to see Indiana University resume print publication of Indiana Daily Student, dropping bizarre demand that newspaper not print news. I often say I learn from my students. Looks like the student editors of the IDS taught IU leaders something, too. https://loom.ly/JMYaFSU
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS: IDS to continue printing after IU reverses course
Our next edition will hit the stands Nov. 20.
www.idsnews.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Heartened to see Indiana University resume print publication of Indiana Daily Student, dropping bizarre demand that newspaper not print news. I often say I learn from my students. Looks like the student editors of the IDS taught IU leaders something, too. https://loom.ly/JMYaFSU
I said it was proof of where we are now as a society.Didn’t say anything about it being a surprise…
you framed it as some kind of surprise that a successful famous wealthy person would hold those views. I didn't think you were cheering her on..
October 31, 2025 at 1:17 AM
I said it was proof of where we are now as a society.Didn’t say anything about it being a surprise…
I think that was pretty much the point of my post…
being a celebrity, wealthy, successful and powerful have zero to do with being rational, educated or smart.
didn't you get the memo that this isn't a meritocracy?
didn't you get the memo that this isn't a meritocracy?
October 31, 2025 at 12:27 AM
I think that was pretty much the point of my post…
Still surprised how often news outlets will include a social media post from me in a story without even emailing or DMing me to ask for a comment. Kinda stuff that would get my j-ethics students a serious D grade. Oh well, glad to be in the conversation: https://loom.ly/HjwkpIM
Major MSNBC change may surprise loyal viewers
Holy acronyms, Batman. Comcast's (CMCSA) MSNBC is set to change its name following a 29-year run under the current moniker. Fun fact for those unaware: The MSNBC acronym is a portmanteau (i.e., combination) of Microsoft (MSFT) MS and NBC, which launched the channel in a joint venture in 1996. ...
finance.yahoo.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Still surprised how often news outlets will include a social media post from me in a story without even emailing or DMing me to ask for a comment. Kinda stuff that would get my j-ethics students a serious D grade. Oh well, glad to be in the conversation: https://loom.ly/HjwkpIM
I think there is nothing which encapsulates the brain rot hobbling America than news that a celebrity as wealthy, successful and powerful as Kim Kardashian somehow didn't get the memo that humans actually have landed on the moon several times. Sigh. https://loom.ly/Z26XD1o
Kim Kardashian Says Buzz Aldrin’s 1969 Moon Landing Was Fake
Kim Kardashian says she doesn’t believe that U.S. astronauts landed on the moon in 1969.
www.thedailybeast.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I think there is nothing which encapsulates the brain rot hobbling America than news that a celebrity as wealthy, successful and powerful as Kim Kardashian somehow didn't get the memo that humans actually have landed on the moon several times. Sigh. https://loom.ly/Z26XD1o
Fired CBS News producer alleges only white producers survived the recent rounds of job cuts at the network. (I was going to note it seems the only on air anchors laid off in the cancellation of CBS Saturday Morning were women and POC. https://loom.ly/X-ta7bU
Fired CBS Staffer Says Only White Producers Survived ‘Bloodbath’ Layoffs
A producer for one of the network’s streaming shows said all the producers who were fired from his team were people of color.
www.thedailybeast.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Fired CBS News producer alleges only white producers survived the recent rounds of job cuts at the network. (I was going to note it seems the only on air anchors laid off in the cancellation of CBS Saturday Morning were women and POC. https://loom.ly/X-ta7bU
The good folks at Central Florida Public Media had me on the podcast Are We There Yet? to talk on coolest films/TV melding space travel, science fiction and horror. I talked about Alien, Aliens, Alien: Earth, Men In Black and Event Horizon. READ/LISTEN: https://loom.ly/Nutu208
The spooks of science fiction and science fact
A critics favorite science fiction and horror films plus a look at the factual haunts of the cosmos.
www.cfpublic.org
October 30, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The good folks at Central Florida Public Media had me on the podcast Are We There Yet? to talk on coolest films/TV melding space travel, science fiction and horror. I talked about Alien, Aliens, Alien: Earth, Men In Black and Event Horizon. READ/LISTEN: https://loom.ly/Nutu208
All. Ways.
There is always a work around for the racism.
As a professor, when I saw Florida Gov, Ron DeSantis direct the state's Board of Governors to end hiring people w/H1-B visas at colleges, I knew this would keep talented hires from schools which need them. It's also an example of racism without race. https://loom.ly/fUzqGEQ
October 30, 2025 at 6:40 PM
All. Ways.
As a professor, when I saw Florida Gov, Ron DeSantis direct the state's Board of Governors to end hiring people w/H1-B visas at colleges, I knew this would keep talented hires from schools which need them. It's also an example of racism without race. https://loom.ly/fUzqGEQ
How to combat racism which doesn't admit it's about race?
Some conservatives have found a way to overcome the moral authority of the civil rights movement: Pretend their efforts to center America on white culture aren't about race.
ericdeggans.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
As a professor, when I saw Florida Gov, Ron DeSantis direct the state's Board of Governors to end hiring people w/H1-B visas at colleges, I knew this would keep talented hires from schools which need them. It's also an example of racism without race. https://loom.ly/fUzqGEQ
This is an amazing lesson on parenting provided by Tig Notaro, talking to my friend Michele Norris on her Substack page. Check it: https://loom.ly/xzeuWQc
The Apology Tig Notaro Waited a Lifetime to Hear: “It’s NOT my child’s job to tell me who they are...It’s MY job to figure it out.”
A moment from my conversation with comedian, actor, and podcast host Tig Notaro hit me like a lightning bolt.
michelenorris.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:18 PM
This is an amazing lesson on parenting provided by Tig Notaro, talking to my friend Michele Norris on her Substack page. Check it: https://loom.ly/xzeuWQc
To be even more fair, I still make fun of "Verizon." To say nothing of "Versant." LOL.
In fairness, I remember the day we all made fun of the corporate rebrand that gave us “Verizon.” 😉
October 27, 2025 at 7:13 PM
To be even more fair, I still make fun of "Verizon." To say nothing of "Versant." LOL.
We'll see. Right now, it's probably a significant revenue driver for the spun off company, Versant. They've just hired a bunch of new people - short term, I think they're going to need MS NOW's revenue to power this new company.
I think that someone will buy it in the not too distant future.
October 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
We'll see. Right now, it's probably a significant revenue driver for the spun off company, Versant. They've just hired a bunch of new people - short term, I think they're going to need MS NOW's revenue to power this new company.
When I told my journalism students MSNBC would soon be called MSNOW, they looked at me like I had said Ford was going to change its name to Poop. Deadline sez the name change is happening Nov. 15; gonna be an uphill battle to train viewers. DETAILS: https://loom.ly/bHvzR3Y
October 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM
When I told my journalism students MSNBC would soon be called MSNOW, they looked at me like I had said Ford was going to change its name to Poop. Deadline sez the name change is happening Nov. 15; gonna be an uphill battle to train viewers. DETAILS: https://loom.ly/bHvzR3Y