E14 S15 Why I Left Journalism to Fix How People Get Their News

In this latest episode of the Social Change Career Podcast, Craig Zelizer interviews Jack Brewster, a seasoned journalist, Fulbright Fellow, and founder of Newsreel, to discuss why he left newsroom work to take on the deep-rooted challenges of how people access and trust the news. If you care about the future of journalism, tackling misinformation, or finding new ways to stay informed without burning out, as well as advancing careers in media, this is a terrific episode.

Why Listen?

• Inside the Newsroom: Jack shares his firsthand experiences in legacy media, why young people are tuning out, and the moment he realized traditional journalism wasn't enough.
• Unpacking Misinformation: Learn to distinguish between misinformation and disinformation, how social media is reshaping the landscape of truth, and why nuance is getting lost.
• Newsreel, A Different Approach: Find out how Newsreel curates, gamifies, and verifies news to help users build meaningful news habits (no doomscrolling required).
• How Fellowships Shape Changemakers: Hear how fellowships like Fulbright gave Jack space to explore news avoidance and eventually launch his own social venture.
• Life as a Startup Founder: Honest talk about startup life in the media world: what's energizing, what's difficult, and how perseverance and community matter more than ever.

Jack Brewster's Bio

Jack Brewster (he/him) is the CEO and founder of Newsreel, a news app focused on short-form, interactive journalism from vetted reporters. Before launching Newsreel, he worked as a journalist with Forbes, Newsweek, and NewsGuard, covering topics from misinformation to digital extremism. His reporting earned him a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30, and his work has been cited by outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, and CNN. As a Fulbright Research Fellow in Germany, Jack studied how young people get their news and what causes them to tune out.

Tools and Resources Covered in This Episode

• Newsreel App: Try Newsreel for interactive, trustworthy news made for today's audience.
• Fellowship and Funding Opportunities: Learn about Fulbright, DAAD, Chevening, and Schwarzman Scholars.
• Media Literacy Resources: Explore the work of NAMLE, the Knight Foundation, and the Institute for Nonprofit News.
• Support for Innovators: Insights on partnerships and support from organizations like American Public Media Group.

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