What happens when a millennial “big J” journalist who helped build TV news on the internet trades breaking news for neighborhood impact? In this episode, Olsen Ebright (KTLA/KNBC/CBS) joins Jason to unpack the birth of digital news, the social-media rollercoaster, sane push-alert strategy, and why hyper-local politics might be your most powerful lever for change.
👉 Listen & subscribe now to hear practical, no-nonsense lessons for journalists, creators, and civic nerds alike. ⭐️ Please rate/review and share!
🔥 Top Takeaways
- Origins of TV news online: From Internet Broadcasting Systems to re-writing scripts into web-first stories ✍️
- Algorithm vs. integrity: How to grow audience without “losing the shop” to platforms 📈🧭
- Push alerts with purpose: Only buzz pockets when the news truly escalates 📳
- Career pivots: Consulting wins, CBS product lessons, and why an MBA mindset helps 🧮
- Real local power: Inside Los Feliz Neighborhood Council—how micro-grants & impact statements move a big city 🚦
- Sanity for digital teams: Managing the “viral hit” dopamine cycle without burning out 🧠
🎙️ About Olsen Ebright
Digital news leader across KNTV/KNBC/KTLA/CBS, consultant (Newsworthy), and Los Feliz Neighborhood Council VP/Admin & Rules Chair. Known for audience growth without sacrificing standards.
💡 Quotes
- “Don’t lose yourself to the algorithm. Use it—don’t let it use you.”
- “If you’re going to interrupt someone’s pocket, make sure it’s worth it.”
- “Hyper-local is where you can actually move the needle.”
If you got value from this episode, follow/subscribe on your favorite podcast app, leave a 5-star review, and share with a friend who’s navigating life after news (or thinking about getting involved in local government). 🙌
🔜 Next Week: Lisa Guerrero, former Inside Edition chief investigative correspondent, joins to reveal her new mission and why it matters now. You won’t want to miss it. 🔍✨ Subscribe so it lands in your feed!
#LifeAfterNews #DigitalJournalism #LocalNews #HyperLocal #NeighborhoodCouncil #LosAngeles #NewsroomLeadership #AudienceDevelopment #SocialMediaStrategy #PushAlerts #KTLA #CBS
Let Life After News inspire your next chapter. Because leaving the news doesn’t mean the story’s over—it means a new one’s just beginning.
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