Ep. 53: Shop Talk with Toriano Porter: Navigating career pivots and reshaping opinion journalism

Written By Fredrick Reed

In this candid episode of the News Nirvana podcast, host Nick Parker sits down with colleague Toriano Porter, opinion writer at the Kansas City Star, for a shop-talk conversation about life in the trenches of modern journalism. Porter walks us through his career path from St. Louis reporter to his current opinion role at the Star, sharing the real challenges and unexpected wins when switching from sports to the opinion desk. The two journalists dive into newsroom diversity issues, how opinion writing is adapting to survive in today's media climate, and trading notes on maintaining journalistic integrity when the industry keeps shifting beneath our feet. Porter opens up about his hands-on mentoring as an up-and-coming journalist and how personal experiences fuel his commitment to accountability reporting. Packed with insider anecdotes and practical wisdom, this episode delivers a frank look at the transformations reshaping our profession and the daily realities facing newsrooms across America.

Fredrick Reed

Storytelling is at the core of all endeavors. Every step forward involves the act of crafting and sending a message to convey a story and open a path to new relationships. At Fredrick Reed, we believe success depends on our ability to tell our stories in a manner attracting and engaging the desired audience. 

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Ep. 54: Blending Brews, Beats, and Bold Stories: Ale Sharpton's Flavorful Journey
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Ep. 52: Mastering Sales Success: The importance of structure and positivity in a multi-generational workplace