Beyond the Mic with Sean Dillon

"Fallen Angels" : Journalism vs. Power and Privilege

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Episode notes

Welcome Paul Pringle

We’re joined on the Starline by the winner of Pulitzer, Polk and several other prestigious awards. His latest project examines the world of power and privilege. Ten thirty minute episodes separate secrets from those who are hiding it. Host of “Fallen Angels” podcast reminds us to forget about “Jake, it’s Chinatown”, we welcome author Paul Pringle.

Paul, let’s go Beyond the Mic. What was the 1st sign that everything wasn’t kosher of a drug abusing dean at USC?

USC has had scandals in the last ten years involving: conspiracy and bribery, medical school accreditation revoked, the Varsity Blues scandal, drug cavorting medical school dean, sexual abuse by campus gynecologist and sexual abuse by campus physician. I know people call the West Coast “La-la land” but did USC made investigating them easy money for journalists?

With all the problems, why didn’t USC tighten down all the problems going on there?

How difficult was it when you’re not only fighting USC, the city but not 1 or 2 but 3 editors from the L.A. Times that were later fired?

The Rockin' 8:

It’s time for the Rockin’ 8, 8 random questions, answer with the first thing that comes to your mind. There is no Pressure.

1. Favorite crime novel of all time?

2. What’s the hardest lesson for you to teach a kid when you were a journalism instructor at Cal State Northridge?

3. Favorite place to write stories for the Daily Collegian at Penn State?

4. Do you remember the topic of your 1st article as a LA stringer for the Dallas Morning News and Tampa Tribune?

5. Best thing about your wife Joanna? Her patience

6. Who is the young journalist that we should be reading today?

7. What’s the one hobby you enjoy when you aren’t uncovering bad actors?

8. Have you ever entered a talent contest?

The Back Half:

What was the one fact that amazed you from everything you discovered?

Two Big Questions:

Why is it important for institutions charged with protecting the vulnerable continue to challenge authority and in some cases flawed leaders for justice?

What does the word justice mean for you?

How do journalists keep editors from trying to kill a story from happening again?

The Wrap:

Earning people’s trust is the biggest lesson for journalists, plays music to relax and wants you read his book “Bad City” and listen to his podcast “Fallen Angels”. Author, podcaster, from the L.A. Times Paul Pringle, thanks for taking the time to talk with us today.

And that my friends is a Beyond the Mic Short Cut.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy