podcast: An Interview with Wesley Lowery - explained
Wesley Lowery had gained the recognition of an important figure within the journalism world. The Pulitzer Prize winning, New Jersey native has gained notoriety for his frequent efforts to shift the narrative within the field, constantly challenging journalism ethics. With a mission to amplify voices and issues unheard, his dedication to finding not one, not two, but every side of a story is exemplary. I sat down with Lowery via zoom to discuss his journalistic journey.
The 28 minute interview consisted of thirteen pre-planned questions, as well as a few other question opportunities that arose during our conversation. The podcast, however touched based on a more limited count. We began by touching base on what drove and motivated Lowery to pursue a career in journalism. Lowery explained that his introduction to the field occurred in middle school, as he joined the student-led newspaper as a social activity. Quickly, he realized there was power in spreading information, and was fascinated by the ability to ask knowledgeable individuals questions that led to raw, authentic answers from real life experience. As the conversation proceeded, we discussed some challenging moments Lowery has faced, and he mentioned most of these are stories relating to politics and emotional trauma. We then transitioned onto the topic of journalism ethics, and his take on the matter. Lowery’s belief that understanding journalists do have a personal stake on varied issues is imperative - and coming to terms with this is important, as it challenges the ‘objective neutral'. We finished the interview with a few words of advice from Lowery, who described journalism as a craft. His advice was to write every day.
When putting together the audio package, it was important to think of what questions would be most important and relevant. I decided it was imperative I include his start as a journalist, as it set up the interview quite well. I then transitioned onto challenges, because it seemed like his insights were able to give a smooth transition to the following question. I knew I had to include the question about objective journalism, as it’s what Lowery is often recognized by and most vocal about. I wrapped up with advice, as it felt like a good way to close things off, and relevant to my audience (Northeastern journalism students). Once I selected these, I put together a script for my own voice over sound bites, and recorded them on my phone. I then began to cut, arrange, and alter the interview audio on Adobe Premiere Pro to fit the time limit of 5 minutes. Finally, I added my voice over pieces, and listened to the podcast a few times, with a private audience to give me feedback. I applied the feedback accordingly, and the final product was 4 minutes and 55 seconds. I then created a graphic for the cover on Canva, an interactive video post for social, and this blog post. I am extremely proud of this project, and feel honored to have gotten the chance to speak with Lowery.
Wesley Lowery Contact Information: wes.j.lowery@gmail.com