Reflecting on an “Evening with Chuck Todd”

On Wednesday, February 24th, the Milwaukee Press Club hosted an “Evening with Chuck Todd,” a virtual event with the host of Meet the Press. Through the generous support of Tim Vetscher, an alumnus of the Diederich College now serving as the news director for TMJ4 News, forty students studying journalism were able to attend. Natallie St. Onge, executive director of the Marquette Wire, shared her takeaways from the event.

There were many takeaways from the conversation with Chuck Todd and Charles Benson, in part with the Milwaukee Press Club. As always, I appreciated Todd’s honesty. He admits that the time we are in now is a “crisis of trust.” People take into account the mistrust and misinformation on social because everyone is constantly highlighting the negative, in a state of negativity and are constantly aggregated; information is constantly at their fingertips.

“There has never been more of a demand for what we, journalists, do, because good journalism and truth telling lasts.”

Todd said it is how we talk to one another and how much information we consume through negative headlines that has added to the mistrust. Yet, it is important for journalists to keep at it to keep finding the truth. As he spoke of the importance of reaching a broad audience with accuracy, it was a great reminder to know that what I and other journalists are doing is so important.

Yet the biggest takeaway that I took from Todd’s commentary tonight was how much of a team effort journalism is. “All mistakes are flat,” Todd said. If one journalist makes a mistake, it is a stain on all of us. Yet, if credibility is strengthened, then so is all of ours. There has never been more of a demand for what we, journalists, do, because good journalism and truth telling lasts. Chuck Todd shows that to us all every day through his Podcast, show and his commitment to the industry.

Students in the Diederich College of Communication have the opportunity to participate in events and network with leaders in their chosen fields. If you would like to learn more about any of our undergraduate programs, including journalism, visit us online today!