Life After News
What happens when the newsroom lights go out—and life begins again?
Life After News explores the raw, funny, and deeply human stories of journalists who’ve walked away from the adrenaline of breaking news to reinvent themselves in surprising ways. Hosted by former TV news director Jason Ball, the podcast goes behind the headlines to talk with anchors, reporters, producers, and executives about identity, resilience, and what it takes to start over.
From career pivots to personal awakenings, these conversations reveal how the skills learned under deadline pressure translate into entirely new chapters of life. It’s not just about leaving the news—it’s about discovering what comes after.
Whether you’re in media, on the edge of a career change, or just fascinated by reinvention, Life After News is your invitation to listen in, learn, and maybe imagine your own next chapter.
Life After News
🎙️ From Early Web Producer to Change-Maker: Olsen Ebright on How You Can Make a Difference 💻🗞️🏘️
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.