Off Deadline
Off Deadline goes beyond the headlines to reveal what really happens when the cameras stop rolling and the deadlines pass. Host Melissa DiGianfilippo, Founder and CEO of Proof Publicity, creates a rare safe space where top journalists drop their professional guard to share the moments that changed everything—the ethical crossroads that kept them awake, the sources that most surprised them, the stories that broke them, and the victories no one will ever write about.
From the hilarious disasters to the heart-stopping close calls, veteran journalists share the wild, unforgettable moments that never made it into their reporting. These are the behind-the-scenes confessions, the career-defining chaos, and the human moments that remind us why journalism is equal parts calling and complete madness. This isn't about breaking news—it's about the people who lived through the craziest moments while chasing the story, and the experiences they'll never forget.
If you've ever wondered what it really takes to be a storyteller in our chaotic world, Off Deadline delivers the raw, unfiltered truth behind journalism's most compelling voices.
Watch on YouTube and listen wherever you get your podcasts!
Off Deadline
Sam Eifling on Viral Journalism, Rodeo Cowboys & the Lost Art of Making Readers Feel
What do undercover cops, a legal loophole, and one viral headline have in common?
They all collided in a story that actually changed the law—and Sam Eifling was the reporter who broke it.
In this episode of Off Deadline, the Phoenix New Times Editor-in-Chief shares how a tip about Hawaii police officers legally having sex with sex workers turned into a national news frenzy. From a viral Associated Press headline to live NPR coverage and even a Colbert sketch, Sam's reporting led to a real policy change—within days.
With 20+ years of journalism experience (The New York Times, ESPN, Harper’s, Netflix's Patriot Act), Sam also opens up about the stories that never ran, the reporting tricks that actually work, and why writers today struggle to make readers feel something.
🎙 In this episode:
– The viral headline that sparked a law change in Hawaii
– A rodeo van trip that became an epic, $20K magazine story
– Why writing well still wins—even in a TikTok world
– What he wishes more journalists (and PR pros) understood
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Follow Sam Eifling on IG: @sameifling
Follow Proof Publicity on IG: @proofpublicity
Contact Proof Publicity
📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proof-publicity
🔗 Check out Proof Publicity → https://proofpublicity.com