Knight Professor of Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington&Lee U. Critic at Large, NPR. Blerd. Drummer. Author: Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation. Media bloviator.https://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.socialhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmupfpeyfr2vSad day at NPR today: The network has laid off 10 journalists and accepted buyouts from 18 others to total a 4 percent reduction in its content division. Some amazing colleagues and good friends are leaving, taking a mountain of talent and knowledge with them. DETAILS: https://loom.ly/6oCNIfM https://www.npr.org/2026/05/27/nx-s1-5836624/npr-layoffs-job-cuts27 May 2026 23:55 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmupfpeyfr2vhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmu4jabeos2pHave to say, I'm blown away by coverage of my appearance tomorrow in my hometown Gary, IN to help kick off the Press Forward initiative aimed at boosting local journalism. Front-page story in my hometown Post-Tribune newspaper and great interview with Lakeshore Public Media. LISTEN: loom.ly/1THm3NE https://loom.ly/1THm3NE27 May 2026 18:17 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmu4jabeos2phttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmu3duxdpk2qWord. [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 May 2026 17:56 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmu3duxdpk2qhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmtvzso2gs2uSharyn Alfonsi, journalist who pushed back against attempts to change her 60 Minutes story on a Salvadoran prison, has not had her contract renewed with CBS News. For all the new management's talk about earning audience trust, seems silencing journalists would produce the opposite. loom.ly/-DTYcGg27 May 2026 16:21 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmtvzso2gs2uhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmr7zapvey2qIf you missed: My essay on why the intentional mediocrity of "The Mandalorian and Grogu" isn't just a missed opportunity for Star Wars: It's a failure to make a crucial argument for audiences coming to movie theaters. READ: https://loom.ly/0UbjS9g26 May 2026 07:41 -0700at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmr7zapvey2qhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmqa3laah22kBy definition, a movie which costs over $150 million and earns twice that has a wider impact on the industry. Denying that is like sticking your head in the sand. [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 May 2026 05:10 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmqa3laah22khttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmpzs4vljk2fCheck it out—- [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 May 2026 03:17 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmpzs4vljk2fhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmpzrca4y22fAlso love that other sax players emulated playing outside and bridges, like Cornelius Bumpus. [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 May 2026 03:17 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmpzrca4y22fhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmpy5ovm222fMy favorite story about jazz sax master Sonny Rollins, is that in 1959 he took a sabbatical from the music business, honing his chops by practicing up to 16 hours a day playing alone on the Williamsburg Bridge. RIP to a giant who was also always searching as a musician and artist: loom.ly/hSP333k https://loom.ly/hSP333k26 May 2026 02:48 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmpy5ovm222fhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmpcqljbng2tAfter watching the frustratingly limited film "The Mandalorian and Grogu," I wonder if its seemingly intentional drawbacks are a missed opportunity to champion the movie theater experience at a time when the industry desperately needs it. READ: https://loom.ly/giy1Js8 https://open.substack.com/pub/ericdeggans/p/is-the-mandalorian-and-grogu-a-missed?r=4cg60&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true25 May 2026 13:25 -0700at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmpcqljbng2thttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmp3tpwrx22lThat's a good question.I don't know the answer, but there are email addresses at the bottom of the flyer, where you can reach out and get probably better answers quicker. [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 May 2026 18:21 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmp3tpwrx22lhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmp2jsrx3c2lGrowing up in Gary, Indiana, I wrote for local newspaper Gary INFO, just like my dad, Chuck Deggans. So I'm honored to return to the area on Thursday to deliver a keynote address for the launch of Press Forward Lake County, an initiative to boost local journalism. Join us! DETAILS: loom.ly/Jmk7MOU25 May 2026 17:58 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmp2jsrx3c2lhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmmzo6w5rc2fFor sure! I really appreciated that! [contains quote post or other embedded content]24 May 2026 22:37 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmmzo6w5rc2fhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmmrs7wk322vSpent LOTS of time talking on finale of Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show' on several media outlets. Here's a Substack post pulling together all the commentaries, w/thoughts on why this may be a short-term boost for late night and how Colbert is the most empathetic host: https://loom.ly/Gkk9Mgs https://open.substack.com/pub/ericdeggans/p/talking-colberts-funnyheartwarmingsad?r=4cg60&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web24 May 2026 13:16 -0700at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmmrs7wk322vhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmmkfkuwzs2mEvery so often, Kim Masters and the good folks at KCRW's The Business let me do guest interviews. This time, I spoke w/Courtney Kemp, creator of Netflix's Nemesis and Starz's Power series, on those shows, diversity in Hollywood and whether everyone is keeping pace. LISTEN: loom.ly/s-XP9LY24 May 2026 18:04 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmmkfkuwzs2mhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmmkal6qo22nThank you so much! [contains quote post or other embedded content]24 May 2026 18:01 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmmkal6qo22nhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmmk6l5w622nThank you so much! [contains quote post or other embedded content]24 May 2026 18:00 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmmk6l5w622nhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmksmzsifk26This was a fun interview! Thanks so much! [contains quote post or other embedded content]24 May 2026 01:26 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmksmzsifk26https://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmkbze2hzm2iSince everyone is talking about Byron Allen these days for buying BuzzFeed and taking over Stephen Colbert's Late Show timeslot with Comics Unleashed, I figured I'd resurface an interview I did with him three years ago when I guest hosted All Things Considered. LISTEN: https://loom.ly/r0CyUXw https://www.npr.org/2023/06/04/1180059821/byron-allen-on-the-future-of-black-owned-media23 May 2026 13:28 -0700at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmkbze2hzm2ihttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmju4k4hlk2mAfter I wrote this story, was tough for me to care much about Survivor: https://www.npr.org/2020/07/01/885750685/do-right-by-us-black-survivor-alums-say-the-reality-was-harmful-stereotypes [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 May 2026 16:20 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmju4k4hlk2mhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmjtraudr22wI saw a public appearance by a top CBS News executive a few weeks ago where the guy said they were trying to "expand the apeture" of viewers for their reporting. Yeah, right... [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 May 2026 16:13 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmjtraudr22whttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmjsh6fu6k25Spent lots of time last week talking about the end of Stephen Colbert's The Late Show; here's the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's story on Colbert, which features quotes from me and my old friend, Robert Thompson from Syracuse University. loom.ly/9xB03Dw https://loom.ly/9xB03Dw23 May 2026 15:50 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmjsh6fu6k25https://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmi47qrook2mThanks so much! [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 May 2026 23:39 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmi47qrook2mhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmhcwunpk22kFor those wondering what I’ve been up to since I started at Washington and Lee University, we’ve updated the Journalism Ethics program’s webpage w/photos and info from our recent events, including talks w/The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg and Bobby Carter from NPR’s Tiny Desk. https://loom.ly/a-c_NB8 https://www.wlu.edu/journalism-and-mass-communications-department/curriculum/signature-programs/journalism-and-media-ethics22 May 2026 09:07 -0700at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmhcwunpk22khttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmf6aunxk42rOne of my favorite late night TV stories for NPR was when I visited the Late Show w/Stephen Colbert in 2016 to see how Colbert was doing after hiring as showrunner producer Chris Licht -- who would have a short, controversial tenure as chairman and CEO of CNN. LISTEN: https://loom.ly/EqrXl08 https://www.npr.org/2016/12/10/505109308/after-a-year-on-the-job-stephen-colbert-finds-his-voice-on-the-late-show21 May 2026 12:38 -0700at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmf6aunxk42rhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmeyjsycfv2kAs Stephen Colbert’s last episode of The Late Show airs tonight, I had a wonderful time talking about this moment with Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast host Linda Holmes, revealing why Colbert seemed the most earnest of all the hosts. LISTEN: https://loom.ly/RayEB5s https://www.npr.org/2026/05/21/nx-s1-5828845/stephen-colbert-takes-his-last-bow-in-late-night21 May 2026 10:55 -0700at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmeyjsycfv2khttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmeusqifck26I’m spending the day talking about Stephen Colbert’s legacy, appearing on outlets like Boston’s WGBH and CNN. As his final episode of The Late Show airs tonight, I’m also re-posting some of the columns I’ve written about him over the years. Here’s my take on his legacy from Substack: loom.ly/ccmVnUU https://loom.ly/ccmVnUU21 May 2026 16:49 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmeusqifck26https://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmeim7tn4i2vStephen Colbert’s last episode of The Late Shiw is tonight. This morning, NPR aired my story on his legacy as a performer and host, with commentary from Roy Wood Jr and Hasan Minhaj. Read and listen here: https://loom.ly/bQGGsVU https://www.npr.org/2026/05/18/nx-s1-5815315/stephen-colbert-final-show21 May 2026 06:10 -0700at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmeim7tn4i2vhttps://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mmcdlvrm4k26I will admit to a love/hate - mostly hate - relationship w/Survivor, which contained troubling racial dynamics from the start. Amid the avalanche of coverage for its 50th season finale tonight, I offer this story I did in 2020 w/Black contestants from the show telling their stories. loom.ly/uHDHS70 https://loom.ly/uHDHS7020 May 2026 16:35 +0000at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmcdlvrm4k26https://blacksky.community/profile/edeggans.bsky.social/post/3mm7l3hveq22kAs Stephen Colbert airs the final episodes of The Late Show this week, I'm counting down his last days with capsule reviews of each installment this week for NPR. Here's my take on last night's show, which felt uncomfortably like sitting in on their final office party. READ: https://loom.ly/Dd1P2W4 https://www.npr.org/2026/05/19/nx-s1-5826087/colbert-last-night19 May 2026 07:11 -0700at://did:plc:nchapqrqunftqm76t7oy53ts/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm7l3hveq22k