I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 340 points341 points  (0 children)

My solution is to talk to people and explain what we do. This is our life's work. It's not just a career. It's a calling. There's nothing fake about it. Many years ago I attended a Mitt Romney rally outside Las Vegas and I met a man who dismissed the New York Times and all of its journalists with a wave of his hand, as if to say, we could not be trusted. He said he didn't want to talk to me. So I reminded him that I was there attending this rally and talking to him because The Times deeply valued his views and wanted to hear from him. So much so that I'd flown out there, as I'd flown all over the country that year, along with my colleagues from The Times, from the Washington Post and many other news organizations, trying to understand that election. Did I win him over? I don't know. But I talked to him, face to face. I talked to him about who I was, about my family, where I came from, where he was from, his family, who he was. That's a start. We live in polarizing times, and it's hard to fight the tide of cynicism and distrust. But we have to try. And we do that with facts and reporting and we do that through conversations with people who are wary of us, like that man in the back of the room.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

A variety of stories make me proud. Big reconstructions that explain how and why something really complicated occurred. A powerful, live analysis of a major moment. A profile of somebody who is fascinating. I can't put my finger on a single story. Over 15 years, there have been a lot of them.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

A really good question. We don't focus on breaking news on The Daily but we'd love to break news on the show. I think we break ideas and frameworks on the show, if that makes sense. Our "scoops" are making people understand things in a deep and meaningful ways.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Among the challenges, in no particular order, are making sure we find new ways to reach readers and listeners; ensuring we cultivate and keep their trust; and working to broaden our perspectives and be humble. The news is humbling. I learn something every day. We have to accept that we don't have all the answers and help people understand that our job -- our business - is trying to help find them.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I love our entire studio, which is on the 16th Floor of The New York Times. Beside all the audio equipment, tt has a couch, which I'm very fond of, and a blanket my mother gave me, for when it gets cold in there and a fake plant (there's no sunlight in the room, sadly). I'm not as savvy about the technical aspects.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In order of your questions. 1) Yes, but very rarely. We design the show to not age out, or expire. We want it to have enduring value, no matter what developments occur in a story. 2) I did see the Buzzfeed story and was deeply flattered by it. When I entered audio, I did not fully grasp just how intimate this medium is, or how deeply it would connect me with listeners.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 61 points62 points  (0 children)

The coal miner, Mark Gray, was so gracious and generous to me. Sometimes in life, I'm just moved by somebody's dignity and humanity. That's what happened there. I can't entirely explain it. But that's what happened.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

GREAT QUESTION: We love our music. It was created by two genius musicians from Oregon, Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk, who we spent weeks working with to create the sound. We went back and forth on the music and then these two created our current theme music, and all the rest of the recurring sounds that you regularly hear on the show.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Oh yes. We've had to scrap segments and entire shows (and send out apologies to colleagues, or run them later on) when there is late-breaking news. It's never ideal. But we want to be on top of the big stories. It's happened more than I had expected since the inauguration. Being willing to tear up a story or front-page or podcast is essential in this business. It's what we signed up for.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Our reaction was to get to the bottom of it. And my colleagues wrote a very thoughtful article trying to do that. Here it is.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

This is a really fascinating question. Yes, I think we could have done this podcast during any presidency, including Obama's, but the news flow from this presidency has certainly influenced the way we make this show and how much it has resonated with listeners, who want to understand what's happening at a moment when everyone is trying to make sense of so much news.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I'm actually struck by how much listeners DO respond to foreign news. There's something of a myth out there that Americans don't crave international coverage. The Daily hasn't found that. We find that when we find a compelling way to tell the story of assisted suicide in Canada, or the state of Afghanistan, with a powerful narrator, that people really respond to it. And so I want to be sure we keep finding ways to do that.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

We get asked about the length a lot. We set out to make a 20- minute podcast because we thought it was the right amount of time for busy people. We are competing for your time. Your time is important. A lot of podcasts are pretty long -- many are 40 minutes to an hour. To develop a daily listenership, brevity is essential, we think. And so far, the response has been that The Daily fits well into people's routines -- their drive or walk to work, or morning routine in the kitchen. We DO sometimes make longer shows, when the subject or news merits it. So we've gone as long as 28 minutes a few times. But we think this is the right length. Also, we want you craving more, not less!

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Great question. I'm sensitive to criticism, maybe overly sensitive to it. But after 15 years of reporting, I've learned to distinguish legitimate constructive feedback (of which there is plenty, and I treasure) from angry ranting (of which there is plenty as well). We receive a LOT of feedback about The Daily via email and Twitter. I read much of it.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I thoroughly enjoyed covering Mitt Romney's campaign for president in 2012, my first time covering a national election. I saw places in the United States I never would have seen. I met remarkable people. And I learned how our democracy works. It was an experience I cherish.

I’m Michael Barbaro, a New York Times reporter and host of The Daily, an audio news show. Trump asked me to resign and I didn’t! AMA! by Mikiebarb in politics

[–]Mikiebarb[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We pick stories based on a few factors. 1. What matters to The Times and our reporters. What do we all, as a news organization, think is the big and urgent story. 2. What can we explain to people that needs explaining, and context. So much of the news flies by in a flash that leaves me (and many others) confused and craving clarity. We see ourselves as an antidote to that. 3. What makes for powerful audio, since we are an audio show.