MPR News with Angela Davis

Inside the newsroom: How journalists make the call during breaking news

Brian Bakst and Matt Sepic headshots
MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Brian Bakst (left), MPR News senior politics editor, and Matt Sepic (right), MPR News correspondent, about how MPR News verifies what’s real before it reaches you.
Chris McDuffie for MPR News

Over the past year, Minnesota has been at the center of several major breaking news events.

From the assassination of a top Minnesota lawmaker and the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School last summer, to the fatal shootings by federal officers during “Operation Metro Surge” earlier this year, complex stories have unfolded quickly, often with conflicting information and intense public reaction.

So how do journalists keep up? And more importantly, how do they get it right?

MPR News host Angela Davis talks about what happens behind the scenes during breaking news and how our newsroom verifies information before it reaches you.

Guests:

  • Brian Bakst is a senior politics editor for MPR News. He is also the host of Politics Friday, where he discusses Minnesota politics —​ the latest from the legislature, election news and more.

  • Matt Sepic is a correspondent for MPR News based in Minneapolis. He focuses much of his reporting on courts and legal affairs. He also contributes frequently to NPR's national coverage. 

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