The Dispatch Podcast The Future of Television Journalism | Interview: Sam Feist
Oct 13, 2025
Sam Feist, CEO of C-SPAN and seasoned political journalist, engages in a compelling discussion about the future of TV journalism. He examines how the media landscape has changed, emphasizing the need for a balanced news diet amid the proliferation of sources. Feist introduces C-SPAN's new show, Ceasefire, aimed at fostering civil discourse in politics and attracting viewers fatigued by sensationalism. He also touches on C-SPAN's unique funding model and its diverse audience, advocating for transparency in political coverage.
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Start With Two Trustworthy Sources
- If you have limited time, read the Wall Street Journal news pages and the New York Times or Washington Post news pages plus their editorial pages.
- That pairing gives a balanced, fact-based diet and reliable correction practices when mistakes occur.
Raised Watching The News
- Sam Feist grew up in West Tennessee watching the nightly news with his parents and remembers Nixon's resignation at age five.
- That early habit shaped his lifelong interest and career in political journalism.
Ceasefire Reframes Partisan Debate
- Feist recycled Michael Kinsley's Crossfire idea into Ceasefire to model civil cross-partisan conversation on TV.
- He believes televising civil exchanges can show relationships and common ground the public rarely sees.