Intro to audio: Another step toward making it easier for you to get the news

The on-air light goes on this week for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. (Tim Lambert/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Greetings! 

I’m Emily Previti, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star’s first audio reporter, writing to introduce myself. 

Sometimes, I overthink. 

But after learning about this position, it was apparent relatively quickly – even to me – that this opportunity was a no-brainer: I could harness my experience to help fill a void in Pennsylvania’s media landscape with deeply reported, state policy-focused audio journalism. It’s a powerful medium I’ve long been passionate about for its unparalleled convenience, intimate engagement with audiences and ability to help people understand complex issues while they’re commuting, exercising or scrubbing their bathroom. 

Initially, you’ll be able to catch our audio content on the Pennsylvania Capital-Star’s website and other content channels. We’re also working to establish partnerships with radio stations throughout Pennsylvania. 

Ultimately, our goal is to produce our own podcast as well. 

You can expect news as well as deep dives and investigations that you won’t hear – or read – elsewhere. 

Tim Lambert, editor in chief, and I worked together for several years in public media. And when you’re expanding into new territory and launching initiatives, having established trust and history as colleagues out of the gate is a huge advantage. I also have a track record of finding stories that have been overlooked despite being highly relevant and telling them in an impactful, distinctive way. 

Most recently, I co-created and hosted the longform podcast Obscured through Kouvenda Media. The pilot series focused on survivors of traumatic police encounters and the support – or lack thereof – available to them. 

Before that, I spent several years as a senior reporter for WITF-FM and the statewide Keystone Crossroads collaboration, where I covered everything from refugee resettlement to housing discrimination to Pennsylvania’s redistricting battles to voting rights and election administration. I also created and produced The Context, a daily newsletter, and led investigations into Pennsylvania’s public defense system and other issues affecting communities across the commonwealth that earned awards on the state, regional and national levels.

I came to Pennsylvania, originally, to cover Harrisburg’s debt crisis beat at PennLive after working as a watchdog reporter for The Press of Atlantic City investigating the casino industry and state and local government corruption. 

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Throughout, my professional goals have been relatively straightforward, even as navigating the industry and the reporting process itself have proven complicated and challenging at times. 

I aim to tell nuanced, engaging stories that expose root causes of persistent problems and help people understand how policies actually affect them. And to add value to the media landscape with contextual, conversational stories that explore important angles otherwise glossed over or missed entirely with reporting that synthesizes history, data, personal narratives, accountability, policy analysis and potential solutions and alternate approaches.

I also believe in meeting audiences where they are, as do the Pennsylvania Capital-Star and States Newsroom. Some of you prefer to read your news, others want to listen during your commute. Still others want quick updates on social media. Recognizing that, the Capital-Star is experimenting with bringing stories to life in different ways. I’m thrilled to be part of the expansion. 

The focus here on connecting people to the power that affects them resonates strongly with me as well. I feel fortunate to be part of an organization committed to delivering fact-based, nuanced, transparent coverage with its audience top-of-mind. 

Thanks for welcoming me to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star team. I am truly excited to be here and can’t wait to share stories with you.

You can reach me at epreviti@penncapital-star.com with tips or if you want to share how policy decisions are affecting your community. I’d love to hear from you.

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