In the last episode of Five Dubs: Marketing Pros for 2024, Kevin Berrier from MDDC Ad Services sits down with Erik Nefores, founder of The Green Villager, to talk about how sustainability and technology can work together to create a better future. Erik shares what inspired him to start The Green Villager, a blog and community hub focused on making eco-friendly concepts simple and accessible. He discusses ideas like Earthships, solar punk values, and using AI to create meaningful content and visuals.

Kevin and Erik talk about the challenges of promoting sustainability in a world filled with negativity and the importance of sharing factual, responsibly sourced information. Erik explains how he uses creative visuals inspired by impressionist art to make his content stand out while staying true to his mission.

They also cover Erik's journey balancing his personal and professional life while building a brand rooted in optimism and innovation. Erik shares his long-term vision for The Green Villager, which includes creating sustainable, passive homes that blend modern technology with traditional practices to redefine how communities live and thrive.

Tune in to learn how The Green Villager is making sustainability approachable and why optimism and creativity are essential for the future. Visit GreenVillager.com, follow them on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to their newsletter to stay inspired.

In this episode, Rebecca Snyder welcomes Frances “Toni” Draper, publisher of the Afro-American Newspapers, to discuss her upcoming book Prayer and Pen, set to release in January 2025. Toni shares the deeply personal and historical journey behind this unique collection of prayers written by her grandfather, Carl Murphy—a prolific writer, journalist, and former editor of the Afro. Together, they explore how these prayers, scribbled on everything from napkins to envelopes, offer insights into Carl Murphy’s spiritual and professional life as he navigated pivotal moments in history, from the March on Washington to his editorial work.

Toni also dives into the Afro’s storied legacy, touching on its archival treasures, its connection to the Black church and civil rights movement, and the family's remarkable contributions to journalism, community building, and justice. This heartfelt episode highlights the timeless relevance of Carl Murphy’s prayers and proverbs, while celebrating the Afro’s dedication to preserving Black history and culture.

Join us as we reflect on the power of prayer, the importance of legacy, and the enduring impact of the Afro on generations past, present, and future.

In this episode of Marketing Pros, host Kevin Berrier dives deep into the evolving world of social media marketing and the impact of AI with Ross Gray, co-founder and COO of Cloud Campaign. Together, they explore how businesses and marketers can balance the efficiency of AI tools with the human touch needed for authentic engagement.

What You’ll Learn:

• How AI can optimize your social media content while keeping it personal.
• Why authenticity still outshines AI-generated posts in performance.
• The importance of data-driven strategies like optimizing post timing and content type.
• Real-life examples of effective evergreen and real-time content.
• The risks and ethics of using AI, and how to mitigate “AI hallucinations.”

Ross also shares insights into trends shaping the future of social media, including the rise of pop-culture-driven content and the evolving role of AI in marketing. Plus, get a sneak peek into what’s next for Cloud Campaign.

Whether you're a marketer, business owner, or social media enthusiast, this episode offers actionable tips and a fresh perspective on leveraging AI while staying authentic.

Shoutout:
Check out Cloud Campaign for powerful tools to elevate your social media game.

Follow us, share the love, and let’s make your content strategy unstoppable!

In this Rewind episode of Five Dubs, host Rebecca Snyder speaks with Allison Taylor Levine, executive director of the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) in Delaware. Allison discusses her journey from journalism to nonprofit work, her passion for strengthening local news, and how LJI aims to support Delaware’s media ecosystem. She shares insights from the recent Delaware News Ecosystem Report, revealing how Delaware’s unique community offers a testing ground for innovative models in journalism. Tune in to hear about the launch of Spotlight Delaware, a collaborative nonprofit newsroom set to fill reporting gaps and amplify community voices. If you care about democracy, community connection, and the future of local news, this episode is a must-listen.

In this Rewind episode of Five Dubs by MDDC Press, host Rebecca Snyder sits down with Michael Fletcher from ESPN’s Enterprise Reporting Team. Michael shares his unique journey into journalism, starting from an unexpected interest in engineering to a celebrated career covering stories that intersect sports, politics, and social issues. They discuss some of his groundbreaking work, including coverage of high-profile stories like Michael Oher’s conservatorship case and Colin Kaepernick’s activism, and explore why persistence and curiosity are key to success in journalism. Tune in for insights on how journalism connects people to the powerful, frames societal issues, and plays a crucial role in democracy.

In this episode of The Five Dubs Podcast, MDDC Executive Director and Host Rebecca Snyder explores the Maryland Kids Code, a legislative effort aimed at protecting the data of minors on social media. Loyola University Maryland Philosophy Professor Nina Guise-Gerrity and student Kate McLaughlin discuss their research on the bill's implications for local journalism and media, emphasizing the balance between protecting youth and ensuring the survival of local news outlets. They highlight the challenges posed by social media and the need for responsible data handling, while also addressing concerns about the bill's potential impact on local journalism. This conversation explores the intersection of local media and social media, the challenges posed by recent legislation, and the evolving landscape of journalism, particularly in relation to youth engagement and the future of local news. The speakers discuss the implications of social media on local journalism, the complexities of legislative efforts to support local media, and the need for ongoing dialogue about the role of journalism in communities.

CLICK HERE to learn more about MD Kids Code.

On this week’s episode of Five Dubs: Marketing Pros, host Kevin Berrier has a conversation with Jake Shipley and Darius Long of County Sports Zone, a digital platform dedicated to high school sports in Maryland. We explore the brand’s inception, growth, and future, and discuss the challenges they faced, including the impact of the pandemic, and how they adapted to meet the needs of their audience. They highlight the importance of community engagement, the diversity of their user base, and the innovative features they are developing, such as the student ambassador program and spirit points system to enhance user interaction.

In this episode, host Rebecca Snyder welcomes Kathryn Foxhall from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) to discuss a crucial issue affecting journalists today: the growing difficulty in accessing public information due to gag orders imposed by public information officers (PIOs). Kathryn shares insights from her extensive experience in fighting for transparency, highlighting a pivotal case led by journalist Brittany Haler (covered previously in episode #37). Together, they explore how gag orders restrict the free flow of information, the challenges journalists face in getting the full story, and how the fight for transparency is not over. Kathryn and Rebecca also dive into the legal battles being fought by First Amendment clinics and discuss ways journalists and citizens alike can push back against this concerning trend. This episode sheds light on the vital role journalists play in ensuring government accountability and the importance of continuing this fight for the public's right to know

Tune in to hear how SPJ and others are tackling this issue and what can be done to protect the integrity of journalism in the face of increasing censorship.

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A message from Kathryn Foxhall:

"A number of journalism groups, including the Society of Professional Journalists, have long fought the bans, in agencies and elsewhere, against employees speaking to journalists, or from speaking to them without notifying the authorities, often through the public information office.

We have had what we hope is a groundbreaking legal settlement in which a journalist filed a suit for herself against an agency’s restrictions. Reporter Brittany Hailer sued the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh which prohibited even the medical personnel from talking to reporters, even as a high death rate was alleged. Yale Law School Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic and the Reporters’ Committee for Freedom of the Press represented her.

In April Hailer won a favorable settlement with strong First Amendment language supporting employees’ and contractors’ right to speak to reporters.

In light of the settlement, SPJ has issued a call for action against gag rules and “Censorship by PIO.”

Frank LoMonte, previously head of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, provided foundational thinking on the issue in a 2019 report. Frank says these constraints are unconstitutional, that many courts have said so, and that journalists should be able to bring their own cases. A shorter version of that report is here.

Glen Nowak, a former CDC communications director, has said that presidential administrations hand down mandates on what may be said and who reporters may talk to; that the controls have tightened under every president since Reagan; and that they are explicitly political.

A list of resources is here."