Summary5 min read

Conspirituality Podcast

Bonus Sample: Journalism In An Age of Fascism

Host: Derek Beres
Date: June 1, 2026

Episode Theme and Purpose

This bonus episode tackles the urgent state of journalism in our current media climate, highlighting the profession’s role and responsibility amid rising authoritarianism and the infiltration of corporate and ideological interests into mainstream outlets. Using recent events at the Emmy awards as a springboard—particularly the award speech of young journalist Santiago Campos—the host reflects on the critical need for journalistic integrity and audacity in an age when disinformation and corporate control are eroding public trust and the ability to report inconvenient truths.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Courage of New Journalists

Santiago Campos’s Speech:
At the News and Documentary Emmys, 18-year-old Santiago Campos, recipient of the Mike Wallace Scholarship, delivered an impassioned speech critiquing CBS News’ direction and underlining journalism’s core responsibility to “serve the people” and “utter the word genocide” or confront lies, regardless of discomfort.
- Quote:
  - “So if at any time you hesitate to utter the word genocide or remain silent in the face of blatant lies, remember to ask yourself, who is this for? I hope you choose us.” (Santiago Campos, 00:33)
Room Reaction:
The speech initially stunned the mostly CBS-attended audience—but applause broke out after veteran CBS reporter Scott Pelly led the way, underscoring how exceptional such candor has become, and perhaps should not be.

2. The Mainstream’s Faltering Integrity

Campos’s Press Interview:
Santiago told The Guardian the next day that he felt compelled to “address my concerns and qualms and criticisms of CBS before accepting the scholarship,” signaling a rare instance of integrity that professional journalists should regularly exhibit.
- Quote:
  - “I think that just shows where we are right now and how low the bar is in terms of our expectations of journalists and the mainstream media. I think what I said should be the normal.” (Campos, as paraphrased by Derek Beres, 02:05)
  - “If Bari Weiss has a problem with what I said and doesn’t want me to receive the scholarship, then she can talk to me. But I think most people in the room agreed with me…” (Campos, 03:45)
Host’s Commentary:
Derek reflects that speaking these truths "isn’t a stretch in a sane society," but America is far from sane now, making Campos’s act all the more striking—and necessary.

3. Power Struggles and Censorship Inside Newsrooms

Bari Weiss’s Leadership and Staff Firings:
CBS, under new leadership from Bari Weiss, has shown a willingness to pull critical stories and not renew contracts of established reporters.
- Sharon Alfonsi’s Experience:
  Alfonsi’s Emmy-nominated reportage on Venezuelan deportees was pulled by Weiss, later circulating online in Canada and social media—effectively reaching a wider audience, but raising questions about editorial independence.
Job Security Fears:
At the Rittenhauer Prize ceremony, Sharon Alfonsi expressed her hope simply to "still have a job," echoing the climate of fear under new CBS management.
- Quote:
  - “My hope recently has been that I still have a job and every morning I wake up to another headline that says I’ve been fired.” (Sharon Alfonsi, as recounted by Derek, 02:53)

4. The Broader Media Environment

Professional Risk and Mediocrity:
Campos’s “audacity and integrity” are celebrated as rare rather than expected, which Beres laments as indicative of the broader erosion of journalistic standards amid corporate and political pressure.
MAGA Trolls and Public Reaction:
Campos faced the classic “if he hates CBS, he shouldn’t take the money” backlash from online trolls—demonstrating the persistent misunderstanding (or willful misrepresentation) of criticism, accountability, and the right to public dissent.

5. The Role—and Stakes—of Journalism

Personal Reflections:
Derek Beres recounts his own presence at the Emmys (for a nominated—but not winning—piece on RFK Jr. and health misinformation), using the experience to reignite his passion for the field and underline the stakes:
- Journalism, despite its obstacles, remains crucial for public health, democracy, and truth-telling amid increasing disinformation and authoritarian creep.
- The episode promises more clips and further reflections on journalism's function (the full content resides behind the podcast’s Patreon paywall).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Santiago Campos (00:33):
“If at any time you hesitate to utter the word genocide or remain silent in the face of blatant lies, remember to ask yourself, who is this for? I hope you choose us.”
Derek Beres (01:04):
“The evening reignited my love for journalism and Santiago’s speech was a highlight... There was an audible shock in the room... then the presenter Scott Pelly started clapping and the room erupted.”
Campos (as cited by Beres, 02:05):
“I think what I said should be the normal. And so I think we need to get to a place where things like that and that kind of audacity and integrity is being shown every single day by professional journalists and not by an 18 year old student.”
Sharon Alfonsi (as recounted by Beres, 02:53):
“My hope recently has been that I still have a job and every morning I wake up to another headline that says I’ve been fired.”
Derek Beres (03:52):
“Santiago Campos speaking up isn't a stretch in a sane society, but we know that America isn't that right now.”

Timestamps of Important Segments

00:03 – 00:58: Santiago Campos’s Emmy speech
01:01 – 02:48: Derek Beres reports from the Emmys; media commentary; recounts reactions
02:48 – 03:43: Discussion of media layoffs; Alfonsi’s remarks
03:43 – 05:30: Reflections on journalism’s stakes, backlash against Campos, closing thoughts

Summary Statement

This episode provides a compelling look at the perils facing contemporary journalism, personified in the courage of an 18-year-old who did what senior professionals now rarely dare: state uncomfortable truths to power. The discussion demonstrates how both corporate control and ideological capture are undermining the media’s watchdog function, and how the bar for journalistic integrity and courage has dropped alarmingly low. Derek Beres’s personal and professional reflections invite listeners to consider the future of trustworthy media in an age trending toward fascism—and what it takes for journalists to defend the public good, even when the establishment resists.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:04]
A
And while I want to thank CBS News for funding this generous gift towards my education, I want to also acknowledge how the recent direction of the outlet stains the legacy of Mike Wallace, the namesake of this scholarship. As corporate elites take hold, As corporate elites take hold over the very pipes through which our information flows, journalism that serves the people becomes increasingly harder to come by, yet ever more crucial. And what the people want is the truth. So if at any time you hesitate to utter the word genocide or remain silent in the face of blatant lies, remember to ask yourself, who is this for? I hope you choose us. Thank you.
[01:02]
B
That's Santiago Campos, an 18 year old high school senior and recipient of the $10,000 Mike Wallace Scholarship, speaking at the News and Documentary Emmys awards ceremony last week. I was in the room that evening in New York City as my reporting for the New York Times on RFK Jr. And Maha was was nominated for an Emmy in Outstanding health or medical Coverage. Spoiler. I didn't win, but I'm honored that my piece with Alex Stockton and the New York Times opinion team was represented. The evening reignited my love for journalism and Santiago's speech was a highlight. You might have noticed a pause before the applause. I was seated directly in front of the CBS team and there was an audible shock in the room. But then the presenter of the scholarship, veteran CBS reporter Scott Pelly, started clapping and the room erupted. Peli would later say he sees a lot of Mike Wallace in Campos and I agree. Campos clip has been making the rounds on social media and in the press. In an interview the following day with the Guardian, he explained why he said what he did. I knew it was kind of what I had to do. I felt like I couldn't just accept the scholarship and also ignore just how wrong the direction of CBS is going. I was nervous to speak to such a large crowd, but there was never a question about if I was going to say the things I said or not. I think that was always my plan. I think it received a lot more attention than I was expecting. I think that that just shows where we are right now and how low the bar is in terms of our expectations, journalists and the mainstream media. I think what I said should be the normal. And so I think we need to get to a place where things like that and that kind of audacity and integrity is being shown every single day by professional journalists and not by an 18 year old student. It's good. A few jabs were thrown at CBS and Bari Weiss that evening for good reason. While accepting his own award. Scott Pelly cited fellow 60 Minutes journalist Sharon Alfonsi by name, who just happened to be seated directly in front of me. It was a touching moment, in part because Alphonse has previously sparred with Weiss when her December 2025 segment on Venezuelan deportees who described being tortured and abused was infamously pulled by Weiss and did not run. Of course, it did run in Canada, and then people posted it online, which made it probably be seen by a lot more people. This was all on brand for this night and this media environment we're existing in. In fact, Alfonsi said the following while accepting the rittenhauer Prize on May 1 quote, thank you for this award. I didn't know that the theme was hope. My hope recently has been that I still have a job and every morning I wake up to another headline that says I've been fired. And then I woke up on Thursday morning, the morning after the awards ceremony, to learn that Alphonse was fired or, well, her contract was not renewed by Weiss, along with a few other journalists who were showed the door at cbs. Suffice to say, CBS was up for a lot of Emmys and won a few for some great work, though I can't see that happening next year under Weiss's leadership. Santiago Campos speaking up isn't a stretch in a sane society, but we know that America isn't that right now. I noticed a lot of the usual if he hates CBS, he shouldn't accept the money bullshit coming from MAGA trolls online. The young journalist told the Guardian that he doesn't use Twitter, but but he wasn't completely surprised by the response. Then he said this, quote, if Bari Weiss has a problem with what I said and doesn't want me to receive the scholarship, then she can talk to me. But I think most people in the room agreed with me and I think it was just my responsibility to address my concerns and my qualms and my criticisms of CBS before accepting the scholarship. I know I agreed with him. The evening reminded me once again of the importance of journalism. So that's what I want to do today. Clip a few other standout moments from the awards about the state of media and society and share some thoughts on those clips and the industry as well as the function of journalism that it plays in society. I'm Derek Barris and you're listening to a conspirituality bonus episode, Journalism in an Age of Fascism. Let's dive in. You've been listening to a conspirituality bonus episode sample to continue listening, please head over to patreon.com conspirituality where you can access all of our main feed episodes ad free, as well as four years of bonus content that we've been producing you. You can also subscribe to our bonus episodes via Apple Subscriptions. As independent media creators, we really appreciate your support.
[06:40]
C
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