Podcast Summary:

This Is Purdue – "Breaking News Producer on the Evolution of the Media Industry"
Date: September 11, 2025
Host: Kate Young (Purdue alum, Brian Lamb School of Communication)
Guest: Sutton Tyson (CBS News Booking Producer, Purdue College of Liberal Arts alumna, former FBI National Press Office spokesperson)

Episode Overview

This episode features an insightful conversation with Sutton Tyson, a Purdue graduate excelling in broadcast journalism as a booking producer for "The Takeout" with Major Garrett at CBS News. Sutton discusses the rapid changes in the media industry, especially the move toward streaming and social media, and shares behind-the-scenes stories from her high-pressure roles covering national news and representing the FBI. Throughout, she offers practical advice for students and young professionals on building relationships, sustaining well-being, and adapting to the evolving news landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Changing Landscape of News Media

• Evolution from Broadcast to Streaming

  • Sutton explains that traditional news (like the 5 o’clock evening broadcast) is being replaced by streaming, which is on-demand and device-flexible.
    • “Streaming functions very differently in that it’s on demand. You can access it at any time… There’s device flexibility. You can watch it on your phone, watch it on your laptop.” (00:40, 04:32)
  • Streaming fosters informal, long-form conversations, enabling content to be repurposed into short clips for social platforms.

• Gen Z and News Consumption

  • Gen Z, now a core news audience, seeks authenticity and transparency in content.
    • “They're the generation that grew up with influencers… so that really does shape from a news standpoint how we’re re-envisioning delivering the news.” (02:35)
  • Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram are essential for engaging young people, both in content format and platform selection.
    • “A lot of my consideration when... booking a guest... can also be a bite-sized piece that can go on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok. It's very multifaceted.” (03:39)

• The Future of Broadcast

  • Sutton believes traditional cable news will not disappear soon, but its relevance will continue to evolve.
    • “The way in which we are providing news is going to constantly evolve… streaming is such a unique platform for us to really think outside the box.” (06:31)

• Broader Audience Reach via Streaming

  • Streaming diversifies the age demographic, so messaging and content must be adaptable and flexible. (07:25)

Sutton Tyson’s Career Journey

• Early Experiences & Inspiration

  • Sutton grew up in southern Indiana and had an impactful pre-college experience teaching English in Thailand to children rescued from human trafficking.
    • “That completely altered my views on life and humanity and certainly what I wanted to do with my career.” (08:43)

• From Purdue to D.C.

  • Degree in Mass Communications and Political Science; moved to D.C. immediately post-graduation.
  • Early career in nonprofits (International Justice Mission), then transitioned to the FBI as spokesperson in the national press office.
    • “It was having really the mouthpiece for this international agency… gave me the chance to work firsthand and cultivate relationships with national reporters, international reporters, news outlets.” (08:43 – 11:23)

• Life at the FBI

  • Managed communication during major events: COVID pandemic, 2020 civil unrest, two presidential administrations.
  • Key tasks included writing press releases, prepping executives, and crisis communications.
    • “You just never really knew what the day would hold.” (11:30)
    • “Learning how to work under pressure… implementing that compassion, that empathy–that's certainly something that’s paid dividends now.” (13:24)

Breaking News, Mental Health, and High-Pressure Moments

• Dealing with Tragedies in the News

  • Covered the Army Black Hawk helicopter collision over the Potomac in D.C.; was one of the first on the scene.
    • “It’s critical that we do our jobs professionally and quickly and accurately and again approach them with that empathy and that compassion and humanity.” (15:00)
  • Emphasizes the responsibility producers feel towards the people impacted by tragedies; human emotion often isn’t visible to viewers, but resonates deeply with journalists.
    • “That story... really identified... how impactful they are and how important it is and my responsibility as a reporter, as a producer to tell those stories well and accurately.” (15:00-17:05)

• Mental Health & Industry Demands

  • Work-life balance, exercise, and leaning on friends & family are essential for resilience.
    • “The news doesn’t stop… It’s so important working in this industry that we all prioritize our mental health and our well-being.” (17:19)
    • “Just acknowledging that sometimes we do need our community to lean on... invaluable and really help, I think, help me refocus in times where I’m just drained or need a break.” (18:52)

Career Advice and Purdue Lessons

• Relationship-Building Over ‘Networking’

  • Sutton credits meaningful relationships with professors, classmates, and colleagues as the launchpad for her career success.
    • “It’s those types of relationships that you can lean on and rely on and it shows who you are as a person. It kind of sets you apart.” (19:50-21:48)
    • “I don’t really love the word networking… I found to be most beneficial… was really cultivating meaningful relationships, sustainable relationships…” (19:50)

• Advice for Boilermakers & Young Professionals

  • Invest time in people around you, introduce yourself to professors, and stay in touch.
    • “It is so important to not just be a face, but to be someone that people know. They know your goals and your heart and your intentions…” (21:48)

• Skills for Media & News Production

  • Relationship management is a crucial, not optional, skill in journalism.
    • “It’s probably the biggest part of my job is building relationships with people, be it congressional members, their staff, agency executives. Being able to have those existing relationships… is a game changer.” (23:03)

Behind the Scenes in Modern News Production

• Teamwork & Rapid Response
  • The polished news broadcast masks the scramble and teamwork behind the scenes.
    • “Sometimes we have a guest that’ll cancel an hour before the show starts… or breaking News will happen 10 minutes before we’re supposed to go on air… it’s kind of always a mad scramble.” (24:15)
    • “There are so many people involved in making sure that the ship sails… the producers, the cameramen, the tech managers, the bookers. We all play a really vital piece…” (24:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |------------|---------|-------| | 02:35 | Sutton | “They’re not the up and coming generation anymore. They’re the ones that we are really speaking to at this point... their ability to seek authenticity and transparency.” | | 04:32 | Sutton | “Streaming functions very differently in that it’s on demand… there’s device flexibility. You can watch it on your phone, watch it on your laptop.” | | 11:23 | Sutton | “It was having really the mouthpiece for this international agency… cultivate relationships with national reporters, international reporters, news outlets.” | | 13:24 | Sutton | “A lot of the time, the topics we were addressing, you know, they impact real people... So always making sure… we were putting information out for. We always kept that empathy and humanity at the forefront.” | | 15:00 | Sutton | “It’s critical that we do our jobs professionally and quickly and accurately and again approach them with that empathy and that compassion and humanity.” | | 17:19 | Sutton | “The news doesn’t stop… so important working in this industry that we all prioritize our mental health and our well-being.” | | 19:50 | Sutton | “Make yourself the big fish in the big pond… really investing in my relationships, both with friends, but also with guest lecturers, with professors, thought leaders.” | | 23:03 | Sutton | “It’s probably the biggest part of my job is building relationships with people… being able to have those existing relationships… is a game changer.” | | 24:15 | Sutton | “Sometimes we have a guest that’ll cancel an hour before the show starts… it’s always a mad scramble. That’s also such an incredible part… it’s such a team sport.” |

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:40] – News media evolution: streaming vs. traditional news
• [02:35] – Reaching Gen Z with authenticity & transparency
• [03:39] – Adapting news content for social platforms
• [04:32] – Streaming’s advantages for news and audience choice
• [08:43] – Sutton’s early inspiration and nonprofit work
• [11:23] – Inside life as an FBI spokesperson
• [13:24] – Lessons on empathy, authenticity in crisis communications
• [15:00] – Handling breaking news and responsibility to the public
• [17:19] – Managing mental health in an always-on newsroom
• [19:50] – The power of relationships & advice for students
• [23:03] – Relationship management as a critical job skill
• [24:15] – The team effort behind live news production

Conclusion

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the fast-shifting media industry through Sutton Tyson’s experience, focusing on the impact of streaming, the expectations of younger viewers, and the vital role of empathy in newsmaking. Sutton’s journey from Purdue to CBS and the FBI, her actionable advice on career development, and her candid reflections on balancing work and well-being, make this episode especially valuable for current students, recent grads, and anyone interested in journalism and media.

Listen for:

• Concrete strategies on breaking into media careers
• Firsthand accounts of crisis communication and news production
• Emphasis on relationship-building in professional life
• Honest reflections on navigating mental health in demanding fields

Quote to remember:
"It’s the biggest piece of advice that I can give to up and coming students, soon to be or recent grads. Just really, really take the time to invest in the people around you."
— Sutton Tyson (21:48)

For additional content and tips from Sutton, visit This Is Purdue’s YouTube channel and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. #BoilerUp