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Professional Athlete Vaccinations | A Tough Time For Journalists

Jason Hanna Photography
/
Kansas City Royals
Professional sports teams like the Kansas City Royals are taking a different approach to convincing their players to get vaccinated.

How sports teams are convincing as many players as possible to get vaccinated, and why this is a risky time to be a member of news media.

Segment 1, starting at 1:00: How coaches working with players from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences are approaching getting everyone on their teams vaccinated.

Sports columnist Vahe Gregorian explains how patience and understanding, not demanding or bullying, are major keys to encouraging athletes to obtain COVID-19 immunization.

Segment 2, starting at 26:23: Widespread layoffs in newsrooms and commercial flights being hijacked are just two of the chances journalists take working in their profession.

Newsroom staff could also face the same fate awaiting Tribune Publishing, bought out by Alden Global Capital, a hedge fund well known for gutting newsrooms. Then, there's the Associated Press reporter controversially fired for tweets she posted in college. We get opinions on just how risky being a journalist is these days.

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.
As Up To Date’s senior producer, I construct daily conversations that give our listeners context to the issues of our time. I strive to provide a platform that holds those in power accountable, while also spotlighting the voices of Kansas City’s creatives and visionaries that may otherwise go unheard. Email me at zach@kcur.org.