WNYC’s On the Media Names Micah Loewinger Co-Host

Producer and reporter Micah Loewinger has been named co-host of WNYC’s On the Media, the Peabody Award-winning weekly public radio show and podcast that analyzes how the media shapes our worldview.

Loewinger assumes the role following eight years on the On the Media staff, first as a producer, then as the show’s first-ever reporter, and, most recently, as a regular guest host. He will now officially co-host alongside Brooke Gladstone, host of On the Media for over 20 years.

Loewinger’s work has largely focused on digital media’s influence on politics and political movements. His award-winning investigation into the walkie-talkie app Zello revealed the way right-wing militias were using it to recruit new members, and his sustained tracking of these groups on the app led him to uncover their ties to local police departments and discover one group’s plan to storm the Capitol. He interviewed Tasha Adams, the ex-wife of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, before and after his conviction for his participation in the January 6 insurrection. Loewinger has also covered stories on QAnon, teenage fascists who had been deradicalized by left-wing YouTubers, why preppers weren’t prepping for the pandemic, how restorative justice might help rehabilitate trolls on Reddit, how a video game about war helped a family survive a actual war, and why a conservative election director became a pariah in her deep-red county.

“Micah joined the show just as social media was deep into transforming our political communication and politics in general, and he was largely responsible for ensuring we never fell behind,” said Gladstone. “And with his investigative skills, his deep engagement, and his distinctive voice, we knew he would help steer the show into vital new territory. OTM’s executive producer Katya Rogers and I are both thrilled to have Micah in this new role, especially now, as we parse the news for what is real — and what isn’t — during this crucial election season.”

“As someone who grew up with the internet –– watching more YouTube than cable news –– I’m excited to help the show to rethink how we define media,” said Loewinger. “I hope to incorporate the voices of more independent and social media-based journalists on our show to better reflect how and where Americans get news and information. The media industry is struggling, and there’s plenty of disagreement about how to transform and save it, but it’s truly an honor to be a part of a team committed to helping our listeners contend with what’s happening in real-time.”

“Twenty-plus years into its run, On the Media remains one of the most relevant, essential guides to understanding the way media shapes our public perception and democracy,” said Kenya Young, Senior Vice President, WNYC Programming and WNYC Studios. “How people consume news and information is changing at an ever-faster clip, and Micah’s appointment heralds an exciting moment for the show, as he brings his digital native perspective and investigative chops to an era of rampant mis- and disinformation.”

WNYC Studios’ On the Media airs weekly on more than 400 public radio stations across the country, and has a biweekly podcast. The show has been recognized with multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards for feature reporting and investigative reporting, multiple Bart Richards Awards for media criticism, multiple Gracies, the Silver Gavel Award hosted by the American Bar Association and two Peabody Awards. Most recently, Loewinger was a finalist for a MIrror Award for his series about digital media, and Gladstone was honored with a Mirror Award for her piece, “The Fog of War Shrouds a Devastating Conflict.”