Beyond the Headlines: Pepper Baker on Journalism, Political Coverage & Future of Local News

On this episode of Verbally Effective, host Ena Esco welcomes ABC24 News anchor and reporter Pepper Baker for an inspiring conversation about journalism, community, and the future of local news.Pepper shares her journey from Tallahassee, Florida, to the anchor desk in Memphis, reflecting on her path through UMass Boston and Columbia University, her experiences as a former collegiate volleyball player, and the stories that have shaped her award-winning career in broadcast journalism. She also discusses her Emmy-nominated reporting, the responsibility of informing the public, and why authentic storytelling remains at the heart of her work.Together, Ena and Pepper explore how local news is evolving in the digital age, the importance of making politics and civic issues accessible, what happens behind the scenes in a newsroom, and how journalists can build trust while staying connected to the communities they serve. They also bond over their shared volleyball backgrounds and discuss why Memphis has become a city they're both proud to call home.