Behind the Story
Behind the Story
Podcast Description
Come Behind the Story with WPRI 12 News in Providence, Rhode Island with conversation that takes you beyond the headlines.
Hear it from the journalists who broke the biggest news across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Hosted by Target 12 Investigator Eli Sherman, 12 News anchor Kim Kalunian, and Boston Globe columnist Dan McGowan, this 30-minute show pulls back the curtain on how impactful stories come to light — and why they matter. Each week, reporters reveal the questions they asked, the obstacles they faced, and the moments that made the difference. It’s a front-row seat to the journalism that shapes your community.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The show focuses on local journalism and current events in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, delving into topics such as the Napatree Point dispute, the Butler Hospital strike, and various community issues. Episodes often feature analysis of reporting methods, discussions about ongoing stories, and insights into local events that have a significant impact on the community.
Come Behind the Story with WPRI 12 News in Providence, Rhode Island with conversations that take you beyond the headlines.
Hear it from the journalists bringing you the most interesting news across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.
Hosted by Target 12 Investigator Eli Sherman, 12 News anchor Kim Kalunian, and Boston Globe columnist Dan McGowan, this 30-minute show pulls back the curtain on how impactful stories come to light — and why they matter.
Each week, reporters reveal the questions they asked, the obstacles they faced, and the moments that made the difference. It’s a front-row seat to the journalism that shapes your community.
Mark Patinkin, who’s been a newspaper columnist for over four decades, recently wrote about the issue of hazing in schools following incidents in Newport and Smithfield, respectively. Hazing has also been the focus of an opinion piece written by BTS cohost Dan McGowan, a columnist for the Boston Globe.
Patinkin said student athletes who behave badly should be held responsible for their actions. But he also called on adults — specifically coaches — to take some ownership of what’s going on.
“Coaches have the power to be able to sit kids down and a football team or a comparable situation and say, ‘Look, if any of you haze a kid, you’re off the team,’” Patinkin said. “Coaches can do that. They have the power. And I just have to think those conversations have not been happening in Rhode Island.”
Patinkin also discussed his experience writing about the Israel-Hamas war, which included him traveling to the Middle East to interview people on both sides of the conflict. Patinkin, whose writing has leaned pro-Israel, said he’s rarely received such sharp criticism over his position.
“It was withering … but I’ll tell you, it didn’t sway me,” Patinkin said. “When you’re a columnist putting your personality out there and people disagree with you, they say, ‘You’re a disgrace to humanity,’ so it gets very personal.”
Later in the show, Dan and Eli discussed the “Stories We Wish We Wrote.”
Dan’s picks
- Records reveal R.I. pediatrician wrote more than a hundred prescriptions for his own daughter by Amanda Milkovits, Boston Globe
- Union leans on lawmakers to keep School Budget Commission on track by John Howell, Warwick Beacon
Eli’s picks
- As winter heating costs rise, so does consumer anxiety in Rhode Island, poll finds by Alexander Castro, Rhode Island Current
- BROKEN NEWS? Outlets in search of sustainable community journalism model by John Lahtinen, Providence Business News
Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.
It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.
“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.
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