About Beat the Press

Beat The Press takes a sharp look at how the media, new and old, covers and analyzes the big issues of the week. Created in 1998 by award winning television news producer and host Emily Rooney, Beat the Press is a lively and sometimes sassy look at both the business of media and its journalistic purpose. A four time winner of the National Press Club's prestigious Arthur Rowse Award for Press Criticism, BTP has become one of the most popular programs on local public television, bringing viewers behind the scenes and into the process of news gathering from television, radio and newspapers, to the vast world of new media including websites, blogs, twitters and more. The weekly half-hour, airing Friday's at 7pm on Channel 2, is hosted by Greater Boston's Emily Rooney and includes a panel of critical thinkers from a wide range of backgrounds.

"Beat the Press follows both the news and the impact of coverage offering opinion and analysis often with spur of the moment certainty," says Emily Rooney. "It's about the now of news with only an occasional wistful lament of the past."

In early 2009 Beat the Press launched a new website, including blog postings from panelists, daily media news updates and a new suite of interactive features designed to let users join the conversation.  Veteran journalist and Greater Boston field producer Ralph Ranalli is chief blogger with contributions from all the BTP panelists and guests.

Greater Boston and Beat the Press are produced by Boston Media Productions at WGBH under the guidance of Executive-in-Charge Denise DiIanni, Executive Producer Linda Polach, Supervising Producer Don Makson, Producer Ralph Ranalli and Host and Executive Editor Emily Rooney.