In this episode of UNT Pod, acclaimed journalist and co-director of the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference Michael Mooney — who also happens to be a UNT alum — speaks with Monique Bird, discussing everything from the Mayborn conference and the state of journalism to his simultaneous love of, and aversion to, Twitter.

In this episode, we discuss:

● Highlights from the Mayborn conference over the years

● Its benefits for up-and-coming and established journalists

● The state of the journalism industry

● The benefits and drawbacks of Twitter, particularly for writers

Featured in this episode is:

● Michael Mooney, a UNT journalism alum and co-director of the conference. The theme of this year’s Mayborn event, which took place in late July, was “Justice in America,” a topic Mooney knows well — he’s covered crime and social justice for magazines ranging from Texas Monthly to D Magazine to GQ, and has been featured in the anthology of the Best American Crime Reporting. He’s the author of Texas Monthly’s August cover story, and also writes sports and culture articles for publications such as ESPN the Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Popular Mechanics.

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● Tell us about your favorite moments from the Mayborn conference by connecting with us on Twitter @UNTSocial or on Instagram @UNT.