On the Sideline with Jason Munz Talking Southern Roots, Sports Journalism, and Memphis Hoops

- On this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, I sit down with Jason Munz, the University of Memphis men’s basketball beat reporter for the Commercial Appeal.

Jason grew up in Natchez, Mississippi, got his first byline as a high school student, and has since covered everything from Friday night football to the Super Bowl blackout in New Orleans. Since 2019, he’s been the voice Memphis hoops fans turn to for Tigers basketball coverage.

We talk about what it takes to make it in sports journalism, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and why Memphis basketball is woven into the fabric of the city.

Highlights from our conversation:

• Jason’s start covering high school football in Natchez
• The career path that led him from Southern Miss to Memphis
• Lessons on humility, passion, and experience in journalism
• Balancing accuracy with the immediacy of social media
• What makes Memphis basketball culture so unique

Jason also reflects on the evolving challenges of the industry, from social media to shifting standards of objectivity, and why he believes strong, ethical journalism will always matter.

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