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Connections

Coming up on Connections: Monday, October 22

Caitlin Whyte / WXXI News

First hour: Rochester's new digital newspaper, the Rochester Beacon

Second hour: Are malls dying?

Rochester has a new newspaper, of sorts: the Rochester Beacon, a digital publication which launched last week. The Beacon aims to "build a stronger Rochester by serving as a source of and forum for ideas and perspectives that are rooted in intellectual openness and drive informed public action." We explore who's behind it, and whether it can survive in a challenging world of journalism. Our guests:

  • Alex Zapesochny, publisher of the Rochester Beacon 
  • Paul Ericson, executive editor of the Rochester Beacon 
  • Smriti Jacob, managing editor of the Rochester Beacon 
  • Kent Gardner, opinion editor for the Rochester Beacon 

Last summer, Time Magazine wrote that "America's malls are dying off." Business Insider posted "50 haunting photos of abandoned malls." And a popular meme is things millennials killed, with malls routinely topping the list. But are malls truly dying? Do they need to reinvent? Our guests discuss the future of malls:

  • Dennis Wilmot, senior vice president for leasing and development at Wilmorite
  • Emily Hessney Lynch, director of content for I Heart Roc, and freelance social media strategist
  • Lindsey Hicks, former marketing director at a mall in Michigan, and now assistant director of marketing at RIT
Connections
Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.
Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.