The Observer’s New Video Podcast Debuts With Judge William “Cruz” Shaw For A Candid Conversation On Juvenile Justice, Parenting, Politics And More
The San Antonio Observer is taking its journalism beyond the printed page with the launch of The Paper Drop, a new video podcast bringing together news, politics, culture and conversations with people shaping San Antonio.
Hosted by Editor & Columnist Alana Zarriello and Observer owner Waseem Ali, the show builds on the newspaper’s mission of giving San Antonio’s Black community a voice — a mission that dates back to the Observer’s founding by Hussein Ali in 1995.
“We didn’t have a true voice, you know, true representation in what we call the media,” Ali said during the inaugural episode. “It’s always been about the community.”
The first episode features Judge William “Cruz” Shaw in a wide-ranging conversation about juvenile justice, parenting, voting, Black representation and his experience on the bench.
At one point, Shaw delivers a direct message to parents after discussing young people entering the justice system.
“Parent your kids,” Shaw said, adding that parents should know where their children are, who their friends are and who their friends’ parents are. “Don’t start trying when you’re 13, 14, 15 years old. You have to try when these kids are babies.”
The Paper Drop marks the Observer’s latest expansion into multimedia storytelling as the newspaper enters its fourth decade serving the community.
Watch Episode 1 of The Paper Drop featuring Judge William “Cruz” Shaw on the The Paper Drop YouTube channel.
