Peter Zampa: From "one-man band" to national correspondent

Peter Zampa is everywhere. As the senior national correspondent for Gray Media, Peter travels the country covering major news stories for WECT News and more than 100 other newsrooms nationwide. From the halls of Capitol Hill and high-profile trials in New York City to the quiet heartland of America, he has spent over a decade shaping what it means to deliver trusted, localized national news.

In this episode, Peter takes us behind the scenes of his acclaimed travel series, Listening to America, sharing what it is truly like to step into the living rooms of everyday Americans to tell their stories. He opens up about his early days as a "one-man band" reporter in Washington, D.C.—carrying his own camera, microphone, and tripod while going toe-to-toe with network giants—and how those gritty roots made him a more precise and empathetic storyteller.

We also dive into the real, raw anxieties that come with modern journalism. Peter shares a candid look at the "cold sweat" moments of waking up in the middle of the night, worrying if he has done justice to the people who trusted him with their stories. From growing up in a household of journalists to his heartbreak over the Oakland A's leaving his hometown, this is a wide-ranging conversation about passion, perfectionism, and the privilege of being invited into people's homes every single day.

Jon Evans of WECT/Fox Wilmington is in his 43rd year of television news. He's asked a lot of questions, and you've seen or heard the answers on his newscasts. Jon is now asking different questions, going in-depth with interviews and learning things that only a few people know. Politicians, business leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, entertainers - you'll know them better after hearing them go "1 on 1 with Jon Evans."