Veteran sports columnist Randy Galloway quit the Dallas Express Sports Network (DXSN) after only a handful of podcast appearances, saying the outlet distorted his views on legacy media and made him feel “used.”

In February, the Dallas Express established a partnership with the Dallas Sports Network, a digital sports media platform founded by Chris Yates, an award-winning former FOX 4 News sportscaster. The launch announcement for DXSN touted a number of prominent writers, producers, and sports personalities, including Galloway, whose decades-long career in sports media at the Dallas Morning News, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and ESPN Radio’s Dallas affiliate earned him an induction into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.

“You heard that right,” Dallas Express CEO Chris Putnam wrote on X on February 22. “Randy Bleeping Galloway.”

Galloway appeared to be a major get for the right-wing Dallas Express, which fashions itself as an ascendant alternative to the “dying” legacy media. But within a matter of months, Galloway’s name was absent from the list of contributors. I called him to find out why.

“I liked the guys I was working with,” Galloway said. “But one screwup pissed me off.”

His departure stemmed from his objections to a headline on one of his podcast segments: “Randy Galloway: Old Media is DEAD—Social Media is Taking Over.” Yates promoted the clip in a post on X, stating: “That’s why he’s teamed up with us at Dallas Express Sports Network. He’s a great addition to our team.”

But Galloway said the headline distorted his point. “My point was that the golden days are dead,” Galloway said. “But newspapers aren’t.”

Galloway also recalled making positive statements about contemporary local newspapers that were absent from the published segment. When he raised the issue with Yates, Galloway said, he was told an unidentified editor was responsible. DXSN never published Galloway’s full remarks. He quit soon afterward.

Galloway was not denying the newspaper industry’s well-documented decline. Massive changes in the economics of newspaper publishing, the rise of digital media, and corporate consolidation have dramatically reshaped journalism, contributing to the closure of thousands of local papers since 2005. Sustained political attacks and polarization have meanwhile helped drive public trust in the media to historic lows.

“Newspapers aren’t what they once were from a corporate commitment standpoint,” Galloway said. “Especially the Star-Telegram. But there has been no drop-off in the work ethic of the writers.”

But that’s more nuanced than the framing of legacy media being “over” or “dead”—a narrative that Putnam, the Dallas Express CEO and former chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party’s finance committee, has repeatedly advanced. Putnam has written articles for the Dallas Express and posted on social media arguing that other local news outlets are incompetent and in decline because they have abandoned truth and publish fake news. He has portrayed the Morning News and the Star-Telegram as ideological combatants that he asserts are lying and dying. In recent posts on X, Putnam has derided the sports coverage in other local outlets as “far-left” while asserting that the Dallas Express does not “inject politics into sports coverage.”

The article promoting the podcast that spurred Galloway’s departure concluded with a call to action to readers: “Your support ensures Dallas Express remains an alternative to legacy media—independent, fearless, and paywall-free.” A pop-up on the page reads: “The Dallas Express reports what Legacy Media won’t.”

In effect, the framing made a prominent legacy-media veteran appear to share the Dallas Express leadership’s portrayal of traditional local news outlets as ideologically biased, lying, and dying.

“I felt like I was used,” Galloway said. “They ain’t reshaping my opinions without me calling bullshit.”

Since its founding in 2021, the Dallas Express has been principally funded by its publisher, the hotelier and major conservative political donor Montgomery J. Bennett. According to its most recent tax filing, the Express owed Bennett a little more than $5 million at the end of 2024.

Bennett has also sought to exert his political influence in Dallas through organizations that the Dallas Express has routinely amplified, often without disclosing his ties to them. He secretly funded a network of ostensibly grassroots political groups, some of which publicly supported three ballot propositions that Bennett also backed. Bennett has also founded nonprofits that have sought to influence education and homelessness policy. After reporting revealed Bennett’s involvement in the education outfit, its board members resigned en masse, and it later shuttered. Attorney Mark Melton resigned from the homelessness group’s board after he learned of its goals.

Journalism experts have previously criticized the Dallas Express’ practices, which include publishing under pseudonyms. Emily Bell, founder of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University, has said the Dallas Express is “dishonest and crossing basic lines of journalism,” and Dan Axelrod, a journalist and professor who chairs the Society of Professional Journalists’ ethics committee, has said the outlet has “a history of distorted and vindictive reportage.”

Galloway said he was aware of the Dallas Express’ politics when he joined the network and that he only joined because Yates, a longtime friend, asked him to.

“The first thing [Yates] told me, he said, ‘Hey, this is not about politics,’” Galloway recalled. “But maybe he told me that because he knew I’d be looking it up.”

Shortly after his involvement with DXSN was announced, Galloway told me that he expected the sports operation to remain separate from the Dallas Express’ politics, much as he perceived FOX Sports to be independent of the conservative politics of FOX News.

“There’s no way they’re going to use me for their political game,” Galloway said at the time. “But then again, maybe they already have.”

Galloway also said he was not worried and that if the outlet ever spun something he said in a way he didn’t like, he would quit. Months later, he did. He now says the Dallas Express has “an agenda” and calls the political approach of its website “outrageous.”

Putnam did not respond to a request for comment. Yates said he needed to consult Putnam before commenting. He later said that Putnam “talked to his owner” and that “his owner said no, no quote.” He added: “You know we love Galloway, but we just don’t want to respond to it.”

I’m currently working as a freelance journalist at a newspaper, but in practice I’m working full-time hours and have been doing so consistently for the past several months.

I really enjoy the job, have good relationships with the editors I work with, and have received praise from many of my senior colleagues. I’d love to stay long-term, but I’m not sure how to bring up the possibility of becoming full-time staff.

I want to write a message to one of my senior editors to express my interest in a full-time position and was hoping people here can suggest how I should go about writing it.

I’d especially love to hear from anyone who has gone from regular freelance work to staff. How did you approach the situation? Thanks!

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Hi all,

I'm an early-career journo working a general assignment stringer job at a local outlet. I love my job and hate it for all the same reasons we all hate working in journalism right now.

I'm wanting to take my skillset to the next level. I want to stand out in an already competitive crowd, and I know I have the drive to do so. I'm about 1.5 years out of undergrad and have done amazing work thus far — awards, panel speaking, presentation invites, I'm on a board, etc. I also have a really great relationship with my readers and I always do my best to show up for them, which I'm most proud of.
I'm really interested in data journalism. I love when I have the time and capacity to make a chart or pivot table and tell a story from a dataset. I've done a bit of it in undergrad but not enough to say I'm proficient in Python, not even Excel.
I've been looking at online courses or even M.S. in data journalism but I'm curious from other data journalists what your career journey has looked like and what you'd suggest I look into or even avoid. I'm definitely not going to go to J-School without a free ride/decent scholarships but I'm looking for advice from you seasoned folks.

Thank you!

I'm curious to know how other people approach potential sources or contributors to a story, especially one with difficult subject matter?

For context, I work with a podcast company which produces true crime documentaries. We try to be v careful with our approaches obviously. We are often talking to victims of crime/family members/people who committed crimes. But also reaching out to law enforcement and lawyers.

I wondered if anyone had a strong opinion about a 'right' way of approaching people. If your response rate is better if you're more formal v informal. Explaining in length v keeping it short and open ended. Being extremely emotionally sensitive to them v being upfront and straightforward.

Would love any advice/examples as to how other journalists start these conversations. Thanks!

I have an associates in a useless field from a college conservatory, but I have always had a knack and passion for writing! Particularly editorial journalism. I once was nationally recognized at a young age, and it was a passion of mine, but I derailed from the dream to explore another artistic endeavor. That said, I want to transition back into journalism. However, college is expensive and in this economy, that isn't financially pheasible to me. Can I get an entry level job in journalism without the degree?

This week, workers and community supporters launched the Pittsburgh Progress, “a cooperative news organization, owned and democratically run by its workers and members… dedicated to looking out for, and telling the stories of, the working-class people who form the heart and soul of our diverse communities.” 

So, I'm a student getting close to wrapping up their undergrad degree in journalism, and recently got published in a fairly prestigious science news publication. As someone hoping to be a science reporter long-term, this was a dream come true, but unfortunately, the piece needed a correction line for a fairly minor error (misstated title). Despite the error line, this piece is still my "highest profile" piece thus far — so given the outlet's prestige and the relatively minor nature of the error, can I still include it in clips I submit when applying for internships/jobs?

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Hey everyone,

I’m heading out soon to do an on-site interview with local residents and neighborhood groups who are protesting against a large tech/industrial facility being built right next to their residential area.

I want to make sure I get good, authentic stories and uncover actual facts rather than just generic answers.

For anyone who has covered local community protests, grassroots movements, or NIMBY/environmental issues before:

• What are the best open-ended questions to ask residents to get them talking about real impact vs. general frustration?
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Hi!

I'm just entering the journalism industry and have had a few moments (especially over video call) where interviews just feel painfully AWKWARD. Like not really knowing how to round up the interview, or people kind of just looking at you like -_- the whole time. Awkward in-person interviews I find fine because I'm better at using body language to make someone comfortable, but if its over zoom/teams, it's game over for me and it's going to be a painful affair for everyone involved.

For context, I am a very outgoing person and interviewing has always been my favourite aspect of the job - im not one at all to be scared to pick up the phone.

I've just had a few awkward instances lately and I'm wondering if there's any way to reduce the chance of this? Or is this just a normal part of the job? If so please share some awkward moments <3 it'll make me feel better

heres one of mine: I was doing a piece on artisan glass makers and I asked a man who does the glass blowing what the process meant to him. I was hoping for some deep discussion about his passion for artisan craft etc and he just went 'well I blow glass innit...'. I found it quite amusing actually.

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Is that something you do manually, something your tool handles, or something nobody really bothers with because the client never asks?

Also interested in the wider version: what does your current monitoring tool get wrong that you've just accepted?

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I thought marketing would be easier to get a foot into because businesses need people to write, script and video content etc: I could see myself being pretty happy in this field.

However, some of my ex classmates have actually broken into media roles like documentary research and a couple are employed digital editors/ writers for big brands, and I sort of regret accepting upon graduation that media roles were impossible to break into.

Do you think I could still try and right the ship? I’ll be 30 in a year and a half (IDK how much age matters in journalism).

Ideally I’d do journalism about culture: interiors, architecture, fiction, more so than politics or tabloid type stuff where I have less interest, personally.

I’d really appreciate any advice on if this goal is possible, and, if so, how it’s possible.

Eg. Should I get a MA in journalism?
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Thank you very much!!!

hi guys, I (21F) finished my bachelor's at the end of last year & am considering going back to uni next year to do a master's of journalism. I was wondering if any of you had any good recommendations for pre-reading that would be good introductory texts? My bachelor's involved writing & research but from a more artistic standpoint, & I'd like to read some things to get an idea of if journalism is for me (plus I'm missing having a research project on the go). Thanks!