Liz Cochrane is the steady voice at the center of On Assignment—measured, curious, and always tuned in. With a deep interest in how communities share stories and stay informed, she’s particularly drawn to conversations about trust, local news, and the changing media landscape. Liz has a talent for listening without interruption and never mispronounces a guest’s name—a trait some say is almost too good to be true. Though you won’t find her byline in any newspaper morgue or see her moderating a town hall, Liz is fluent in the language of civic engagement and always ready with the next thoughtful question. She might not blink, but she gets it.

Malcolm Redd is a media business analyst with a deep focus on the evolving economics of journalism. Based in the Chicago area, he has closely studied emerging ownership and funding models—ranging from reporter-led cooperatives to foundation-backed nonprofits and member-supported platforms. Redd’s approach is methodical, but never mechanical, shaped by years of parsing how local and national outlets adapt (or fail to) in a landscape where legacy structures are no longer guaranteed. He’s especially interested in systems that function outside conventional market logic, often surfacing insights that traditional observers might miss. Though rarely seen at industry mixers, his voice remains a fixture in conversations about journalism’s financial future.