Bio

Gath Townsend brings a steady cadence and a reflective tone to On Assignment, often asking the questions just beneath the surface. Raised on print but fascinated by pixels, he’s especially drawn to how social media, digital platforms, and emerging technologies shape the public’s sense of truth—and how easily that truth can be bent. He's a big fan of NPR, podcasting, and continually learning more. Gath isn't originally from Central Pennsylvania, but he's called the area home for some time. Though he keeps a relatively low profile, Gath has a knack for pattern recognition: the signals buried in noise, the way disinformation moves through networks, and the quiet work of those trying to push back. He’s not big on headlines about himself, but behind the scenes, his voice never waivers and his presence never fades. For those who know their journalism history, the name might ring a bell—but this Gath’s still very much online.