Hot Seat: Media Monday Rocco LaDuca’s “The Mob Files” 4-14-25
In this episode of Hot Seat: Media Monday, I interview journalist Rocco LaDuca about the “Mob Files,” his series of articles detailing the history of organized crime in Utica. Rocco discusses the local mafia, the political corruption that enabled their operations, and the role of journalism in exposing these issues, especially regarding the 1959 Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting by the Observer Dispatch. Key moments discussed include the rise of the Falcones in the 1920s, the public’s gradual realization of organized crime’s impact, and significant events like the Appalachian meeting that thrust Utica into the national spotlight.
Rocco LaDuca is a journalist and co-host of Talk of the Town, which airs weekdays from 6 am – 10 am on 100.7! FM. Follow him at Instagram.com/@radioroccstar and Facebook.com/rocco.laduca
Jonathan Brooks/ DJ J-Easy is the sound engineer. He is online at Facebook.com/easyatm315, Instagram.com/j_easy315/, and https://on.soundcloud.com/XGKd3e4AZeNtrD2X9
Jim Hale is the photographer and records the show for video and podcast streaming. He is online at Jim Hale (@instanteon) • Instagram photos and videos
Nabil Khan is the entertainment correspondent for Hot Seat: Media Monday. Nabil is online at Letterboxd.com/1andonlynabk/and Instagram.com/instanab.k/.
Ron Klopfanstein is an award-winning multimedia investigative journalist, news and features editor, and creative content producer for 95.5 FM “The Heat” broadcast and streaming. He hosts Hot Seat: Media Monday every Monday at 5 pm, broadcast on 95.5 FM and streaming at 955TheHeat.com. Listen to the Hot Seat: Media Monday podcast on Spotify and Apple. Like him at Facebook.com/ReadRonKlopfanstein, Follow him at Bsky.app/profile/ronklopfanstein.bsky.social, Threads.net/@RonKlopfanstein, Instagram.com/RonKlopfanstein, Tiktok.com/@ronklopfanstein, and subscribe to his channel at YouTube.com/@RonKlopfanstein. Read all his work at Muckrack.com/ron-klopfanstein.
