From farm boy in northwest Minnesota to 50+ years in broadcasting, radio, television, and print journalism — Bob Barkin has done it all. In this episode of the Southaven Business Beat, we sit down with one of DeSoto County’s most familiar media faces to hear the story behind decades of storytelling.
Bob shares what it was like covering everything from Barbara Bush’s school visit to high school state championships, why small-town journalism taught him to do ten jobs at once, and how a text from his wife’s friend led him to his next big adventure: Editor of the South Reporter newspaper in Holly Springs, Mississippi.
We also get into the real economic story developing along the DeSoto County–Marshall County corridor — new industry, Amazon expansion, and why Bob sees the Mid-South region as one blurred, interconnected growth engine, not a collection of county lines.
Whether you’re a local business owner, a journalism student, or just someone who loves the stories behind the people building this community — this conversation is for you.
CHAPTER:
00:00:00 – Coming Up
00:00:53 – Intro & Welcome
00:01:01 – Meet Bob Barkin
00:01:33 – How It All Started: Farm Boy to Radio DJ
00:03:14 – Wearing Every Hat in Small Town Radio
00:04:24 – From Broadcasting to TV Writing to Print
00:06:16 – Bob Reflects on a Career Behind and In Front of the Mic
00:07:00 – Best Memory: Barbara Bush and the Secret Service
00:10:20 – The Changes: From Teletype to Digital Recording
00:13:38 – A New Chapter: Becoming Editor of the South Reporter
00:15:13 – Why He Never Says No to a New Opportunity
00:17:44 – Vision for the South Reporter and Holly Springs
00:19:13 – DeSoto County, Marshall County and the Regional Growth Story
00:21:21 – Why the Mid-South Is One Connected Economy
00:24:38 – Advice for the Next Generation in Broadcasting
00:25:56 – Lessons From 50 Years: Show Up, Build Trust, Stay Balanced
00:28:20 – Closing Thoughts and What’s Next for Bob
00:31:59 – Southern Manners, Mr. Bob, and Life in DeSoto County
00:33:01 – Subscribe and Follow Along
🎙️ Brought to you by the Southaven Chamber of Commerce and produced by Pure Focus Media and Wisdom Integrators.
📰 Follow Bob’s new column For What It’s Worth at the South Reporter.
Learn more about Pure Focus Media at purefocus.media
Learn more about Wisdom Integrator at wisdomintegrators.com
Southaven Business Beat is your local resource for business news, community leadership, and growth happening in Southaven, DeSoto County, Byhalia, Holly Springs, and the greater Memphis Mid-South region.
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