First Episode of ‘Pasadena Monthly with Justin Chapman,’ to Air Friday 

Justin Chapman is at it again. 

This time he has rebranded Pasadena Media’s award-winning local TV talk show “NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman” as “Pasadena Monthly with Justin Chapman.”

The reboot follows Chapman’s appointment last month as District 6 Council Liaison/Field Representative.

The first episode of the new show will air at 5 p.m. on Friday on Pasadena Media’s cable TV channels and streaming apps and will feature an inclusive exploration of city issues and a guest discussion with Pasadena City Councilmember Steve Madison.


“It’s a new year and a new day for Pasadena,” Chapman said. “We’ll ask Councilmember Madison about the many challenges and opportunities on the horizon, including the 710 stub, the implementation of Measure H, and more.”

Councilmember Madison was first elected in 1999 and most recently reelected in 2020 to represent District 6. He has served as vice mayor and will do so again starting in December. He is a practicing trial lawyer and a partner with Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP in Los Angeles. He joined the firm after spending nine years as an Assistant United States Attorney.


Chapman recently won several LA Press Club journalism awards, including 1st place in the Travel Reporting category and 3rd place in the TV/Public Affairs category for hosting “NewsRap Local,” which launched in April 2021. In March 2022, “NewsRap Local” won a 2nd place award in News Programming at the Alliance for Community Media West’s WAVE video awards.


“Pasadena Monthly” will air at 5 p.m. PT on the fourth Friday of every month on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel and streaming apps, available on channel 99 on AT&T U-verse, channel 32 on Charter Spectrum, YouTube, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku. The show is written and hosted by Chapman, directed and edited by Jeffrey Stanfill, produced by Chapman and Aaron Wheeler and executive produced by George Falardeau, CEO and executive director of Pasadena Media.


“This is must-watch television each month for everyone who cares about this city,” Falardeau said.


Guests on “NewsRap Local” included Congress member Judy Chu (D-27); Congress member Adam Schiff (D-28); interim Pasadena city manager Cynthia Kurtz; Assembly member Chris Holden (D-41); Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo; Pasadena city manager Miguel Márquez; LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger; and many others.

Chapman was the youngest elected official in LA County when he served on the Altadena Town Council at age 19. He has served on a number of local boards and wrote hundreds of articles for two dozen print and digital publications, including  Pasadena NowKPCC/LAistAlta JournalHuffington PostLA WeeklyBerkeley Political ReviewPasadena WeeklyPasadena Star-News,and many others. 


Learn more at justindouglaschapman.com and pasadenamedia.org.