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John DeDakis

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Author

Award-winning novelist, writing coach, and manuscript editor John DeDakis is a former editor on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."

DeDakis is the author of six mystery-suspense-thriller novels. In his most recent novel, ENEMIES DOMESTIC, protagonist Lark Chadwick is a pregnant White House press secretary at a time in the not-too-distant future when abortion is a crime and the president is a dictator.

DeDakis, a former White House correspondent, regularly leads writing workshops at literary centers and writers’ conferences. He is also the host of the video podcast “One-to-One with John DeDakis” on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from La Crosse, Wisconsin, DeDakis now lives with his wife Cindy in Baltimore, Maryland.

In his spare time, what little he has of it, DeDakis is a jazz and rock-and-roll drummer.

Dec. 16, 2025

John DeDakis|PBP|48: Behind the Scenes at CNN

John DeDakis, a former senior copy editor for CNN, shares his insights on the media landscape, the importance of accuracy in journalism, and the evolving role of AI in news reporting. He discusses the challenges of maintainin...
Guest: John DeDakis