From CNN to UAP

Bryce Zabel is a former CNN correspondent and television producer who created the series Dark Skies (1996–97) — a dramatic re-imagining of UFO history as a decades-long government conspiracy. He has since focused more directly on non-fiction UAP journalism, co-hosting the Need to Know podcast with Richard Dolan and writing extensively about the phenomenon.

Zabel brings mainstream television journalism experience to UAP coverage, applying the production standards and editorial rigour of broadcast journalism to a topic that has often been covered poorly. His access to senior figures in the disclosure movement and his ability to communicate complex narratives to general audiences makes him a significant voice.

The Podcast Era

Need to Know represents the kind of serious, long-form UAP journalism that the podcast format has made possible — in-depth interviews with significant figures, careful analysis of developments, and a historical perspective grounded in decades of research. Zabel's mainstream credentials give the programme credibility that purely UAP-focused outlets sometimes struggle to achieve.