The Lead

In this episode, New York Times national politics reporter Astead Herndon shares insights on reporting on the 2020 presidential election. Astead also discusses the different roles of journalism and why we should get out of the college bubble to better understand communities and develop as journalists.

In this episode, digital host at iHeartRadio and Grady alumna Emily Curl talks about setting a goal and pursuing it in New York City. She also discusses the importance of being adaptable and shares how she has found purpose in unexpected circumstances.

In this episode, Josina Guess, managing editor of The Bitter Southerner, shares her journey of becoming a writer and joining the Bitter Southerner in December 2019. Josina discusses the value of long-form and reflective writing to help us consider different perspectives, and she invites us to take the first step in trying something new.

In this episode, CNN Health reporter Jacquline Howard shares her experience covering the Covid-19 pandemic. Jacquline discusses the challenges of analyzing scientific data, tracking medical studies and battling misinformation, and she also talks about the importance of clear communication and shares where she finds her silver linings.

In this first episode of Season 9, Professor Sue Ellen Christian of Western Michigan University joins host Caroline Odom to talk about concepts from her book, “Everyday Media Literacy: An Analog Guide for Your Digital Life.” Professor Christian shares why media literacy matters for journalism students and how the power of the story will always win the day.

In this Season 8 bonus episode, Charlotte Norsworthy and Keith Herndon, director of the Cox Institute for  Journalism Innovation, Management & Leadership at the University of Georgia, celebrate Norsworthy's work as host, discuss her transition to producer and introduce The Lead's new host for seasons 9 and 10, Caroline Odom. 

In this episode, Charlotte Norsworthy talks to Grady grad Tanya Sichynsky, a newsletter editor at The Washington Post and the author of Meal Plan of Action, a 12-week email series that helps readers plan, prep and cook more efficiently. In this episode we discuss the importance of culture journalism and how food news can bring people together. This episode also marks the final episode of Season 8...

In this episode, Grady alumna Laura James discusses her work as the commerce editor for home and travel with Discovery. She produces original articles and photo galleries on trending travel and design topics for TravelChannel.com and HGTV.com. In this episode, we discuss reporting on cultural trends and how it connects us with the world at large. 

In this episode of The Lead, I talk to Randy Travis, a Peabody Award-winning investigative reporter for FOX 5 Atlanta. andy joined WAGA in 1990. In 1994 he moved to the station's distinguished investigative unit, the FOX 5 I-Team. Since then, his stories have led to businesses closing that misled the public, exposed government waste and corruption and even sparked criminal investigations that ulti...

In this episode of the lead, I talk to The New York Times vice president and deputy general counsel David McCraw. As deputy general counsel, David is the primary litigator for the Times and is a tireless defender of the first amendment. He also gave the 41st McGill lecture at the Grady College in 2019. In this episode, we discuss press freedom and the future of journalism internationally. 

In this episode, I talk to Mariana Heredia, a Grady alumna and entrepreneurial journalist. We discuss her pivot to starting her own business, Fenix Journalism, which is centered around crowdfunded journalism. 

In this season 8 return of The Lead podcast, Tony Rehagen, a widely published magazine writer, discusses life as a freelancer and his commitment to storytelling. We discuss one of his stories published in Popular Mechanics, "I Grew Up in a Gas Station," a story he wrote about his childhood.

This episode featured the original host of The Lead podcast: Daniel Funke, now a misinformation reporter with Politifact. We discuss how his experiences on this podcast helped shape his career and what it means to cover misinformation in today's political landscape.

In this exciting bonus episode of The Lead, we are excited to share with you our new project: The Lead ebook! The book, titled "News Leadership: Conversations about Journalism and its Future," features excerpts from the podcast's first six seasons. This episode features a conversation with host Charlotte Norsworthy and Keith Herndon, director of the Cox Institute about the production of the book....

Grady alumna Michelle Baruchman moved from Georgia to Washington state for her first full-time job out of college, and she's been there ever since. This episode discusses what this transition was like for her as well as the innovative work she does as an engagement editor and transportation reporter for The Seattle Times.

In this episode of The Lead, I talk to Amanda Bright, the managing editor for Grady Newsource and faculty member at the Grady College, about innovation in news production and how she is implementing some of these ideas at Grady Newsource.

This episode of The Lead features Beth Hunt, director of editorial recruiting and development at American City Business Journals, which is the largest publisher of metropolitan business newsweeklies in the United States. In this episode we talk about her career and the status of the business news sector of journalism in terms of financial stability.

In this episode of The Lead, Mizell Stewart III discusses his 30+ year career in local news and now as a news executive for the USA Today Network and Gannett. One of his main passions is developing the next wave of journalists. So, fittingly, we discussed the future of journalism and how students can ready themselves for what’s to come. 

Welcome back to Season 7 of The Lead. In this episode, CNN mobile programming producer Kendall Trammell discusses her transitions into the workforce since graduating from the Grady College, and how producing mobile news has changed at CNN.

In this Season 6 finale of The Lead, Hayden Field, a 2014 Grady alumna, talks about how success happens and life after j-school. We will be back in August with more episodes featuring interesting media leaders.

In this episode, Amy Glennon discusses the transition of leadership roles in journalism over the past few decades. Glennon is a 1990 graduate of the Grady College and was the first female publisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She is currently serving as this year's Cox Institute Industry Fellow.

In this episode, Jamie Lauren Keiles joins the podcast to discuss everything you can't Google about freelance writing and how she didn't try a Coca-Cola until she was 24.

In this episode, Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist and author Nick Chiles discusses his transition from journalism to writing and publishing books. We also discuss two-fold issues of diversity in writing fields.

In this episode, former journalist and now Grady College professor Sabriya Rice discusses the unique challenges the health and medical field brings to journalists — plus, the pros and cons of graduate school.

Welcome to Season 6 of The Lead. In this episode, Charlotte Norsworthy talks with Grady alumna and Savannah Morning News crime reporter Brittini Ray about the necessity for crime coverage and the mental well-being of the journalists who cover it.