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The Lead

The Lead

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The Lead is a news podcast hosted by University of Georgia. It has 100 episodes, with the latest published April 2026.

How to get ahead in the news industry, told by the people who did. Hosted by Alexis Derickson and executive produced by Charlotte Varnum for the Cox Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management & Leadership at the University of Georgia.

news ·en ·100 episodes

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1

Kelsey Russell on news literacy and the role of news content creators

2

Leigh Spann on Reporting to Representing on Air Talent

3

Inside Workplace Strategy Reporting with HR Brew’s Mikaela Cohen

4

Jennifer Duck on rebuilding trust in news in an algorithm-driven world

5

John Bednarowski on why relationships rule sports media

6

St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s David Carson on photojournalism and AI’s double-edged sword

7

Valerie Plesch on curiosity and change in photojournalism

8

Leroy Chapman Jr. on AJC’s decision to cease print

9

CNN International’s Jenni Watts on leading and adapting in a changing media world

10

The AJC’s Samira Jafari on journalism standards and practices

11

The AJC’s Drew Kann on climate and environment reporting

12

The New York Times’ Bill Ruthhart on early-career navigation

13

Dotdash Meredith’s Annie Campbell on food journalism's push to vertical

14

The AJC’s Olivia Wakim on food reporting

15

Country Living’s Anna Logan on home and design magazines

16

Mather Economics’ Matt Lindsay on the future of journalism revenue streams

17

Debora Wenger on AI and fighting misinformation

18

The Nashville Post’s Nicolle Praino on connecting with communities

19

The Jackson Advocate’s DeAnna Tisdale Johnson on the role of local news

20

UGA’s Carlo Finlay on sports media in the digital age

21

Trusting News’ Joy Mayer on rebuilding audience trust in the media

22

BONUS: Introducing Alexis Derickson as host

23

Alex Crevar on finding a travel journalism niche

24

Scripps News’ Alexandra Travis on telling Black stories on screen

25

WRAL’s Kelsey Coffey on knowing what drives you

26

UGA’s Dodie Cantrell-Bickley on the bright future of broadcast journalism

27

The Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Savannah Sicurella and Tyler Wilkins on starting out in business journalism

28

The Current’s Margaret Coker on reviving an investigative news desert

29

Special: What the Hackathon, featuring Adam Levin

30

UGA’s Moni Basu on the power of storytelling

31

NPR’s Joe Shapiro on covering disability rights and finding voices for radio

32

NPR’s Elissa Nadworny on reporting internationally

33

B. “Toastie” Oaster on telling Native stories

34

The Houston Chronicle’s Brady Stone on reaching readers

35

Ryan Prior on uncovering stories about health and disability

36

UGA’s Denetra Walker on creating change through social justice journalism

37

Grist’s Lylla Younes on environmental storytelling

38

Atlanta Magazine’s Kamille Whittaker on recording Black history

39

Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Erin Schilling on the joy of editing

40

Paul Glader on getting out of the office

41

UGA’s Vicki Michaelis on sports journalism’s expansive impact

42

GPB’s Stephen Fowler on political reporting and the power of radio

43

NPR’s Pallavi Gogoi on making business stories that matter to people

44

Alyssa Pointer on people-focused photojournalism

45

ProPublica’s Rui Kaneya on supporting local investigative news

46

Melissa Lyttle on believing in your work

47

BONUS: Introducing Jacqueline GaNun as host

48

Daniella Zalcman on reimagining documentary photography

49

Sean Keenan on why housing reporting is essential

50

Ken Foskett on why the public needs open records requests

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