The Lead

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.

The Lead is a news podcast hosted by University of Georgia, with 100 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

University of Georgia hosts The Lead, a news show with 100 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #180

  Poynter’s Alex Mahadevan on the use of AI in the newsroom

  Apr 15, 202621 min

  As director of MediaWise at Poynter, Alex Mahadevan leads one of the world’s most influential digital media literacy projects, teaching journalists and audiences of all ages how to navigate a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. His work goes beyond educating – it also allows them to learn how they can use the tools responsibly and ethically. In this episode, Mahadevan talks about how AI has reshaped journalism and shifted its ethical guidelines, while also changing the way he teaches literacy to millions of people. He also reflects on how AI has altered his own media consumption in his personal life. Find The Lead podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts at the link in bio. bit.ly/m/coxinstitute Guest: Alex Mahadevan, Director of MediaWise at Poynter Host: Ansley Gavlak

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #181

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

  Apr 8, 202619 min

  Kelsey Russell, a Boston University grad now attending the Teachers College at Columbia University, is the host of the podcast 'Kronikled' and co-host of First Stop News. A self-proclaimed storyteller and advocate for print news, she has built a massive following on TikTok with the goal of educating viewers on news literacy. In this episode, Kelsey speaks to her journey as a non-journalist navigating the complexity of our digital news era and how it led her to her social media career today. She shares her passion for print news and building understanding of newsrooms. Find The Lead podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts at the link in bio. bit.ly/m/coxinstitute Guest: Kelsey Russell, podcast host and digital creator Host: Taylor Greaves

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #179

  Leigh Spann on Reporting to Representing on Air Talent

  Apr 1, 202621 min

  Leigh Spann, a 2001 University of Georgia graduate built her career in broadcast meteorology across the southeast, from Macon, Georgia to Charleston, South Carolina before spending over 10 years in Tampa, Florida as a morning meteorologist. Today, she’s taken her experience to being a talent agent for broadcasters, getting her clients to exactly where they want to be. In this episode, Spann shares her story on how she found her voice and her sense of home through broadcast meteorology and how her journey ultimately led her to this new chapter. She highlights her journey through time and how students and early career professionals looking to break into broadcast can find their own niche in the industry. Find The Lead podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts at the link in bio. bit.ly/m/coxinstitute Guest: Leigh Spann, OTA Talent Agent Host: Lily Aldrich

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #178

  Inside Workplace Strategy Reporting with HR Brew’s Mikaela Cohen

  Mar 25, 202617 min

  Mikaela Cohen is a reporter at HR Brew covering workplace strategy and trends at a moment when the future of work is evolving faster than ever. A proud University of Georgia alumna, she previously reported on workplace and business issues for CNBC.com, CNBC Make It, and AARP.org, approaching complex organizational challenges through an employee-first lens. In this episode of The Lead, Cohen joins host Sophie Davenport to discuss how she found her way into workplace journalism, why reporting on burnout, layoffs, and leadership strategy looks different from traditional business coverage, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping both the workplace and the media industry. She also reflects on the rise of creator-led journalism, the growing importance of individual bylines, and offers advice for journalism students navigating an especially challenging job market. Find The Lead podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts at the link in bio. bit.ly/m/coxinstitute Guest: Mikaela Cohen, HR Brew Host: Sophie Davenport

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #183

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

  Mar 18, 202631 min

  Jennifer Duck has spent her career on both sides of the newsroom, first as a multimedia journalist covering the Bush and Obama campaigns, global politics and producer for Award-winning shows, and now as a journalism professor teaching students how to navigate truth in a digital, algorithm-driven world. In this episode, Jennifer breaks down how social media distorts reality and why sensationalism thrives on platforms like TikTok and Youtube. Drawing from her research on disinformation and polarization, she provides key tips on how consumers can receive factual information in order to rebuild trust in journalists and newsrooms. Although Jennifer has a drive for research, her main goal is teaching students innovative tips through Grady newsource to practice health skepticism, reporting and minimizing news deserts to become a versatile journalist. Find The Lead on Spotify and Apple Podcasts at the link in the bio. Guest: Jennifer Duck, journalism professor Host: Clarice Henry

  ListenShow Notes

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.