The Lead

GPB News’ Wayne Drash on tragedy reporting and following a family’s unique medical journey

How do you speak with sources who have recently been affected by a tragedy? How do you exceptionally report on a family's unique medical journey? Wayne Drash, the Cross Platform Managing Editor at Georgia Public Broadcasting News, answers in this episode.

Jewel Wicker on the future of culture journalism and on interviewing different sources

What trends are we seeing in the culture and entertainment journalism industry? Is preparing for celebrity interviews different than preparing for interviews with sources who have had little to no media exposure? Freelance culture and entertainment reporter Jewel Wicker answers in this episode of The Lead. Plus, her methods for finding her writing voice and what she learned from her award-winning podcast, “Gaining Ground: The New Georgia.

CNN’s Grace Walker on finding her storytelling voice

How do you find your personal audio voice, and what goes into great audio stories? Grace Walker, an Associate Producer at CNN Audio and a graduate of UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, answers in this episode. Plus, how she unexpectedly came into audio storytelling from a background in digital reporting, and how the virtual workspace has changed the way she views collaboration.

The AJC‘s Tyler Estep on covering communities and maintaining the human connection

How do you approach covering evictions, and how do you maintain the human connection with your sources? Tyler Estep from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the answers in this episode. Plus, why it's important to have widespread county coverage, and his advice for people looking to break in to the journalism industry. 

UGA’s Kyser Lough on trends in photojournalism and studying the visual communications field

What trends are we seeing in photojournalism today, and why is it important to study visual communication as a profession? Dr. Kyser Lough from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication has the answers in this episode. Plus, a discussion on solutions journalism and his advice for people considering continuing their education beyond their undergrad.

WSB-TV‘s Maureen Sheeran on the investigative reporting process

What does it take to produce an Emmy award-winning investigation, and why does investigative reporting matter? Atlanta's WSB-TV Investigative and Special Projects Producer Maureen Sheeran answers, plus, she shares her networking strategies and her advice for people looking to jumpstart their journalism career.

Season 11 Trailer: Welcome Back!

Welcome to a new season of The Lead, a podcast about how to get ahead in the news industry from the people who did. This season we're going to continue bringing you stories from seasoned news professionals, where we'll dive into how they broke into the journalism world and hear their advice for aspiring media professionals. New episodes begin on Wednesday, September 8.

Hosted by Kyra Posey, and executive produced by Keith Herndon, Ph.D.

BONUS: Introducing Kyra Posey as host

In this season 10 bonus episode, Caroline Odom passes the microphone to incoming host, Kyra Posey. Kyra will host seasons 11 and 12 of The Lead in her role as the Morris Chair in News Strategy and Management graduate assistant. Kyra tells us about her decision to pursue a master’s degree in journalism, what she will bring to The Lead, and why leadership matters in the journalism industry. 

Michelle McLoughlin on photography and storytelling

In this episode, independent photographer Michelle McLoughlin joins us to talk about shifts in technology, covering personal and traumatic events, and offers advice on working as an independent contractor. She also shares tips on storytelling that apply to any medium.

Will Carr on preparing for pressure

This episode features Will Carr, an ABC News Correspondent based in Los Angeles, California. Will talks about covering the California wildfires in 2020 and how he prepares to report on dangerous situations. He also shares how he found a passion for broadcast journalism, his approach to work-life balance and the importance of critical thinking and adaptability.