The Friday Reporter

Reed Albergotti is the tech editor at Semafor -- another new and dynamic news outlet in town --and it sounds like his beat is as exciting as the industry he covers. Having covered tech for over a decade, Reed finds himself today at Semafor delivering scoops on AI and trends in the tech industry -- while also offering his view on why it matters. In a news era where every other social platform is laden with opinions, it's a privilege to see transparent analysis like this come through. Reed authored a co-authored a book on Lance Armstrong and doping in the Tour de France and even found himself developing a sports page for the Wall Street Journal in a previous reporting gig. This was such a fun conversation with a dynamite journo in the tech space. Drop in to meet Reed and hear more about Semafor today!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Olivia Morley is the Senior Agencies Reporter for AdWeek and no journalist has ever made pitching her easier -- at least from the limited research the FR Podcast has conducted. With a background in agency work, agency research and agency trends, Olivia Morley tells us she has always wanted to be a journalist -- and that her job today is the one she's always wanted. What sets Olivia aside from other journos is her specific instructions for PR specialists on what she covers. And if it's campaigns you're pitching, she's only covering the biggest one of the year -- the Super Bowl. So this episode won't cost you $8 mil for a single listen, but on the day after the big game -- and the big ads -- you might want to know more about trends in the ad industry from Olivia's point of view. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Episode two of the New Pubs series is with the insightful and smart Tara Palmeri from Puck News. If you ask Tara what kinds of stories she's covering, she cares most about what insiders and journos are talking about AFTER the news of the day is reported -- in other words, what's the hot topic at happy hour. And so far, her reporting is hitting the mark. Not only has she captured those stories, but is also driving THE topics of happy hour. In addition to a terrific career in broadcast, print and podcasting, Tara is also super proud of her more recent documentary on the Edgewood experiments. Listen in today to hear more about Tara's great new work as senior political correspondent and partner at Puck.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Kicking off a new set of conversations this month with some great new publications. Today's conversation is with Leah Askarinam who is the senior editor for Grid. With stints at the New York Times, the Hotline, Inside Elections and The Atlantic, this reporter turned editor has a deep knowledge base of the hundreds of congressional districts and political contours of the United States. Leah's oversight for this new publication on the street keeps an eye on politics, policy and the economy -- and does a great job of finding the intersection between this and all of the various verticals of their new publication.Tune in today to meet Leah and learn more about Grid!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

When asked how she got where she is today, Contessa Brewer gives a lot of credit to being in the right place at the right time. What we also know about this award-winning journalist is that hard work had to play a role. Contessa Brewer is now a CNBC correspondent covering major news events -- with a special attention on gaming, casinos and insurance -- but has had a long and remarkable journey. She shares the differences between reporting in small news markets to national news platforms, while also sharing the differences between hosting her own show to being in her role today. With a busy career, Contessa dedicates her spare time to philanthropy for Saving Mothers and the complicated balance of raising twin boys. Tune in to learn more about this amazing female broadcaster in the series! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

As FOX News co-anchor of America's News Room and co-host of The Five, Dana Perino credits her career in public service and politics to where she is today. Those of us that know her, know that it also took a great deal of hard work and dedication. At an early age, Dana's father asked her to choose two news articles daily that she would report on before dinner. She reports that her family was very news oriented and perhaps that led her to analyze and evaluate situations so well that lawmakers, thought leaders and even the President of the United States to value her point of view. With a passion for news and current events, Dana is also a voracious reader, dog lover and mentor to young women in politics. Listen in today to learn more about the best read woman in the room -- Dana Perino. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Starting off the New Year with a series of female broadcasters -- first up is my dearest friend, Jeanette Hoffman, president of Marathon Public Affairs and political correspondent for MY9 New Jersey NOW. Jeanette's career started in the New Jersey state house -- in the same office that John Stewart got his start -- and she has risen to the highest ranks of public affairs. Both New Jersey and national organizations seek her out for her smart guidance and support, while she remains one of the top GOP political correspondents in the state. Tune in today to meet this mega star, political guru and college friend TODAY!!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Dan Kois is writer, editor and podcaster for Slate. With a beat that includes his interests and passions and a sense of humor about it all, Dan has been nominated numerous times for awards in the journalism space. It was his recent piece on accepting every PR pitch he got in a day that drew Lisa to contact him - https://slate.com/human-interest/2022/11/pr-publicist-emails-journalism-oof.html. Dan offers some insight into how journalists receive pitches, how often they're not relevant, and how being fully transparent about his PR Day of Yes led to some publicists diving right in -- while others simply ghosted the opportunity. Tune in to hear more about Dan and his work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

As is the challenge in today's media landscape, today's guest has separated from CNN since our pre-recorded conversation.That aside, Chris Cillizza is among the busiest journalists in the political media business. With a podcast, a YouTube show, a nightly newsletter and weekday briefs as his charge in his previous day job -- Chris reports that the way he has found time to also author his forth-coming book, is through daily writing. Five hundred words daily make delivering an over 70,000 word product (his book) in a more manageable way. Listen in to today's conversation to learn more about how his passion for politics and the importance of reporting has brought Chris Cillizza to some of the best known news outlets in D.C. (and the globe!)Tune In. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Simone Sebastian is the Editorial Director for Capital B - the newest Black News Nonprofit in the media world. This groundbreaking news outlet came from a vision shared by its founders -- and delivers news to it's supporters and black audiences throughout the U.S. and across the globe. Simone started her career in the traditional newsroom -- writing her first piece for the Detroit Free Press at just 17 years old -- and jokes that it's those vintage news styles that has brought her to modern news delivery. With verticals in climate, education, health and criminal justice -- Simone's team at Capital B is reporting about the issues with which they know Black America is incredibly engaged. She is based in Atlanta, Ga., but the reach of Capital B is online and everywhere. Listen in today to meet Simone and find out more about their year-old news organization.And get on over to their site and support this tremendous news effort -- https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=capitalbnews&campaign=7018Y000001a3D4QAILearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

How many books does the books editor at Vulture read a week? You'll have to listen in today to hear from Maris Kreizman to find out for sure. In today's episode, Lisa visits with her childhood friend and host of The Maris Review, who has some insightful reflection on the power of free speech. With as many remarkable books in publication, it takes publicists knowing Maris' preference to get her attention about a new read -- much like a good PR person has to know who to pitch to land the story. Maris is a brilliant creative mind, a published author, a karaoke fan and mom to a 15 year old pug named Bizzy. Listen in today to learn more about the world of publishing, books and the amazing Maris Kreizman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Chelsea Janes is the national baseball writer for the Washington Post. Fresh off the road from the World Series and onto the next season of baseball, Chelsea generously found time for an episode today. This college athlete found herself lucky enough to step in and write for the college news -- and realized quickly that it could be her career path. Fast forward to today, this star journalist finds herself among just a few women writing about the national pastime -- at the absolute highest level of the sport. Chelsea walks us through the time she covered the 2020 presidential campaign for the Post and how the differences between the two beats are really not terribly different. But in a week when we're desperate to chat about anything other than Election Day, this episode with Chelsea serves as a needed palate cleanser. Listen in today to learn more about this superstar!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Kerry Flynn is Axios' Media Deals Reporter and she is one busy journo. Kerry's beat spans the entire world of content -- from media to publishing to streaming -- if you're consuming it, she's covering it. And like the rest of us, Kerry is not only consuming this content for her day job, she's making it part of her hobbies and her free time. In fact, during this conversation we realize that even her Peloton could be considered media. Join me today for a very fun conversation with a reporter who clearly loves the work she does every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Matt Friedman much prefers to dive deep into campaign finance details in his reporting these days -- likely because New Jerseyans spend their lives being hit up with campaign pitches and endless spin. This very Jersey episode will help you understand that it's not midterm elections that we care about -- it's the state races next year that really matter. Matt Friedman is an Empire State guy who actively chose to cover the Garden State after watching Jersey City politics up close. He is now the author of Politico's New Jersey Playbook and nobody knows the ins and the outs more than him. Jump in today to get a sense of how things unfold in this super political state, and understand why these national races are just a precursor to the big year next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

It's not by accident that Lisa invited Kate Davis from Fast Company to join the podcast today. The work that Kate and her team and generating are speaking to those of us in the workplace -- as if they're reading our minds. Kate is the Deputy Editor for Fast Company, along with hosting their weekly -- and ever evolving -- podcast platform. Additionally, Kate is the supervising editor for all Fast Company podcast -- including Creative Control, Most Innovative Companies, and World Changing Ideas. During today's episode, Kate tells us about Ambition Diaries, which is a miniseries about the approach to work life from mothers and daughters with varied backgrounds. It's a must-listen and a fascinating project for all of us to digest. What was once a beat about productivity, her focus centers on balance and wellness at a time when we all need more. Join today's conversation to hear more about the great work that Kate and her team at Fast Company are doing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Today's episode catches Politico's Josh Siegel in between podcast interviews and reporting on the latest news from OPEC. With energy and environment on the agenda for the Congress and the White House, there is never a dull moment for Josh. This Chicago sports fanatic started off with a dream to cover this faves, but quickly moved onto scanning police blotters in Fort Myers, Fla. and moving way up the coast to Washington, D.C. Today Josh hosts the Politico Energy podcast where he regularly interviews -- or is interviewed -- about the rough and tumble beat that is energy and the environment. Josh shares his interest in the evolution of Republican positions on climate change, the D.C. food scene and his love of 90's hip hop and R&B. Listen in today!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Scott Jennings just celebrated his fifth year as a CNN commentator -- offering a thoughtful, conservative point of view in an otherwise chaotic time. As a columnist for CNN.com, USA Today, LA Times and others, Scott is frequently asked for his point of view from a conservative perspective. While he often consumes the viewpoints of others, his process brings him back to reflection and thought that then turn into his careful commentary. With a background in journalism, Scott spent several years working for President George W. Bush both on the campaign and in the White House. That experience brings him to his very reasonable and measured delivery both on television and in print. Listen in today to meet my friend and colleague Scott Jennings.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Reid Wilson has spent his career covering states and their importance to the foundation of federal governance. Today is the first ever repeat guest on the podcast -- because Reid is embarking on a new venture that shines a light on state governments, the importance of their work and the relevance they have in what the Congress ultimately does for the country.It's in the states that the work is done -- to assure that the feds can effect change. And that is why the work that Reid and his team will do is so critically important to the United States. Listen in to hear about Pluribus News!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Jim Tankersley shares with Lisa about how his journalism career started and he recounts an early editorial assignment from middle school. When asked to defend something he believed in, Jim chose to defend the right to wear a baseball cap -- and his challenge of authority led to a meeting with the principal -- and a career was born. Today, Jim Tankersley is a White House correspondent for the New York Times keeping authority at the highest levels in check. Jim is most known for being a story teller and seeks out the real stories of Americans to illustrate complex economic issues. Proudly having authored The Riches of this Land -- his book released moments before the world shut down in 2020 -- Jim shares the challenges of reporting while also writing a book. Jim's experience in the journalism space is unparalleled and Lisa is thrilled to share his stories with you in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Lance Turner counts himself lucky for landing a media gig after college that followed a typical work schedule, but his work is anything but ordinary. As the editor of Arkansas Business, Lance Turner has seen the evolution of a weekly news outlet evolve into an online must-read. He and his team at this vital news outlet work non-stop to report on the latest in Arkansas -- and there is a lot happening there. While Arkansas is known well for its agriculture, Lance's is especially proud of a set of news coverage on the booming steel industry in Mississippi County. This small, but mighty state is chock-full of powerful players (both industry and persons), and Lance and his team deliver the latest on them every single day. Tune in to meet Lance Turner!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Josh Gerstein is Politico's senior legal affairs reporter and has been a journalist during some of the most newsworthy times of our generation. With an early start in broadcast, Josh found himself as an "embed" for the Dole presidential campaign -- long before that word was part of the journalism vernacular. From covering the Clinton White House for ABC to covering the Obama White House for Politico, with lots of exceptional experience in between, Josh's career has been one of tremendous esteem. We get into the various levels of news leaks among the three branches of government - primarily because Josh (and his colleague) broke the story in May of this year about the early draft of Supreme Court opinion relative to Roe v. Wade. Which was arguably the biggest news scoop in a decade or more. Tune to hear more about Josh and the important work he does today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Washington, D.C. is one of the best towns to network -- can you imagine working out next to an Emmy award winning journalist? Well, that's exactly how Lisa and Larry Miller got to talking about journalism. Today we learn about Larry's path in journalism that has resulted in numerous awards (including an Emmy and an Edward R. Murrow) and an enviable career. In just one example of his investigative work, Larry shares how he and his team uncovered systemic discrimination in the housing markets - and exposition that resulted in an historic bill signing at the White House. Larry shares his love of journalism, the outdoors and the performing arts -- and a mutual dislike for the dreaded burpee. Listen in today!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

This week, Lisa visits with Alan Locher the founder/CEO of The Locher Room. In 2020, Alan launched the YouTube series as a means to cheer people up -- and reintroduce them to their favorite daytime stars. The vision for this show was to cheer audiences, but has grown to over 300 episodes and has raised over $100k for important charities. Learn more about Alan and his uplifting show here -- www.thelocherroom.com.Alan's career started as a page for ABC-TV and brought him up through the Disney Company -- with a long and impressive resume of impressive and exciting opportunities. Today he's the V.P. of sales for Truescope - www.truescope.com - a media company that is making public affairs professionals more useful to their clients daily. Listen in to the podcast today -- and find it on YouTube (Lisa's first) here -- https://youtu.be/D4PHBNnUv94Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Joe Khalil may have started his career in Michigan's state capitol, but he has always had Washington, D.C. in his sights. Joe's career took him to Sacramento and then finally D.C. for Nexstar Media (the parent of NewsNation) -- but he arrived just before the pandemic hit and the whole world changed. Joe is NewsNation's Washington D.C. correspondent and credits the great network of journalists on Capitol Hill for helping him navigate the early days of his new job and the pandemic. Today he spends a great deal of his days broadcasting on Capitol Hill -- with a keen eye for straight news that is NOT biased toward one or another side of the debate. That's the goal of the newest broadcast outlet on the block and they're building and growing a great team everyday. Listen in today to hear more about how Joe approaches reporting, how he seeks out news that others have missed and how it is to be part of a journalism power couple. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Emily Heil is the food reporter for the Washington Post -- and no one is having more fun than her. Honestly, this conversation is the lighthearted one we all need after the heavy news days we've all endured in 2022. Emily weaves together stories about a topic we can all appreciate while finding the connection to the news of the day. From TikTok to Chaco Tacos to food regulation and a bit of politics, this beat is absolutely a blast to cover and Emily is a blast to interview. Tune in to hear more about how her career led her to cover features, gossip and personnel news before arriving at the one she enjoys today. Happy August!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

As editor in chief at Ragan Communications, Justin Joffe spends a great deal of his day hours sharing insight into the world of public relations. From offering up insightful content for comms types, to promoting and producing quality training session and seminars, Justin is a busy guy in the world of communications. It's his background in freelance and the arts that really lends to the tremendous talent he brings to the job, With a long resume of interviewing and interacting with some of the music and movie greats, Justin does whatever he can to keep that vibe -- much like a grad who arrived on the scene during the great recession (of 2009). Today, you can find him on weekends making contributions to a community of artists and the like by spending time in upstate New York with the Root Community. Give it a listen to hear more!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Larry Henry is Senior Reporter for Gambling.com and - to hear him tell the story - it's the best job he's ever had. With a start in the military, he suggests his over 6 foot frame is what got him onto the crime beat in Tulsa, OK. He loved the sound of the printing press and the competition of getting the story. He quickly transitioned to Nevada where he covered gambling and politics -- and his fascination with the mob grew from there. His admiration and appreciation for journalism is clear and present and his acknowledgement of others and their great scoops is palpable. Larry now covers sports betting and the great debate that is unfolding in state houses across the country. He also writes a fascinating column for themobmuseum.org about the mob in pop culture. This conversation was one in a series of terrific conversations this summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

If you ask Susan Crabtree what she wanted to be when she grew up, she always had an interest in magazines. Her early career had her at some of the most well-known media brands, and while she spent quite a bit of time covering breaking news, she's back today doing what she loves. Susan Crabtree is perhaps one of the most well-rounded journalists - as she has spent her career reporting for some of the most impressive news outlets in the world. From National Geographic to Variety to The Hill Newspaper and now Real Clear Politics, Susan's career has really given her a tremendous journey. Her writing and her reporting is exceptional and it is because of this amazing experience. Listen in today to meet Susan Crabtree, the national political correspondent for Real Clear Politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Steve Kornacki is the national political correspondent for NBC and MSNBC and his brand is expanding more and more each day. From humble beginnings at an Internet news platform - long before there were Internet news platforms - to the big screen on NBC every election night - to the Royal Ascot, this data-loving journo is omnipresent. Steve shares stories of his start, his tremendous opportunities in media and how he's always wanted to host a game show. This is a fun conversation -- don't miss it!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Call it the much needed palate cleanser - today's episode takes us out of the Beltway and onto the gridiron - to meet the amazing Molly O'Mara Fillmore who is the associate director of communications for football at the University of Missouri. Molly attributes much of her success to being in the right place at the right time, but her tremendous talent and love of sport is what has delivered her to this incredible perch in public affairs. With an extremely lean team, Molly oversees (and executes) nearly every element of communications for one of the biggest college football teams in the country. And she is one of only a few women to hold this incredible position. Tune in to hear more about leadership, communications, flexibility and self-awareness -- all of which have Molly O'Mara Fillmore operating at her highest level of expertise and loving it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Bob Cusack is the Editor in Chief for The Hill Newspaper. His long and decorated career started at Inside Washington News where he cut his teeth covering the Department of Labor - and all the varied acronyms that go along with that. Fast forward to today, he's working daily with a top-flight team of journalists and business minded experts to keep this great news outlet a daily-must read inside and outside of Washington, D.C.Armed with a SAG card and a background in performing, Bob also has an impressive acting resume, including a small role in Wonder Woman 1984. Join in today to hear about Bob Cusack and his impressive career!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Bryant Adams is the co-host of Caught Looking podcast - with Jacob Adams and Hunter Doucet. While Bryant fully admits his own baseball career didn't rise to the D1 level, the creation of this hit podcast was born out a love of sport and family connection. With a long career in communications, Bryant comes to this project with a head for content creation and capturing an audience. These guys talk honestly about the many paths athletes can take to reach this elite level of performance -- and they're having a blast doing it. Join me today to hear more about Caught Looking podcast, Division One baseball and the competitive nature of a sport that delivers some of the best athletes of our time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Reporting on New Jersey politics is never dull - especially in this mega political state where every year is an election. That's probably why Dustin Racioppi transitioned easily from his early career time in a Navy submarine to the Garden State battleground.Lisa was lucky to catch Dustin on primary election day 2022 from both Dustin and Lisa's hometown to zero in on the wild ride his career has taken - from Bridgegate to scandal at the SDA. Just this week, he announced his experience is taking him onto a larger territory as the newly appointed Atlantic Region politics and government editor for the USA Today Network. Come for the journalism and politics chat and stay for the New Jersey Lightning Round of Pork Roll, Springsteen, Luigi's and What About A Bagel references. Nothing better than a Jersey Shore summer!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Ben Pershing is the Politics Editor for the Wall Street Journal, covering the White House, Congress and national politics (among many other things). With a strong team of writers and editors, he seeks to empower the journalists in his space to tell their stories best. With a background in both "trade" Hill publications and broad national platforms, Ben has always sought to tell stories to the broader audience. Ben shares his background, his recommendations for fun streaming and offers good advice for pitches that work. Tune in today!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Jerry Rogers is the editor of Real Clear Health and host of the Jerry Rogers Show on WBAL 1090 in Baltimore, Md. While his RCH responsibilities find him aggregating news of the day, he also writes for many of the other platforms in the Real Clear universe. And his radio show? It's an opportunity for Jerry to talk about lots of topics, while also offering ways for his listeners to be part of the solution, too. Jerry's background in politics and policy lead him to his journalism career of today. He is also a proud dad to five and known to those who love him as, "Coach."Drop in today to meet Jerry!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Rajesh Mirchandani spent over 20 years in journalism and finds himself today as a senior advisor at the UN Foundation -- and two very exciting new projects on the horizon. His time covering international affairs (along with entertainment and a whole host of other topics) for the BBC led him to a realization and a transition to his current role. He reached a point where he no longer wanted to be asking the tough questions without helping to find the answers. In his current role, Rajesh is faced with some of the most challenging matters of our time -- and rather than meeting that challenge with skepticism, he offers a hopeful point of view. In addition to his work on climate related matters, Rajesh is also launching a podcast called, "Finding our Flavor," and working simultaneously on a book on a related topic. Jump into today's conversation to hear more about this remarkable communicator who has a keen ability to see a path forward both in the issues of the day, but also in his own successful career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Today's episode is with freelance reporter, Buffalo native and Chicago resident Leigh Giangreco. Her love of journalism started in high school and has led her to a successful career in the news-making space. With a background in aviation news, Capitol Hill and a whole host of other topics, Leigh finds a way to tell compelling stories that captivate audiences for the nation's top publications. She also shares a love of the Godfather movies with Lisa and a sharp sense of pitches being a lot like dating. This is a fun and fresh conversation with a terrific journalist. Drop in today to meet the fantastic Leigh Giangreco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

James Barrett is freelance travel and lifestyle journalist and founder of the Jimmy Rox newsletter. James' keen insight to building a quality audience and offering compelling content has really demonstrated results. In just six months, his newsletter boasts an impressive open rate of over 45% with over 2300 subscribers. In an otherwise noisy news space, this is an impressive endorsement of his work. James shares tips on smart email subjects, authentic content and using your own voice to draw in loyal followers. His perspective to generating content is fresh and new -- and clearly ahead of the trend in news making. Meet James and Lisa in person this Wednesday, May 11 in NYC for the PR News Media Relations and Measurement Conference!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Madeline Berg is the Media Editor for Business Insider. Next week on May 11 she will join Lisa for a panel discussion at PR Daily's Media Relations and Measurement Conference in NYC. Maddie is busy covering topics like the media, Hollywood and the intersection that both of those have with the business world. She shares her unique experience with Lisa and also some tips on how she successfully covers Hollywood without losing sight of the bigger picture. Listen in today to hear this dynamic journalist share how she approaches a news story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Lillian Rizzo is a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. She started her career covering bankruptcy and debt - despite having a limited knowledge in that issue space. She credits that experience with her most favorite part of journalism -- the non-stop learning that happens while she's working hard at her job. Today, Lillian covers the cable media industry, which is also a busy and every changing beat that requires a great deal of learning. She shares the ever changing and growing landscape of the beat as one that keeps her on her toes. Lillian is the third panelist that will join Lisa for the PR Daily Media Affairs and Measurement Conference in NYC on May 11. Don't miss this episode -- and join us in NYC in real life!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Leigh Scheps' passion for her work shines through in everything she does. Not only does this remarkable journalist cover human interest pieces for Inside Edition Digital, but she also spends her spare time covering Broadway and pitching her own "side hustle" coverage on her own behalf. Walk alongside Leigh in this episode where this non-stop journo tells us about her early start, her career and her love of telling stories. She's guest number two this week, and will also be part of the PR Daily Media Relations and Measurement Conference in NYC May 11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Alayna Treene is Employee #17 at Axios -- before the publication had even formally been named -- and is now five and a half years into her tenure there. She is the congressional reporter for Axios, the co-author of Axios Sneak Peek and covers both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue. Her experience has given her opportunities to visit with some of the most senior members of House and Senate leadership, as well as a very unique point of view on the happenings inside the Capitol Building on January 6. Her hustle and hard work has not gone unnoticed, having been named one of Forbes' 30 under 30, this amazing Jersey Girl is showing up everyday to share news and trends that you'll not find anywhere else. Listen in to today's last episode in the Axios April series!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Week Four of Axios April brings us to a rich conversation with Axios Justice and Race Reporter Russell Contreras. With a deep interest in history and a keen knack for writing, Russell realized early in his career that authenticity and connection to those he covers was of real value. While the narrative today is focused on the issue of race and justice, it's more than just a trend for Axios. They're diving deeper and investigating how these issues define the nation -- and Russell and his colleagues are on the front lines, doing the good work to help us understand. Russell shares the Axios approach to reporting on issues, the book he is writing about JFK and Latinos and what it's like to unplug in the beautiful state of New Mexico. Listen in today to meet Russell and hear more about his background. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Niala Boodhoo is the host of Axios Today -- the podcast delivering you important news of the day in just ten minutes. Much as is true of all things Axios, the podcast follows their Smart Brevity model. Niala launched the podcast in June 2020 during the height of the pandemic and came to the post after a long and esteemed career in print journalism, public radio and wire services. Journalism has been her lifelong dream and credits authenticity and a willingness to talk directly to listeners as a big part of her success. In just one episode with this exceptional podcast host, Lisa learned a few things about producing a show of her own. Drop in for a listen to this great conversation.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

There I go again with a headline with more than five words -- but now that I've had a chance to visit with Axios Pro's Senior Editor, you can bet I'll do my best to be smarter about the podcast episode headlines. With just a few weeks of remarkable content under its belt, Axios Pro is fast becoming the subscription you need to do your job well. Today's conversation is with George Moriarty and with a background rich in finance and subscription journalism, you can bet that he's up to the task of delivering the newest and best sourced news in the business. Listen in today for a glimpse into how George got his start, his world of news editing and the great work he does with his son for St. Baldricks and childrens' cancer research. Find out more here -- https://www.stbaldricks.org/teams/moriartysofnewtown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

During the earliest days of the pandemic many newsrooms had to shrink their reporting teams in order to stay viable in difficult economic times. If not for some of those difficult times, Hope King might not be the superstar business reporter for Axios today -- but judging from this conversation, Hope very much likes the way things have played out. Hope King is happily enjoying a thriving career in business journalism and her reporting for Axios is even more robust due to her early career in the world of finance. This tremendous business reporter and co-author of the Axios Closer sometimes even finds time to kayak with humpback whales. This is the first in a month-long series of conversations with the team at Axios. Tune in today to learn more about Hope King and her exceptional reporting for Axios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Tim Hermes is the president of Rev Rocket and a legend in the world of business to business media and events. Tim shares his perspective on niche media and how to grow it well, while also offering his insights into how the media space has grown and evolved over the course of his career. While he often will say he's retired, his vision and insight continues to be sought after in this important media space. Catch this episode to hear more about how he was cannabis before cannabis was cool -- and how ability to fund and flip news outlets has been among his most rewarding career highlights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Jason Wagenheim is the President and Chief Revenue Officer for Bustle Digital Group, a remarkable lifestyle brand hosting news outlets like Bustle.com; ScaryMommy.com, Gawker, W Magazine and a dozen others. The pandemic brought challenges and obstacles that Jason and his team met with innovation, compelling content and strong networking -- and delivered them into 2022 with a robust outlook. Jason illustrates the importance of a well-rounded background, good interpersonal skills and true grit in the business of media. He's also got a side hustle that Lisa shares after the conversation concludes -- East End Cowboy BBQ. Jump in to hear these two high school pals catch up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Matt Lewis is a columnist for The Daily Beast, author of "Too Dumb to Fail," and host of the podcast "Matt Lewis and The News."Matt jumps into the conversation with Lisa revealing he once aspired to be a political operative, but quickly turned to covering politics as the blog community was emerging as an important news source. Matt's point of view is always refreshing and insightful and he confesses that his primary goal in his reporting is to always be learning something new. Jump into today's episode and do the same. He's got lots of great advise for columnists, authors and bloggers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe

Breaking Defense's Valerie Insinna knew journalism would be a way to travel and see great things -- fast forward to today, she's covering the Pentagon and the Air Force for one of the best news outlets covering defense. Her reporting has brought her to travel to remote parts of the globe, interview at the highest level of the defense world and even train for "what ifs" when riding in military aircraft. When she's not reporting on the world of defense, she's enjoying entrepreneurial content creators on YouTube and reading for entertainment. Drop into today's episode to learn more about Valerie and the world of defense reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Get full access to Authentically Speaking at thefridayreporter.substack.com/subscribe