5 Great Journalism Podcasts for Writers
If you want to be heard these days, then start a podcast. This multi-billion-dollar industry is rapidly growing, attracting an audience of almost 250,000 listeners in the US alone. And with more than four million active podcasts worldwide covering practically every topic, there’s plenty to choose from, including a variety of shows on journalism.
(5 Different Types of Podcasts for Writers to Try.)
The average American listens to eight podcasts a week, mostly for entertainment, learning, and diversion—many people enjoy playing their favorite podcasts in the background while engaged in other activities.
According to a 2023 PEW Research Center Survey, 29% of listeners tune in to “stay up to date about current events,” but only one in five listen to podcasts affiliated with actual news organizations. Many claim they enjoy podcasts that offer unique content and hard-to-find perspectives.
The journalism podcasts listed here are independent ventures created by industry professionals, come in a range of formats and styles, and cover different aspects of journalism. They offer commentary on the news media, discuss journalism in history, explore the process of news gathering, and present interviews with working journalists on how they conduct investigations.
5 Great Journalism Podcasts for Writers
Here are five of those valuable, enjoyable, and informative journalism themed podcasts that made the list.
1. The Sharyl Attkisson Podcast
The Sharyl Attkisson Podcast offers insightful, high-quality, in-depth interviews and discussions on news stories, current events, and journalism practices. Recent episodes cover surveillance in the classroom, bias and censorship in the news industry, and how some politicians dodge or even ‘direct’ interviews with the media.
Sharyl Attkisson is a nonpartisan investigative journalist, five-time Emmy Award winner, and recipient of the Edward R. Murrow award for investigative reporting. She’s written three bestselling books: Slanted, The Smear, and Stonewalled. She also hosts the Sunday morning national TV news program Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson.
In this weekly podcast, host Michael O’Connell talks to professional journalists about their work, the changing state of digital media, and the latest journalism trends. Past episodes have explored how newsrooms can restore audience trust and how digital video is becoming the go-to platform for delivering local news.
As well as hosting and producing It’s All Journalism, O’Connell is also a field editor with Patch.com in the Washington, D.C., area and produces the Better News podcast for the American Press Institute.
This educational podcast delves into the history of mass media in the U.S. and explores unique stories and events from the past. Journalism History was founded in 2018 and is a collaboration between the AEJMC History Division and the Journalism History journal.
The series has covered some fascinating subjects and stories, from journalists in film and an exploration of the early days of television news, to abolitionists’ investigative reporting.
The production team consists of three professional media historians, Teri Finneman, who researches media coverage of women in politics, Nick Hirshon, an expert in the history of New York sports, and Ken Ward, who specializes in the journalism history of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains.
Unfortunately, the podcast is ending its six-year run in December 2024 and is included in this list because of the content’s historical and societal value. It’s vital that we know how journalism, as an industry and craft, has developed over the decades. We also need to hear these insightful stories from the past.
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The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is a practical, informative, and well-researched introduction to journalism and its best practices, with actionable advice, tips, techniques, explanations, and anecdotes straight from the field. In this digital guide, writers will learn how to write an effective news piece, skills need to be an effective journalist, outlets for publishing journalism, journalism associations, and so much more. Both inspirational and pragmatic, The Writer’s Digest Guide to Journalism is packed with valuable resources for aspiring journalists.
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4. The Tip Off
The Tip Off is a powerful and gripping UK-based podcast that takes listeners behind-the-scenes of investigative reporting. Told by the journalists involved, we learn about the work that goes into finding and producing a great story and how the process unfolds, from leads and complications, to the ‘tip-offs.’ Investigative journalism takes time, effort, energy, and resources, as well as patience and perseverance. This well-produced podcast is worth a listen if you’re interested in how research is conducted, how leads are pursued by different journalists, the type of stories they tackle, and the wrongdoing exposed.
Maeve McClenaghan, creator, producer, and host of The Tip Off, is a multi-award-winning journalist, an investigative correspondent for the Guardian, and previously worked for the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. She is the author of No Fixed Abode, published by Picador in 2020.
5. The Freelance Journalist 5 Minute Talkshow
This is an entertaining, educational, and informative interview style podcast designed exclusively for freelance journalists and video producers. It’s short and to the point, lasting only 5 minutes. Host Carlos P. Beltran tackles a range of practical topics affecting freelancers, including what it takes to be a freelancer, how to respond if you’re asked to do work for free, and what gear you need to get started as a videographer. He interviews freelancers stationed all over the world, working in various journalistic mediums and genres.
Although short in length, the podcast is packed with useful information and advice that’s easy to absorb. There are also some gems that stick with you. In the Gear episode, guest Neil Brandvold, a photojournalist and filmmaker based in Washington, D.C., reminds listeners that content is king. Rather than agonize over things like what gear to purchase, he advises us to simply focus on telling a good story. Wise words indeed.
Carlos P. Beltran is an award-winning freelance journalist and video producer covering profile and human-interest stories for National Geographic, Discovery Digital Networks, AJ+, The New York Post, The Atlantic, Univision, Fusion, and ABC News.
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Resources:
https://whatsthebigdata.com/podcasts-statistics/#https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2023/04/18/podcasts-as-a-source-of-news-and-information/