As editor in chief of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Leroy Chapman Jr. sits at the top of the newsroom, overseeing every aspect of life in Georgia. Chapman began his political journalism career in his home state, South Carolina, before moving to Atlanta and working his way through several different roles at the AJC.

In this episode, Chapman discusses the future of the AJC, particularly their digital future as the publication ceased producing printed newspapers in December of 2025. Leroy talks about meeting his audience where they are at and sees the future of journalism as increasingly more digital. He urges young, aspiring journalists to be adaptable, flexible and knowledgeable of this ever-changing field.

Find The Lead podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts at the link in bio.

bit.ly/m/coxinstitute

Guest: Leroy Chapman Jr., Editor in Chief at the AJC Host: Sophia Eppley

Jenni Watts, executive producer at CNN International, took an unconventional path into journalism. Beginning as a philosophy major at Auburn before moving into radio and eventually television. Her work spans environmental, cultural and technology features, with a career defined by adaptability and curiosity rather than following a linear path.

In this episode, Watts reflects on how her early career shifts shaped her approach to storytelling and why technical knowledge and strong interpersonal skills are essential in modern journalism. She also shares how covering the events of 9/11 solidified her commitment to the field, and offers advice to early-career journalists on embracing opportunity, staying curious and maintaining integrity as AI reshapes the industry.

Find The Lead podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts at the link in bio.

bit.ly/m/coxinstitute

Guest: Jenni Watts, Executive Producer at CNN International Host: Sidney Josephs

Samira Jafari works at the intersection of timeliness and truth. As the head of standards and practices at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, she guides journalists in “bringing light, not heat” to ensure ethical codes are followed and truth prevails. With more than 20 years of experience producing news content across broadcast and digital platforms at CNN and the Associated Press, Jafari works to balance editorial integrity with creative storytelling.

In this episode, we talk about determining newsworthiness, staying up-to-date on ethics codes, and building relationships with sources.

Guest: Samira Jafari, head of standards and practices at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Host: Alexis Derickson.