No matter what you’re interested in, there’s a podcast for it. There is an astounding six million+ podcast titles currently available on Spotify – from daily news and true crime to comedy and sports, and everything in between.
With so many options, we wanted to narrow down a list of podcasts for public relations and comms professionals that would do more than just entertain. We looked for shows that can help keep you informed on the latest trends in the media and journalism industries. Those that give a behind-the-scenes look at how journalists work, their biggest challenges, what’s top of mind for them, and how a story comes together.
All of these podcasts offer valuable insight that can help you refine your media relations strategies and build better relationships with your media partners. Here are just a few of our favorites.
1. It’s All Journalism
The series talks to working journalists about how they do their jobs, the latest trends in journalism, and the changing state of digital media – all fantastic intel for PR and comms professionals. It’s “the broccoli of media-focused podcasts.”
The team of experienced journalists has created nearly 500 episodes of the popular show, and a newsletter is also available if you want to receive the latest updates in your inbox. Take a listen to a recent episode where Julia Angwin, founder and CEO of Proof News, talks about how journalists can restore reader trust:
2. The Digiday Podcast
This weekly show from Digiday covers “the big stories and issues that matter to brands, agencies, and publishers as they transition to the digital age.” If you haven’t listened before, there are more than 200 episodes to choose from to catch up.
The podcast discusses a range of topics that are sure to pique your interest, including subscriptions, commerce, the modern newsroom, content creation, audio, streaming, and more.
3. Journalism History
Published since 1974, Journalism History is a scholarly journal covering the history of mass media in the U.S. The podcast was founded in 2018 and explores unique stories from the past.
Take your pick from more than 140 available episodes on YouTube or go straight to this fascinating look at public relations in U.S. mystery novels:
4. The Kicker
This podcast is created by Columbia Journalism Review (CJR). With their mission to be an intellectual leader in the industry, they don’t shy away from some of the more serious and challenging topics related to journalism and media.
For example, a recent episode explores how two journalists at one of Israel’s most respected newspapers handle their reporting of news across the country. The podcast digs into how they balance reporting with the need for accountability from those in power.
5. Media Voices Podcast
This weekly podcast is a great way to catch up on major media industry news. It's created by a team of three experienced freelance journalists: Chris Sutcliffe, Esther Kezia Thorpe, and Peter Houston.
Focused on the biggest challenges and opportunities facing publishers, the podcast guests include senior leaders from Facebook, Google, The London Times, Wired, Time, and many others over the course of 300+ episodes. Show topics include editorial content, strategy, business models, publications, platforms, social responsibility, innovation, and more.
Here’s a recent episode with The Wall Street Journal’s Edward Hyatt discussing his perspective on recent and upcoming changes in SEO:
6. The Tip Off
While published stories can be hard-hitting, sometimes the work that went into the investigation can be even more fascinating. The Tip Off takes listeners behind the scenes of standout investigative reporting to hear how the story unfolded from the journalists themselves.
As if you need more convincing: “There’ll be car chases, slammed doors, terrorist cells, meetings in dimly lit bars and cafes, wrangling with despotic regimes and much more. So if you’re curious about the fun, complicated detective work that goes into doing great investigative journalism- then this is the podcast for you.”
7. On the Media
This is WNYC’s “weekly investigation into how the media shapes our worldview.” The award-winning program airs weekly on more than 400 public radio stations and also includes the biweekly podcast.
On the Media (OTM) is hosted by Brooke Gladstone, an award-winning journalist and book author. Gladstone "examines threats to free speech and government transparency, casts a skeptical eye on media coverage of the week’s big stories, and unravels hidden political narratives in everything we read, watch, and hear."
Consider this recent episode breaking down the media hype about artificial intelligence:
8. Two Writers Slinging Yang
Best-selling author and experienced sports journalist Jeff Pearlman hosts this podcast that’s all about the writing. It’s described as an “in-depth, no-holds-barred conversation with a writer on writing.”
Jeff’s guest line-up runs the gamut and the topics are even more diverse – from a Manhattan prison that inspired a book and Sports Illustrated in the 1960s to the Westminster Dog Show and a horse’s fossilized poop in one family’s basement. There are more than 200 episodes of the show, so start digging into these writer-to-writer chats.
Want More?
Looking for more podcasts to listen to or follow? Want to add relevant podcasts to your media outreach list? We’ve got you covered with CisionOne Outreach. With just a click, you can narrow down our industry-leading media database to podcasts, then add filters to customize your search based on location, sector, etc.
For more insights directly FROM journalists FOR public relations professionals, check out our recent webinar on demand: Understanding Today's Media: Industry Insights from Top Journalists.
Learn more about how Cision can support your PR efforts - speak with one of our experts.
