4 Questions Journalist Spotlight

4 Questions Journalist Spotlight

Twice a month, Mitch Leff, president of Leff & Associates Public Relations, offers his "4 Questions Journalist Spotlight, a conversation with a Georgia journalist. 4QJS dives into each journalist's background, their role at their current media outlet, beats and story interests, and talks about how public relations professionals can work with them, and stories on their radar. Then it gets fun! What's the coolest thing about them? What's their favorite book/podcast, favorite local getaway, hobbies, and favorite restaurant. www.leffassociates.com Email: mitch@leffassociates.com

Episodes

June 11, 2025 29 mins

This week, our "4 Questions Journalist Spotlight" shines Blake DeVine, a reporter with WANF TV/Atlanta News First.

Coolest Thing About Blake: He's got a big A Cappella choir background!

  • Last Podcast: "Acquired" podcast, it goes behind the scenes of the biggest tech IPOs and acquisitions
  • Last Book Read: Dave Ramsey "Total Money Makeover"
  • Favorite Local Restaurant: Southern Kitchen (Midtown)
  • Favorite...
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This week, our "4 Questions Journalist Spotlight" shines Molly Oak, a general assignment / Multimedia Journalist (MMJ) at WXIA TV/11Alive in Atlanta.

  • Coolest Thing About Molly: She used to play competitive beach volleyball and her dog (Roy) is trained as a therapy dog
  • Last Podcast: "Good Hang" with Amy Poehler
  • Last Book Read: "Everybody, Always" by Bob Goff
  • Favorite Local Restaurant: Little Rey or Yepp...
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This week, our "4 Questions Journalist Spotlight" shines on A.R. Shaw with the Atlanta Daily World. The Atlanta Daily World is the oldest black newspaper in Atlanta, founded in 1928. Currently owned by Real Times Inc., it publishes daily online. 

  • Coolest thing: The first article he ever wrote was in the fourth grade
  • Last Podcast: The Business of Content by Simon Owen
  • Favorite Local Restaurant: Virgil's Gullah Kitche...
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This week, our "4 Questions Journalist Spotlight" shines on Libby Allnatt with What Now Atlanta.

What Now Atlanta is part of a network of 32 sites across the US and Canada, focused on restaurant, retail, and real estate news.

Coolest thing: She loves coffee shops and has an IG page where she reviews local shops (@atlcaffeinequeen)
Last Podcast: We’re Here to Help (two guys who give people advice on n...

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This week, our "4 Questions Journalist Spotlight" shines on Trevor Williams, Global Atlanta.

GlobalAtlanta covers international business and other news around Georgia, focusing on how the world connects to Georgia.

Coolest Thing About Trevor: He loves going to estate sales, it's a family activity!

  • Favorite Restaurant: Thumbs Up diner
  • Favorite Getaway: Chattanooga, TN
  • Favorite Nonwork Hobby: Playing...
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This week, our "4 Questions Journalist Spotlight" shines on Brian Clark, publisher of The Georgia Sun!

The Georgia Sun is an online news outlet covering local news, business, and features across the state.

Coolest Thing About Brian: He's a major history buff!
Favorite Restaurant: Sidelines, family sports bar in Cobb and Cherokee
Favorite Getaway: Sky Valley
Favorite Nonwork Hobby: He&apo...

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This week, our "4 Questions Journalist Spotlight" shines on Faith Jessie and Zack Merchant, hosts of "The Georgia Vote" on WXIA TV/11Alive. Their show covers Georgia politics and legislative topics, airs Sundays at 11 a.m., and is about to hit its one year anniversary.

Coolest Thing About Faith – She has two first names, which is sometimes a thing! Years ago, she did a story in Las Vegas about a rescue dog ... an...

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This week, our "4 Questions Journalist Spotlight" shines on Anila Yoganathan with the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

The Chronicle is a weekly newspaper covering business news in Atlanta, published by American City Business Journals. The paper has both a weekly print edition and an online edition.

Coolest Thing About Anila: Her mother runs a pottery business and she loves helping her set up for shows!
F...

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This week, our "4 Questions Journalist Spotlight" shines on Curt Yeomans, Senior Writer for the Gwinnett Daily Post.

The Gwinnett Daily Post is the major newspaper in this north Atlanta county, one of the largest and fastest-growing counties in Georgia. Curt is currently the paper’s sole reporter and he covers just about everything … except sports!

Watch and listen as he talks about the big issues facing the county, includi...

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This week, our "4 Questions Journalist Spotlight" shines on Kathleen Conway, Managing Editor, Georgia Trend magazine.

Georgia Trend is a monthly print and digital magazine, covering business topics,  economic development topics, and all sorts of other issues from across the state. Each issue includes feature stories, columns, and special focuses on specific cities, counties, or regions of the state.

  • Coolest Th...
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This week, our "4 Questions Journalist Spotlight" shines on Michelle Havich, editor of American City & County.

American City & County has been the voice of state and local government since 1909. The site serves city, county and state officials who are charged with developing and implementing government policy, programs and projects. It provides readers with news, government trends, policy alternatives and...

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This week, our “4 Questions Journalist Spotlight” shines on independent writer Katja Ridderbusch.

We talked about all the different media outlets she works for (German Public Radio, Times of Israel, Welt, Spiegel, GABiz magazine, Georgia Public Broadcasting, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WABE, Atlanta magazine, KFF health news, TIME, US News) and the variety of topics she covers, from politics to businesses to public safety and ...

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This week, our “4 Questions Journalist Spotlight” shines on Tracy Green, Senior Executive Producer with WANF TV, Atlanta News First.

We talked about her role at the station, what makes WANF different from other stations in the market, and how public relations professionals can work with her team.

  • Coolest Thing – She’s a Howard Stern superfan and she used to the head security guard at a manufacturing plant
  • Last Book Read – “Their E...
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This week, our “4 Questions Journalist Spotlight” shines on Sammie Purcell, Associate Editor covering the entertainment industry for Rough Draft Atlanta.

We talked about her take on the state of the film industry in Georgia, and things she wants to cover over the next few months, including awards season, an interview with a great female studio owner, and going to Sundance for the first time.

And check out her Thursday “How ...

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This week, our “4 Questions Journalist Spotlight” shines on Tyrik Wynn, an anchor and reporter with the Black Information Network (BIN).

Important Things to Know About Tyrik:

  • Coolest Thing: Loves adventure, like roller coasters
  • Favorite Local Restaurant: Maggiano's
  • Last Book: Preparing CEOs for Success
  • Favorite Non-Work Hobby: Fishing!
  • Favorite Local Getaway: Lake Oconee
  • Favorite Guilty Pleasure: Dairy Queen!


M...

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This week, our “4 Questions Journalist Spotlight” focuses on Stone Payton with Business Radio X, a nationwide network focused on promoting business experts!

Important Things to Know About Stone:

Coolest Thing: He chose two, his name (Stone) and the fact that he's a new grandfather
Favorite Local Restaurant: Ippolito's italian restaurant
Last Book: The Richest Man in Babylon, Think and Grow Rich

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This week, our “4 Questions Journalist Spotlight” focuses on Rachel Kellogg, Bureau Chief for the Neighbor Newspapers.'

Important Things to Know About Rachel:

Coolest Thing: She's a big collector of video game themed stuffed animals
Favorite Local Restaurant: Thai House in Roswell
Last Book: Heart Full of Lies by Ann Rule (true crime writer) 
Favorite Non-Work Hobby: Playing video games
F...

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This week, our “4 Questions Journalist Spotlight” focuses on Rebecca Grapevine, Atlanta Correspondent for HealthBeat, a new online media outlet focused on Atlanta and Georgia health issues.

Important Things to Know About Rebecca:

  • Coolest Thing: She loves being about and about and loves all the events around Atlanta. Before she was a journalist, she got a Ph.D. in legal history (Caveat: She’s not a lawyer!)
  • Favorite Local Restauran...
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This week, our “4 Questions Journalist Spotlight” focuses on Leroy Chapman, Editor in Chief of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Important Things to Know About Leroy:

Coolest Thing: He's an amateur barber
Favorite Local Restaurants: Fellini's pizza, Bones Restaurant
Last Book: "His Name is George Floyd" by Washington Post journalists Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa
Favorite Non...

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This week, our “4 Questions Journalist Spotlight” focuses on Mark Arum, host of the Mark Arum Show on WSB Radio. Listen Monday - Friday from 9 am to Noon.

Important Things to Know About Mark:

Coolest Thing: He's got a great baseball card collection
Favorite Local Restaurant:  LaGrotta
Last Book:  "Tell It True" by John Pruitt
Favorite Non-Work Hobby: Poker!
Favorite Local Getaway: Wi...

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