4 Questions Journalist Spotlight

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 operational solutions.

• Coolest Thing About Her: She wishes she’d gone to culinary school, collects Le Creuset cookware
• Last Book She’s Read: The Wedding People by Alison Espach
• Favorite Local Restaurants: Novo Cocina and NFA Burger
• Guilty Pleasure:  "Xanadu" the movie!
• Local Getaway: Brook Run Park in Dunwoody
• Favorite Non Work Hobby: Cooking

Mitch’s day job is providing public relations services, media training, and crisis communications, but he also operates Leff’s Atlanta Media, an online database with contact info for thousands of Atlanta-based journalists, and Mitch’s Media Match, a service that connects Atlanta journalists with local experts.

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 social topics. She does audio, writing, and photography.

• Coolest Thing – She has a huge collection of rubber duckies
• Last Book Read – A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz
• Last Podcast – Noble, a podcast about the malpractice at a Georgia crematorium
• Favorite Local Getaway - Jekyll Island
• Favorite Local Restaurants – Bistro Niko (Buckhead), Southbound (Chamblee), Rose & Crowne (Marietta)
• Favorite Non-Work Hobby – Target shooting at the gun range
• Favorite Guilty Pleasure – TV binge watching, Silo series

Mitch’s day job is providing public relations services, media training, and crisis communications, but he also operates Leff’s Atlanta Media, an online database with contact info for thousands of Atlanta-based journalists, and Mitch’s Media Match, a service that connects Atlanta journalists with local experts.

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 Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston
• Last Podcast – SmartLess
• Favorite Local Getaway - Serenbe
• Favorite Local Restaurant – Boone's restaurant on the Bobby Jones golf course
• Favorite Non-Work Hobby – Writing, she’s had several books published and has more in the works!
• Favorite Guilty Pleasure – Eating candy and napping

Mitch’s day job is providing public relations services, media training, and crisis communications, but he also operates Leff’s Atlanta Media, an online database with contact info for thousands of Atlanta-based journalists, and Mitch’s Media Match, a service that connects Atlanta journalists with local experts.

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 Do You Atlanta?” segment on WABE with Sammie and Mike Jordan talking about all the different events happening around Atlanta.

She’s just launched a new podcast about indie filmmakers, called “Crash Zoom.” It’s a new podcast from Behind the Slate where Sammie and filmmaker Aaron Strand explore the world of film and entertainment and how big picture changes affect the life and work of independent artists.

• Coolest Thing: Since she was 15 she’s been in a band called Foxes and Fossils! They’ve got a huge YouTube following.
• Last Book Read – Small Things Like These by Claire Keegen
• Last Podcast – The Big Picture Podcast
• Favorite Local Getaway - Serenbe
• Favorite Local Restaurant – Mezza Luna in Smyrna
• Favorite Non-Work Hobby – Boxing!
• Favorite Guilty Pleasure – Survivor, she’s watched 10 seasons this year!

 www.roughdraftatlanta.com

Substack Newsletter: I Have Some Thoughts, https://sammiethoughts.substack.com/

To watch and listen to a full performance from Foxes and Fossils, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cee1Oj2-sI

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Mitch’s day job is providing public relations services, media training, and crisis communications, but he also operates Leff’s Atlanta Media, an online database with contact info for thousands of Atlanta-based journalists, and Mitch’s Media Matchhttp://mitchsmediamatch.com, a service that connects Atlanta journalists with local experts.

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!

Mitch’s day job is providing public relations services, media training, and crisis communications, but he also operates Leff’s Atlanta Media, an online database with contact info for thousands of Atlanta-based journalists, and Mitch’s Media Matchhttp://mitchsmediamatch.com, a service that connects Atlanta journalists with local experts.

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
Favorite Non-Work Hobby: Hunting, fishing, walking in the woods
Favorite Local Getaway: Wildlife Action on Lake Allatoona
Favorite Guilty Pleasure: Bourbon and cigars

Mitch’s day job is providing public relations services, media training, and crisis communications, but he also operates Leff’s Atlanta Media, an online database with contact info for thousands of Atlanta-based journalists, and Mitch’s Media Matchhttp://mitchsmediamatch.com, a service that connects Atlanta journalists with local experts.

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
Favorite Local Getaway: Lake Allatoona
Favorite Guilty Pleasure: Doing karaoke

Mitch’s day job is providing public relations services, media training, and crisis communications, but he also operates Leff’s Atlanta Media, an online database with contact info for thousands of Atlanta-based journalists, and Mitch’s Media Matchhttp://mitchsmediamatch.com, a service that connects Atlanta journalists with local experts.

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 Restaurant: The General Muir (bagel with smoked salmon or smoked trout)
• Last Book: “Where Peachtree Meets Sweet Auburn” by Gary Pomerantz
• Favorite Non-Work Hobby: “I think I should try to find one!” but I love traveling with my mother
• Favorite Local Getaway: Savannah, GA
• Favorite Guilty Pleasure: Spending an afternoon reading a good book

Mitch’s day job is providing public relations services, media training, and crisis communications, but he also operates Leff’s Atlanta Media, an online database with contact info for thousands of Atlanta-based journalists, and Mitch’s Media Matchhttp://mitchsmediamatch.com, a service that connects Atlanta journalists with local experts.

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-Work Hobby: Cooking
Favorite Local Getaway: Coastal Georgia or a cabin in north Georgia
Favorite Guilty Pleasure: Reruns of "Everybody Loves Raymond"

Mitch’s day job is providing public relations services, media training, and crisis communications, but he also operates Leff’s Atlanta Media, an online database with contact info for thousands of Atlanta-based journalists, and Mitch’s Media Match, a service that connects Atlanta journalists with local experts.

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: Wild Animal Safari near Columbus
Favorite Guilty Pleasure: "Downton Abbey" and "Gilmore Girls"

Mitch’s day job is providing public relations services, media training, and crisis communications, but he also operates Leff’s Atlanta Media, an online database with contact info for thousands of Atlanta-based journalists, and Mitch’s Media Match, a service that connects Atlanta journalists with local experts.