I first met Michelle Baruchman as a freshman intended journalism major. She opened a lot of doors for me while she was a student here: she hired me as an editor at The Red & Black newspaper, supported my leadership runs in organizations like ONA & SPJ at UGA and connected me to young journos all over the country.

I hadn’t seen her since she graduated in 2017, and I was so excited to have the chance to catch up with her over a podcast episode. Since graduating, she moved to the other side of the country to work for The Seattle Times as a transportation reporter and engagement editor.

This episode discusses her work at the newspaper, but it mainly focuses on her decision-making process that went into taking this leap. We talk about how she has grown as an individual since leaving Grady. She keeps it real during this conversation, and provides some very honest advice for journalism students.

Give it a listen:

The James M. Cox Jr. Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management and Leadership at the Grady College prepares students and professionals for leadership roles in the news media. By sponsoring intensive training programs and funding applied research, the Cox Institute is at the forefront of addressing the strategic challenges faced by contemporary news organizations.