11 Can’t-Miss Media and Journalism Podcasts
Photo by Jonathan Farber on Unsplash
According to Pew Research, as of 2025, 54% of U.S. adults say they listened to a podcast in the last 12 months.
No matter your interest, there’s a podcast for it. Listeners can find shows for daily news, true crime, comedy, talk shows and even the business of journalism. So, we decided to highlight a few of our favorite journalism-focused podcasts created by and for the media.
This is not an exhaustive list, and we’d love to hear about your favorites. Have one that’s not on the list? Let us know in the comments or tweet us @BeyondBylines!
1. 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 hundreds of episodes to choose from to catch up (going all the way back to 2015!).
The podcast discusses a range of topics, including subscriptions, generative AI, the modern newsroom, audio, streaming and the creator economy.
Where to listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio
2. The Kicker
This bimonthly podcast from Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) is hosted by Megan Greenwell. The show covers all things journalism and media in relation to the world today.
Some of the latest episodes have discussed what went wrong at a digital media startup, the difficulties local journalists are facing when trying to interview elected officials, and a behind-the-scenes look at Hell Gate’s growing popularity.
Where to listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
3. Media Voices
Media Voices has several podcasts to choose from:
- The Publisher Podcast: A look at all the news, people and products across the media world, featuring leading figures from media and publishing businesses.
- Media Briefs: Occasional short, sponsored episodes with a senior executive from a vendor working with publishers to make their businesses better.
The Publisher Podcast is a great way to catch up on major media industry news. “Our focus is on the practical takeaways publishers can apply to their own products,” the site says. Show topics include editorial content, business models, social responsibility, innovation and more.
Where to listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
4. 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 award-winning journalists and authors Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger.
Where to listen: Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Spotify, TuneIn, Amazon Music
5. The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
The podcast from the international news media research center has published several episodes lately that dive into the findings of its popular Digital News Report. The hosts break down how news consumers feel about impartiality in the news, the growing importance of online news video, how AI chatbots are being used for news and more.
Beyond these deep dives, check out past episodes covering topics like news podcasts and climate news.
Where to listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify
6. Power Lines
Media journalist Oliver Darcy expanded his popular Status newsletter into a podcast and videocast, Power Lines. The weekly show doesn’t rely heavily on guests, although they aren’t ruled out altogether. It offers Darcy and colleague Jon Passantino’s “sharp, uncompromising analysis on how information moves and shapes society.”
Where to listen: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music
7. The Data Journalism Podcast
Hosted by Alberto Cairo, Simon Rogers and Scott Klein, this podcast introduces listeners to the world’s top data journalists and shows you how they do what they do.
Recent episodes featured a look at how data journalism has changed over the years, advice for increasing collaboration across newsrooms and a behind-the-scenes look at an award-winning data journalism report about students in Baltimore.
Where to listen: Spotify, Pocket Casts
8. Mixed Signals
A media-focused podcast from Semafor, Mixed Signals is hosted by journalists Ben Smith and Max Tani. Tune in weekly as they “pull back the curtain on key stories about media, revealing how money, access, culture and politics shape everything you read, watch, and hear.”
Over the past few weeks, Smith and Tani have covered the latest in conservative media, sports media, podcasts and the ways AI is affecting morning news routines.
Where to listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music
9. Newsroom Robots
Hosted by data scientist and media entrepreneur Nikita Roy, this podcast explores the intersection of AI and journalism. Find out what industry experts think is coming for newsrooms as they implement new AI strategies to optimize workflows and increase efficiencies without compromising journalistic integrity.
Recent episodes have featured conversations with the San Francisco Standard, Seattle Times, Yahoo and CNN.
Where to listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts
10. The Freelance Journalism Podcast
Hosted by the Institute for Independent Journalists, this podcast focuses on “the art and business of freelance journalism.” New episodes are released monthly. Tune in to hear from how freelancers are making it work.
Some of the latest episodes have covered “solidarity journalism,” best practices for environmental story pitches, journalist Kavitha Cardoza’s powerful coverage of children, education and poverty, and tips for setting your rates as a freelancer.
Where to listen: IIJ website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts
11. The Journalism Salute
On this journalism appreciation podcast, the hosts “interview working journalists about who they are and what they do. Our aim is to have diverse guests, thoughtful questions, and interesting conversation.” There are 200+ episodes, so get ready to dive in!
Several episodes generally drop each month, with recent ones exploring a local media outlet’s social media approach, one TV reporter’s tips for covering snowstorms, how a new student journalist found his first stories, and the ins and outs of a taco editor’s job (yes, a taco editor).
Where to listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RedCircle, YouTube
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Rocky Parker is the Manager of Audience and Journalist Engagement at Cision PR Newswire. She's been with the company since 2010 and has worked with journalists and bloggers as well as PR and comms professionals. Outside of work, she can be found trying a new recipe, binging a new show, or cuddling with her pitbull, Hudson.
