Trust Your Voice: Olivia Smith on Her Path from Teen Reporter to Embracing AI in Modern Journalism

Oct 2, 2024

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In this episode, Emmy Award-winning journalist Olivia Smith shares her journey from a teenage reporter to a leading expert in next-generation storytelling at Disney and ABC News.

Olivia discusses the importance of solid storytelling in the age of AI, offers practical advice for young journalists to overcome fears, and explores innovative techniques using drones and 360 cameras. She also highlights the evolving role of AI in journalism education, emphasizing ethical considerations and transparency.

Olivia talks about launching her consulting business to help professionals improve their on-camera presence and provides tips on leveraging social media to build a brand. Finally, she looks ahead at the future of journalism, affirming that AI is here to stay and encouraging journalists to learn and adapt.

Episode Highlights:

0:00 – Introduction: Yumi Wilson introduces Olivia Smith, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and AI enthusiast who has led innovations in storytelling at Disney, ABC News, and more. Olivia now teaches at USC Annenberg and runs Media Consulting Coaches.

2:20 – Career Beginnings: Olivia shares how her journalism journey began with a front-page expose at age 15. She emphasizes the irreplaceable value of good storytelling in the age of AI.

5:26 – Advice on Overcoming Fear in Journalism: Olivia discusses common fears among young journalists about approaching strangers and provides practical tips on finding stories organically.

11:11—Innovative Storytelling Techniques: Olivia talks about experimenting with 360-degree cameras and drones at Disney and ABC News, highlighting the importance of adapting to new tools and technologies.

17:14 – Debating the Need for a Journalism Degree: Olivia shares her thoughts on whether a college education is necessary for a journalism career, advocating for various paths to learning and emphasizing the importance of ethics and writing skills.

21:49 – Role of AI in Journalism Education: Olivia explains AI's crucial role in journalism education and newsroom practices over the next decade, stressing the importance of ethical guidelines and transparency.

28:41 – Founding Media Consulting Coaches: Olivia talks about starting her consulting business with her husband to help professionals improve their on-camera presence and content creation skills.

43:27 – Adapting to Social Media: Olivia offers insights into how journalists can leverage social media to build their brands and reach a wider audience, emphasizing the importance of finding a focus and being consistent.

53:37—Future of Journalism: Olivia predicts that AI is here to stay and encourages journalists to learn about AI tools to remain relevant in the industry. She also reflects on what might come next in the tech revolution beyond AI.

Three Best Quotes:

On Storytelling: “Stick with the storytelling, stick with the reporting, and it's really going to shape you as a journalist. Good stories can’t be replaced by machines.” (Timestamp: 2:45)
On Overcoming Fear: “Have faith in yourself. It's scary at first, but if you see someone you want to approach, just take a deep breath and go for it. Be polite, smile, and 99% of the time, they will be receptive.” (Timestamp: 7:14)
On AI in Journalism: “AI can be like your coworker—something you can work with, but not something that should do your work.” (Timestamp: 24:02)

Links to Resources:

Olivia Smith's LinkedIn: Olivia Smith on LinkedIn
Media Consulting Coaches: Visit Media Consulting Coaches
Olivia's Blog - Get Savvy with Social: Read Olivia’s Blog
Poynter Institute on AI Ethics: AI Ethics for Newsrooms

Connect with Yumi:

Yumi Wilson on LinkedIn: Yumi Wilson on LinkedIn
Podcast Website: AI in Journalism

NOTE: Credit to Otter.AI and ChatGPt for helping me write show notes a fraction of the time!