
The Media Copilot
Hosted by journalist Pete Pachal, The Media Copilot is a weekly conversation with smart people on how AI is changing media, journalism, and the news.
Latest episodes

Jan 17, 2025 • 40min
Leveraging AI to Connect PR and Press with Michelle Songy
AI is redefining how PR professionals and journalists collaborate, bringing new efficiencies while challenging the balance of authenticity and connection.
This week on The Media Copilot, I’m joined by Michelle Songy—founder and CEO of Press Hook, serial entrepreneur, and one of the most innovative minds at the intersection of AI and media. From her start in finance in London to founding a fintech startup acquired by American Express, Michelle’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Now, she’s leading the charge in reshaping how PR pros and journalists connect in a world increasingly influenced by AI.
In this episode, Michelle shares how AI-powered tools are revolutionizing PR outreach—streamlining workflows while avoiding the pitfalls of spammy, impersonal communication. Together, we explore:
The delicate balance between efficiency and authenticity in AI-driven outreach.
The challenges and opportunities AI presents for storytelling in media.
The strategies PR professionals and journalists can adopt to thrive in this new landscape.
Stick around until the end, where Michelle reveals her vision for the future of PR, her thoughts on AI agents, and the ambitious plans she has to take Press Hook to new heights.
The Media Copilot is a podcast and newsletter that explores how generative AI is changing media, journalism, and the news.
Subscribe to The Media Copilot newsletter.
Explore our courses on how to use AI tools, tailored for media, marketers, PR professionals, and other content creators.
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Music: Favorite by Alexander Nakarada, licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
© AnyWho Media 2025

Jan 10, 2025 • 47min
How to write with AI and stay 100% human, with Alexandra Samuel
Alexandra Samuel, a renowned author and data journalist, shares her journey of leveraging AI as a writing partner. She reveals how AI fuels her creativity, helping her produce an astonishing 50,000 words in just over a week. Alexandra discusses strategies for managing information overload, particularly through neurodivergent practices. The conversation also highlights the potential of AI to bridge communication gaps, enhance productivity, and reshape storytelling, while envisioning a future where AI unlocks new avenues for ingenuity in media.

Jan 3, 2025 • 42min
AI’s Role in Smarter News Monitoring, with AskNews CEO Robert Caulk
From custom news summaries to uncovering biases, AI can do a lot more than follow trends.
This week, I’m excited to talk to Robert Caulk, Founder of Emergent Methods and the creator of AskNews. Rob has spent years exploring the intersection of AI, machine learning, and media, and his latest project brings a fresh perspective on how we consume news. AskNews isn’t just another chatbot—it’s a tool designed to analyze and present news with clarity, breaking down articles into facts, analysis, and differing viewpoints.
In our conversation, Rob and I dive into the ways journalists and newsrooms can use AI to craft better stories, improve analysis, and engage audiences. We also discuss Rob’s belief in the power of open-source AI and why transparency is key to fostering trust in media technology.
Don’t miss the end of the episode, where Rob shares actionable advice for those navigating the early stages of adopting AI in the media.
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The Media Copilot is a podcast and newsletter that explores how generative AI is changing media, journalism, and the news.
Subscribe to The Media Copilot newsletter.
Explore our courses on how to use AI tools, tailored for media, marketers, PR professionals, and other content creators.
Follow us on X.
Subscribe to the podcast on:
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Music: Favorite by Alexander Nakarada, licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
© AnyWho Media 2025

Dec 20, 2024 • 46min
AI's Media Transformation: From Newsrooms to 'Content Polymorphs' with Clare Spencer
How Clare Spencer is leveraging AI to redefine journalism, revolutionize content creation, and address the ethical complexities of modern media.
In this episode of The Media Copilot, Pete Pachal sits down with Clare Spencer, a journalist and producer whose innovative work with AI is reshaping the future of media. At the BBC, Clare was part of a pioneering team experimenting with GPT-3, exploring its potential in newsrooms long before tools like ChatGPT became mainstream.
Now, Clare is focused on a groundbreaking concept she calls “content polymorphing.” This approach uses AI to transform a single piece of content — such as a podcast — into entirely different formats, including articles and videos. It’s a bold reimagining of how creators can use AI to maximize the reach and adaptability of their work.
Pete and Clare delve into the implications of this innovation for the media industry. They explore how AI-powered tools like these can enhance efficiency and creativity while raising critical ethical questions about transparency and accountability in journalism. Clare also shares her perspective on how newsrooms can thoughtfully integrate generative AI, including a practical policy for using AI-generated images without compromising integrity.
Tune in to hear Clare’s expert insights and why she believes this shift isn’t just about technology but about rethinking the very foundations of content creation. Don’t miss this forward-looking conversation that’s sure to challenge conventional ideas about the intersection of AI and media.
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The Media Copilot is a podcast and newsletter that explores how generative AI is changing media, journalism, and the news.
Subscribe to The Media Copilot newsletter.
Explore our courses on how to use AI tools, tailored for media, marketers, PR professionals, and other content creators.
Follow us on X.
Subscribe to the podcast on:
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Other podcast apps
Music: Favorite by Alexander Nakarada, licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
© AnyWho Media 2024

Dec 13, 2024 • 49min
The AI Tollbooth: Dan Goikhman's Mission to Make ChatGPT Pay for Content
The Race to Monetize AI's Content Appetite and Build the Bridge Between Publishers and AI
This episode is sponsored by Adobe Stock.
I'm excited to share this week's episode of The Media Copilot, where I had a fascinating conversation with Dan Goikhman, the innovative force behind Dappier. As we dive into the evolving landscape of AI and publishing, we tackle one of the most pressing questions facing our industry: how do we make AI companies pay their fair share for content?
In our discussion, Dan breaks down how Dappier is emerging as that crucial bridge between traditional media and what he calls "the AI internet." What fascinates me is how they've positioned themselves as more than just middlemen – they're creating an entire ecosystem where publishers can not only monetize their content but also harness AI's power for their own platforms.
The most compelling part of our conversation comes when we explore how Dappier transforms publishers' content into AI-compatible formats. Think of it as creating a universal translator between human-written content and AI systems like ChatGPT and Perplexity. The genius part? If these AI companies want to use this content, they'll need to pay up, or face a digital blockade.
But what really got me excited was our discussion about the future. We dive deep into whether chat will become the dominant way people consume information, and what that means for media companies. You won't want to miss our exploration of how media organizations need to reimagine themselves in this AI-driven future.
Make sure to stay tuned until the end, where Dan and I explore the philosophical implications of this shift. It's not just about technology – it's about fundamentally rethinking what it means to be a media company in an AI-first world.
🎧 Join me for this illuminating conversation that might just change how you think about the future of publishing.
Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Adobe Stock—now powered by Adobe Firefly. Customize stock images like never before with AI tools that let you swap backgrounds, expand formats, and generate variations instantly. It's pro-level creativity, supercharged. Learn more at adobe.com/stock.
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The Media Copilot is a podcast and newsletter that explores how generative AI is changing media, journalism, and the news.
Subscribe to The Media Copilot newsletter.
Explore our courses on how to use AI tools, tailored for media, marketers, PR professionals, and other content creators.
Follow us on X.
Subscribe to the podcast on:
Apple
Spotify
Other podcast apps
Music: Favorite by Alexander Nakarada, licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
© AnyWho Media 2024

Dec 6, 2024 • 48min
AI Anchors in Action: Transforming Video News Production with Adam Mosam
Can AI Avatars Build Trust in the Newsroom?
This episode is sponsored by Adobe Stock.
This week on The Media Copilot, I’m thrilled to welcome Adam Mosam to the show. Adam is the founder of Channel 1, the groundbreaking news platform where AI avatars serve as anchors, delivering real news that’s entirely scripted, produced, and distributed by AI. Since Channel 1’s teaser video went mega-viral in late 2023, the platform has become a hot topic in the media world. But it’s not here to compete with CNN—it’s here to empower media companies with cutting-edge AI-powered production tools.
Our conversation dives into the fascinating possibilities of AI in video news production, including its potential to drastically cut costs. Producing premium video content is notoriously expensive, but Channel 1 aims to put high-quality video production within reach for media companies of all sizes. Of course, this innovation comes with its challenges. Can AI avatars gain the same level of trust as human reporters? And what happens to the jobs and creativity of human content creators in the long run?
Adam and I explore these questions and more, touching on the ethics, opportunities, and challenges of AI avatars in journalism. Don’t miss the end of the episode, where we discuss the future of news consumption—imagine a world where personal newsagents deliver customized stories directly to you, wherever you are.
Tune in to discover how AI might reshape the way we consume and create news.
Sponsor:
This episode is brought to you by Adobe Stock—now powered by Adobe Firefly. Customize stock images like never before with AI tools that let you swap backgrounds, expand formats, and generate variations instantly. It's pro-level creativity, supercharged. Learn more at adobe.com/stock.
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The Media Copilot is a podcast and newsletter that explores how generative AI is changing media, journalism, and the news.
Subscribe to The Media Copilot newsletter.
Explore our courses on how to use AI tools, tailored for media, marketers, PR professionals, and other content creators.
Follow us on X.
Subscribe to the podcast on:
Apple
Spotify
Other podcast apps
Music: Favorite by Alexander Nakarada, licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
© AnyWho Media 2024

Nov 20, 2024 • 29min
Mastering AI for PR & Media, With Peter Bittner
The Media Copilot is partnering with The Upgrade for a comprehensive six-week AI course tailored for PR and media professionals. Explore the course here.
As you may know, in addition to hosting a podcast, I also teach media professionals — newsrooms, PR firms, and more — on how to apply AI to their work. I've taken all kinds of AI courses and constantly try out new tools, and I've distilled all that and put the best parts into an AI class for journalists and communications pros that goes from basic prompting to advanced tools in a single afternoon.
However, the AI world is moving faster than a comet. Models are evolving, new platforms are emerging, and tools are getting more sophisticated. There are now all kinds of AI-powered apps dedicated to narrow aspects of media work — from social media generation to news analysis to automated email campaigns. And the well-known chatbots have powerful new features with potential that's barely been scratched.
It's clear that AI classes in general need an upgrade, and that makes my announcement today doubly apt: I'm partnering with Peter Bittner, CEO of The Upgrade Academy, and Kris Krüg, Founder of Techartist, to offer an extensive six-week course entitled AI for PR & Media Professionals, happening in early 2025. Registrations are open now, and if you grab a spot before December 15 you can use the discount code EARLYBIRD25 at checkout to get 25% off the price.
Course title: AI for PR & Media Professionals
Begins: Feb. 4, 2025
Format: six 1-hour classes, each focusing on different aspects of media, PR, and communications work
Instructors: Pete Pachal, Peter Bittner, Kris Krüg
Who is this for: PR and media professionals
How to buy: Checkout link (discount code: EARLYBIRD25; group rates available)
For the full breakdown of what's in the course, check out the class page, but here's a summary:
Course Highlights:
This course goes beyond foundational concepts and goes deep into using AI for specific use cases and workflows, such as media monitoring, campaign analysis, and crisis management. Each week includes interactive workshops where participants can apply what they've learned in real-world scenarios, helping build a practical understanding of the tools and techniques. Peter Bittner and I will guide participants every step of the way, offering insights from our extensive experience in media and AI.
What You Will Learn:
Participants will learn AI-powered content creation, including generating and refining social media posts, press releases, and other media content. They will also discover automated media monitoring techniques to track news and monitor public sentiment effectively. Additionally, attendees will explore how to use AI for automating and personalizing communication strategies, making outreach campaigns more impactful.
By the end of the six weeks, you will not only understand how AI can fit into your daily work but also feel confident using a variety of tools to boost productivity and creativity.
Join us, and let's explore how AI can empower your work!
The Media Copilot is a podcast and newsletter that explores how generative AI is changing media, journalism, and the news.
Subscribe to The Media Copilot newsletter.
Explore our courses on how to use AI tools, tailored for media, marketers, PR professionals, and other content creators.
Follow us on X.
Subscribe to the podcast on:
Apple
Spotify
Other podcast apps
Music: Favorite by Alexander Nakarada, licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
© AnyWho Media 2024

Nov 15, 2024 • 50min
How AI Changes Newsrooms and Readers, with BI Germany CEO Jakob Wais
Business Insider's CEO on the Legal Challenges Reshaping the Media Industry
This week, I’m thrilled to welcome Jakob Wais to the podcast. Jakob is the CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Business Insider Germany, a key player within Axel Springer’s media empire. Axel Springer was one of the first major media companies to embrace generative AI, striking a groundbreaking deal with OpenAI in late 2023, which integrated their publications, including Jakob’s, with ChatGPT.
I was eager to dive into Jakob’s insights on how a major media company leverages AI in its newsroom. We explored the flexibility he has in applying AI to editorial workflows, the ways his team of journalists perceive and adapt to these tools, and—most critically—how Business Insider Germany’s audience reacts to the integration of AI into the content they consume.
Our conversation also touched on the legal battles shaping the media landscape, including the recent lawsuit between News Corp and Perplexity. Jakob shared a thought-provoking perspective on what AI engines truly do with content, offering a fresh way to think about how machines "read" compared to humans. And don’t miss the surprising connection Jakob draws between men’s fashion in Tokyo and the future of quality journalism.
The Media Copilot is a podcast and newsletter that explores how generative AI is changing media, journalism, and the news.
Subscribe to The Media Copilot newsletter.
Explore our courses on how to use AI tools, tailored for media, marketers, PR professionals, and other content creators.
Follow us on X.
Subscribe to the podcast on:
Apple
Spotify
Other podcast apps
Music: Favorite by Alexander Nakarada, licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
© AnyWho Media 2024

Nov 9, 2024 • 48min
The Ethics of AI In the Newsroom, with Liam Andrew
This week I'm thrilled to welcome Liam Andrew to the podcast. Liam's been working with machine learning and AI for a lot longer than most of us. He worked on the product team at the Texas Tribune for more than eight years before making the jump earlier this year to the American Journalism Project, where he serves as Technology Lead for its Product & AI Studio, which obviously has a huge focus on how newsrooms can leverage AI. Liam constantly talks to local newsrooms all over the country, so he has a front-row seat into what their challenges are, how AI can help, and how it's actually being used day to day.
I loved getting into the weeds with Liam. He and I talked about AI newsroom issues big and small — like whether or not ChatGPT is any good at headlines, but also the ethics of using generative images. We tackle some heavy issues in the state of media today, and I hope you'll listen to the end, where he gives some excellent advice for newsrooms who may be closer to the beginning of their AI journey than the end.
The Media Copilot is a podcast and newsletter that explores how generative AI is changing media, journalism, and the news.
Subscribe to The Media Copilot newsletter.
Explore our courses on how to use AI tools, each one tailored for media, marketers, PR professionals, and other content creators.
Follow us on X.
Subscribe to the podcast on:
Apple
Spotify
Other podcast apps
Music: Favorite by Alexander Nakarada, licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
© AnyWho Media 2024

Nov 2, 2024 • 41min
What Comes After Google NotebookLM, with AnyTopic's Daniel Rascon
If you follow AI at all, you’ve probably heard of Google NotebookLM. The Gemini-powered feature got a huge popularity boost recently when it introduced the ability to create a totally synthetic podcast around any material you gave it. The idea of a “podcast this” button on any article, video, or set of PowerPoints is a powerful one, and it underscores the transformative power of AI and large language models (LLMs).
That transformative power has actually been around much longer than NotebookLM’s audio overviews. On this week’s Media Copilot podcast, I talk to Daniel Rascon, co-founder of AnyTopic. His AI startup is entirely about creating audio experiences about, well, any topic. Essentially you tell the app what you're interested in — anything from medieval architecture or how to get better sleep — and it'll go out and find the most relevant content about that topic, creating a mini audiobook for you to listen to whenever you want.
These aren’t word-for-word readings of text articles like The Washington Post and The New York Times are doing. I'd actually call the broader idea a “content polymorph” — essentially an AI agent designed to search for, interpret, and reformat information around whatever the user specifies. Right now it's centered around audio experiences, but there's no reason the same idea couldn't be applied to all kinds of formats, potentially giving everyone their own personal media reformatter in the future.
Daniel and I explored what that future might look like, and how AnyTopic might be the first step in getting there. It was an illuminating conversation, and be sure to listen to the end where we don't shy away from why such a flexible, customizable future might be scary to a lot of people.
The Media Copilot is a podcast and newsletter that explores how generative AI is changing media, journalism, and the news.
Subscribe to The Media Copilot newsletter.
Explore our courses on how to use AI tools, tailored for media, marketers, PR professionals, and other content creators.
Follow us on X.
Subscribe to the podcast on:
Apple
Spotify
Other podcast apps
Music: Favorite by Alexander Nakarada, licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
© AnyWho Media 2024
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