Veteran journalists Margo Gray and Mike Brown investigate the best films about the news business. What do they get right? What do they get wrong? What stories from their long careers come to mind while watching them? Special guests share their perspective and go behind-the-scenes in this WAFF 48 podcast.
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Veteran anchor / reporter Jamey Tucker joins us to talk about the 1987 comedy classic: Broadcast News
Jamey talks about his decision to leave traditional newsrooms behind and become an independent tech journalist and his role in creating one of the most memorable viral clips in news history. Mike and Margo also bring up the ethics of staging news, the love/hate relationship with cheesy jingles, flop sweat and adrenaline crashes after big stories.
Remember to follow us on Instagram for fun extras and clips from the show. Read our episode recaps and watch old episodes on waff.com/TheLeadStory for more insight and check out our Letterboxd for movie rankings, reviews and other fun tidbits!
Former WAFF 48 anchor/reporter Elizabeth Gentle joins us to talk about every journalist's dream: a job with banker's hours.
This week, we're talking about the classic 1940 screwball comedy: His Girl Friday.
Remember to follow us on Instagram for fun extras and clips from the show. Read our episode recaps and watch old episodes on waff.com/TheLeadStory for more insight and check out our Letterboxd for movie rankings, reviews and other fun tidbits!
Mike, Margo and special guest Bernie Delinski (The Times Daily) talk about the 1985 Chevy Chase comedy "Fletch". We explore the state of newspaper journalism in 2026, talk about whether or not this classic comedy holds up today and hear about the time a wanted drug suspect turned himself in to a pair of stunned reporters in Muscle Shoals.
Remember to follow us on Instagram for fun extras and clips from the show. Read our episode recaps and watch old episodes on waff.com/TheLeadStory for more insight and check out our Letterboxd for movie rankings, reviews and other fun tidbits!
Attorney Nick Lough joins Mike and Margo to talk about the 1981 Sydney Pollack film "Absence of Malice". Nick's experience as a journalist and attorney give him unique insight into this melodramatic thriller. Mike lays out his theory on how Meg Carter might be one of the worst journalists in film history while Margo talks about the time she was confronted by someone unhappy with her reporting.
Follow us on Letterboxd to see Mike's list of must-see Paul Newman films
Mike and Margo discuss Billy Wilder's 1951 film: "Ace in the Hole".
Chuck Tatum may be the most crooked journalist in movie history, inserting himself into the story of a man trapped in a cave. We discuss how modern newsrooms vet employees, how this story reminds us of a blind and deaf puppy in Huntsville, Alabama and why big egos like Chuck don't last long in today's local news environment.
Read much more about Ace in the Hole now on waff.com/TheLeadStory
Veteran journalists Mike Brown and Margo Gray break down the 1976 classic: "All the President's Men". How does the story of Woodward & Bernstein translate to journalists in the 21st century?
Follow our show at waff.com/theleadstory
Veteran journalists Mike Brown and Margo Gray introduce you to their new podcast: The Lead Story. It's an examination of modern journalism through film. Mike, Margo and their special guests will pick a new film every two weeks and investigate it as modern journalists.
Episode 1: All the President's Men is available on December 1
Our website, waff.com/TheLeadStory will be going live soon!
