Media Coverage of the Workforce Housing Issue, with Mike Petchenik, Petchenik Media Group, and Patrick Fox, Appen Media
In this episode of North Fulton Voices, hosts Jack Murphy and Nancy Diamond of the North Fulton Improvement Network discuss media coverage of workforce housing issues with local media veterans Mike Petchenik and Patrick Fox. Key topics include the affordability crisis, underscored by data from the Cato Institute and Bipartisan Policy Center, the stigmatization of the term “affordable housing,” and the challenges of conveying these issues through media. Mike and Patrick share insights on community resistance to high-density housing, the impacts on local schools and businesses, and potential avenues for improved public awareness and solutions. The hosts and guests advocate for data-driven narratives to better inform and engage the public on this critical issue.
North Fulton Voices is presented by the North Fulton Improvement Network. The show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC.
Patrick Fox, Appen Media Group
Patrick Fox, Appen Media Group
Patrick Fox is the Managing Editor at Appen Media Group, where he oversees editorial coverage for the North Atlanta Metro region, including the cities of Alpharetta, Roswell, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Milton, and Forsyth County. With more than 30 years of experience as a professional journalist, Fox’s career spans both newsroom leadership and field reporting.
He began his journalism career at a small weekly newspaper in Kansas before joining the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he spent 25 years as a reporter, copy editor, and designer. During his tenure there, he covered major educational and governmental issues, including reporting on the largest school district in Georgia and government affairs in North Fulton County, Gwinnett County, and Forsyth County.
Fox joined Appen Media Group in 2014 as Business Editor, focusing on economic and business coverage for a series of weekly publications in North Metro Atlanta. He was named Managing Editor in 2016, taking on responsibility for assigning, editing, and assisting with coverage across Appen Media’s suite of local newspapers and digital platforms.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Wichita State University and has completed additional coursework in business at Columbia College.
Fox is recognized for his expertise in editing, interviewing, and design, and continues to play a key role in shaping local news coverage for communities throughout North Atlanta.
Mike Petchenik, Petchenik Media Group
Mike Petchenik, Petchenik Media Group
Mike Petchenik is a National Emmy Award-winning journalist, media consultant, and the founder of Petchenik Media Group. With more than twenty years of experience in broadcast journalism and communications, he is best known for his twelve-year tenure at WSB-TV (Channel 2 Action News) in Atlanta, where he served as the North Fulton County bureau chief. At WSB-TV, Mike became one of the newsroom’s most enterprising reporters, producing daily content across multiple platforms, contributing to investigative and feature stories, and building a significant social media following.
Throughout his career, Mike has been recognized for his excellence in journalism, earning three Emmy awards, including a National Emmy in 2016 for breaking news coverage and two Southeast Regional Emmys. Before joining WSB-TV, he reported for WLKY-TV in Louisville, Kentucky, where he led political coverage during the 2009 presidential race and was nominated for a “Best Reporter” Emmy. He also worked as a weekend anchor, producer, and reporter at WAGT-TV in Augusta, Georgia, where he managed teams and received several state journalism awards.
After leaving television news, Mike founded Petchenik Media Group, a full-service media consulting firm that specializes in media relations, crisis communications, PR strategy, press release writing, and content creation, including video production and social media strategy. He now works with both public and private sector clients, helping them communicate effectively, especially in high-stakes or crisis situations.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and studied abroad at Imperial College London, where he interned at Chrysalis Radio. Originally from Chicago, Mike is married and has two children. He left the fast-paced world of television news to focus on media consulting and to enjoy a better work-life balance, continuing to serve as a trusted expert in crisis communication and media strategy.