We were lucky to catch up with Cody Thomas recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cody, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

Well, as with any stage in human history, it’s safe to say within the linear media world that “times are changing.” It’s being felt across just about every facet of the industry…especially in television news. Gone are the days of working-class people who turn on the TV mid-day to find out the weather, or have the morning news playing in the background so they don’t miss the morning rush traffic report. That information is readily available in the palms of our hands with smartphones. It’s almost as if things like that are TOO convenient, but we as consumers eat it up. Also, the average viewer sees the major networks as too polarizing these days. It’s almost as if they’re being forced onto a team when all they wanted was to take in some information and go on about their lives. So, in comes what we in the industry label as “alternative media.” Podcasts, podcasts, and more podcasts from influencers and industry professionals who have strayed away from the umbrella of the major networks to do their own thing…all while being the sole proprietors of their very own product. All of that to say…that’s the trend and THAT is where the industry is headed. I’m currently a producer and correspondent with Court TV, and while we rake in decent ratings from our linear, on-air product, we bring in a hell of a lot of viewership through our 1.4M followers on TikTok and hundreds of thousands on other social platforms as well. The trend is right there in front of you if you have your eyes open, and it’s been gradually headed this direction for years. But, it’s up to networks to understand these trends and adjust to the times and where viewers’ eyeballs are going in terms of the consumption of any sort of media, whether that be news, music videos, or whatever.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

So, I’m currently a producer and national correspondent for the true crime network, Court TV. Most of my time is spent flying across the country following some of the biggest cases in the true crime world and reporting on it live for our viewers who not only view our product domestically, but in the UK as well. I got my start as a local reporter in Savannah, Georgia about a year after I graduated from Kennesaw State University. So, from July of 2019 to July of 2021, I covered everything from the COVID-19 pandemic, to the Ahmaud Arbery murder case, to George Floyd protests, to the intense 2020 election season in which the state of Georgia served as one of the major battleground states. During that time, I interviewed the likes of Donald Trump Jr. one-on-one, and Governor Brian Kemp knew me on a first name basis when he would come to town. But, that two-year stint left me a little burnt out with the on-camera stuff, and to keep a long story short, once I moved back home to Atlanta, I ended up landing a producer job with CNN. I loved working there, and after about a year, because my executive producer knew my background, she requested that I serve as the face of a special report we did on the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi. That was my first taste of national TV. Things were going really well, until my show team all got laid off due to company restructuring. That’s how I ended up at Court TV in February 2023 two months after the lay off. It was a similar story here as well — I came in as a producer, and because of my background, I served as the network’s first producer/correspondent hybrid position, and am now the youngest full-time, on-air talent here. 2024 has been an incredible year for me opportunity-wise. The new positions have allowed me to travel all over the country and see so many places in the last few months, and I’m incredibly grateful. As far as what I think sets me apart…I don’t really think about it all that much, because I feel like that leans into me creating false competition with others, when in actuality, I’m truly only competing with myself to be the best I can be. But if I had to pick something, I guess I bring a younger, fresher feel to my network, specifically with me being the youngest on-air talent. Also, a lot of the viewers seem to love my voice, so there’s that, too, I guess.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Relationships, relationships, relationships…did I mention relationships? For me, personally, I believe that is what has brought me this far today. The media industry, though seemingly incredibly vast, is actually quite small and tight-knit. You’ll constantly here things like, “Oh, that producer? I met them in Philadelphia,” or, “Me and her are represented by the same agent.” Everyone, quite literally, knows everyone. And, that rings even more true as you continue to climb the market ladder and make a bigger name for yourself. All of that said, you can understand how maintaining good relationships with just about any news director, agent, talent, or anyone would prove to be beneficial for you in the long run. In this industry, you never know who knows you, who’s watching, or what rooms your name may be being tossed around in without your knowledge. But, the important thing is for you to make sure it’s being tossed around in good fashion.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

This one is quick and simple — I hated my first job. I mean, I absolutely LOATHED it, and I didn’t try to hide it from anyone. On top of that, I was bound in blood to a two-year, non-negotiable contract that the company would try to come after you with in a lawsuit if you wanted to quit under the guise of “liquidated damages.” Mind you, that guise ran you about $8,000. But, I had no alternative. It was either stay there and prove to myself that I could get through this horrible time, or quit and come back home to live with my parents and be unemployed and right back at the drawing board in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic when most job markets were on a hiring freeze. So, I’m sure you can assume which choice I made. And, I will say that once I completed that two-year contract, I felt as if I could accomplish anything. That was probably the most resilience I’ve ever displayed to myself, and it’s paid off ten-fold. Without that two-years developing a professional reporter reel, there’s absolutely no way I could be doing what I’m currently doing on the national level at such an early stage in my career. By default, I HAVE to be thankful for that period of my life.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: codythomas_