Media Coverage of the Workforce Housing Issue, with Petchenik Media Group, and Patrick Fox, Appen Media (North Fulton Voices, Episode 11)
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 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 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.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Introduction to North Fulton Voices
00:48 Discussing the Workforce Housing Crisis
02:36 Introducing the Media Experts, Mike Petchenik and Patrick Fox
05:25 Media’s Role in Workforce Housing Issues
08:19 Community Perspectives on Housing
12:04 Challenges in Affordable Housing
15:27 The Importance of Workforce Housing
19:36 Media’s Influence on Public Perception
26:42 Challenges in Addressing Poverty in North Fulton
28:03 The Importance of Reliable Data
30:52 Communicating the Impact of Housing on Schools
32:34 Public Perception and Stigma Around Affordable Housing
34:51 The Workforce Housing Crisis
39:37 Efforts and Obstacles in Promoting Gentle Density
47:31 Concluding Thoughts and Acknowledgements
North Fulton Improvement Network
The North Fulton Improvement Network (NFIN) is a think tank made up of community leaders from various sectors, focused on missing middle housing and the livability challenges confronting North Fulton. Its members come from the six cities constituting the northern half of Fulton County, Georgia—Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs—and are working to address the widespread yet little-known financial vulnerability across the region. With stakeholders from sectors including business, nonprofit, faith, government, and citizens, NFIN centers their work on five areas of impact, seeks to educate the public about these issues, builds a network of individuals and organizations with innovative private and public solutions, and connects resources to those in need.
The leadership team of NFIN is Jack Murphy, Nancy Diamond, and Kathy Swahn.
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Jack Murphy
Jack Murphy is a volunteer with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and is Chair of the North Fulton Improvement Network. He is also in his 21st year of working for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
He has served on both the National and Georgia Boards of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, responsible for Diversity, Advocacy, & Systemic Change. Jack is currently the national SVDP chair of Systemic Change and Advocacy.
Jack received a BA in psychology from Belmont Abbey College and a M.Ed. from UNC-Greensboro. Jack and his wife, Nancy, a retired elementary school principal, have two grown daughters and two grandchildren. They live in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Nancy Diamond
Nancy Diamond is a Project Manager with Schmit & Associates, a real estate development firm, creating town center revitalization in communities all around the metro area.
Nancy served 8 years as a Roswell City Council Member, including a term as Mayor Pro Tem, with liaison positions with Community Development, Transportation, Recreation & Parks, and Public Safety.
In addition to her work with the North Fulton Improvement Network, Nancy has been active in area non-profit organizations, including board leadership positions in the STAR House Foundation, WellStar North Fulton Hospital, and the Roswell Rotary Club.
A native of Atlanta and a 42-year North Fulton resident, Nancy worked at Turner Broadcasting in the early years of CNN, then became a freelancer in sports television graphics. While raising her two daughters, she worked from home, first developing a corporate gift service and later as a mortgage loan originator.
Nancy and her husband, Glenn, now relish the role of grandparents to 8-year-old Owen.
About North Fulton Voices
While North Fulton County is one of the most desirable places to live in the United States, the region faces a growing crisis: a severe shortage of housing options for middle-income employees, particularly essential workers such as first responders and teachers. North Fulton Voices, presented by the North Fulton Improvement Network, is the go-to source for in-depth analysis and discussion of missing middle housing and the livability challenges confronting North Fulton. Listen as we understand the implications of this problem, explore innovative solutions, and examine why providing these housing options is vital for North Fulton’s future. The show is sponsored and offered as a service to the community by John Ray Co. and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.
Sponsor for North Fulton Voices: John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC
The North Fulton Voices show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.
John Ray is a podcast show host and producer and owns North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, the North Fulton (Georgia) affiliate of Business RadioX®.
John also operates his own business advisory practice, Ray Business Advisors. John’s services include advising solopreneur and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.
John is the author of the #1 nationally best-selling book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.
John is the host of North Fulton Business Radio and The Price and Value Journey. North Fulton Business Radio, the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton region of Georgia, features a wide range of business and community leaders. The Price and Value Journey is devoted to solo and small firm professional services providers and covers issues such as pricing, value, and business development.
