Jane Velez‑Mitchell, a former CNN crime reporter, now runs UnchainedTV, a vegan‑focused news network that has earned several Taste Awards for its nonprofit programming.
From primetime crime to vegan advocacy
After leaving CNN, Velez‑Mitchell shifted toward entrepreneurship, founding the network that blends investigative style with animal‑rights coverage. UnchainedTV’s flagship cooking series, Kale Krew, highlights plant‑based recipes and has attracted a growing audience interested in sustainable food. The show’s emphasis on practical, step‑by‑step guidance mirrors the way Velez‑Mitchell once broke down complex crime stories for a national audience, translating that skill into clear, accessible content for viewers who are learning to replace meat‑centric meals with vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
The platform’s emphasis on nonprofit content aligns with its mission to raise awareness about animal welfare. By partnering with organizations that champion humane farming practices, UnchainedTV channels the investigative rigor of traditional newsrooms into deep‑dive segments that explore the environmental impact of livestock production, the economics of plant‑based supply chains, and the ethical considerations that drive consumer choices. Its award‑winning shows demonstrate how niche media can thrive when they tap into a dedicated community, proving that purpose‑driven programming can also achieve commercial viability.
Beyond cooking, UnchainedTV offers documentary‑style pieces that investigate legislation affecting animal rights, profiles of activists who are reshaping policy, and interviews with scientists who quantify the health benefits of a vegan diet. These varied formats give the network a breadth that mirrors the multi‑segment structure of a typical news hour, allowing it to retain viewers who might tune in for a recipe and stay for the deeper analysis that follows.
AI in public‑relations work
David Olajide, head of marketing at Curzon PR, says artificial intelligence is becoming a routine tool for communicators. He warns that agencies must consider ethical implications when deploying AI, especially in reputation management. Olajide’s perspective reflects a wider industry conversation about how automated systems are reshaping the workflow of press‑release creation, media monitoring, and client reporting.
Related: Journalists Reveal What They Seek in Press Releases
Olajide notes that AI can streamline drafting releases but also risks amplifying bias if not carefully monitored. The podcast series, part of a broader effort to educate PR professionals, features experts discussing how algorithmic language models can inadvertently echo prevailing narratives, potentially marginalizing less‑represented viewpoints. By highlighting these concerns, Curzon PR shows the responsibility of firms to maintain editorial integrity while leveraging efficiency gains.
Ethical AI use matters because public perception of a brand can shift quickly when automated content appears disingenuous. In fast‑moving media cycles, a single mis‑phrased AI‑generated sentence can spread across social channels before a human editor has a chance to intervene, making proactive oversight essential. Agencies that embed review checkpoints into their content pipelines help ensure that tone, factual accuracy, and brand voice remain consistent with client expectations.
In practice, firms are beginning to adopt guidelines that require human oversight before publishing AI‑generated material. This approach aims to preserve trust while still benefiting from efficiency gains. For instance, a typical workflow might involve an initial AI draft, followed by a copy editor who verifies source attribution, checks for inadvertent bias, and confirms that the messaging aligns with the client’s strategic objectives. Such layered processes demonstrate how technology can augment, rather than replace, the subtle judgment that seasoned PR practitioners bring to the table.
For those tracking the evolution of PR technology, the conversation reflects a broader industry trend toward responsible automation. Publications that specialize in media insights, such as the “Inside the Newsroom” series, have documented how journalists increasingly expect press releases to be concise, data‑driven, and tailored to specific beats. This expectation dovetails with AI’s capacity to quickly customize content for different outlets, provided that the underlying data is accurate and the final copy is vetted by a human eye. The alignment of AI capabilities with journalistic standards signals a maturing relationship between technology and the traditional news ecosystem.
