Richard joined Mississippi Today in August of 2024 as the Audience Engagement Specialist. In this role, Richard works directly with journalists, editors and our readership to ensure Mississippi Today’s Pulitzer-prize-winning journalism reaches every corner of the state and beyond. Richard comes to Mississippi Today after over two years as WJTV Channel 12 News’ Senior Political Correspondent. Lake is a Mississippi State University graduate and served as a Mississippi Today Audience Engagement Intern in 2021 as part of his year-two placement in the Mississippi Today + NBC News Internship program. During the summer of 2019, Lake served as an intern with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports, working as a production assistant. While at WJTV, Richard was named a finalist for TV Rookie of the Year at the 2023 Mississippi Association of Broadcasters Awards. Richard was also a part of WJTV’s award winning reporting on Mississippi’s 2023 gubernatorial election.