PBS has hired Marie Nelson, executive producer of national programs at Boston’s WGBH, as vice president of news and public affairs.
Nelson
Nelson will collaborate with executive producers of icon series and independent producers to develop content and ways to engage audiences across programs and platforms, a Friday announcement said.
She reports to Beth Hoppe, PBS chief programmer. In the statement, Hoppe called Nelson “a proven leader with experience in development and production for a diverse range of public affairs programs, documentaries and live specials.”
At WGBH, Nelson recently oversaw production of America By the Numbers, an eight-part documentary series exploring the country’s changing demographics.
Prior to WGBH, she served as acting v.p. of news and original programming for BET Networks, which included overseeing Battleground 2012, a yearlong political initiative. Nelson is the founding e.p. of NPR’s Tell Me More and also produced for Nightline and World News Tonight at ABC.
Programming
Howes
Folk Alley, the 24-hour streaming service from WKSU at Kent State University in Ohio, has hired Cindy Howes as a host. She previously hosted Morning Mix on WYEP in Pittsburgh.
Tri States Public Radio in Macomb, Ill., has hired two correspondents. T.J. Carson is covering Galesburg, Monmouth and Knox County. It’s his second stint at the station, where he worked as a student reporter and host in 2006. Carson also reported for WSPL-AM in Streator, Ill. Abby Wendle is reporting on agriculture, food and fuel, in partnership with Harvest Public Media, a Local Journalism Center. Previously Wendle worked at This Land Press in Tulsa, Okla., developing an hourlong radio show and podcast. Her work appeared on public radio programs The Story, State of the Re:Union, and the CBC’s Day 6.
Sponsorship
Bryan Moffett has been elevated to general manager of National Public Media, the sponsorship sales team for NPR, PBS and their digital content. In his new role, he will direct day-to-day corporate underwriting operations, with all nonsales functions in NPM reporting to him. Since June 2010, Moffett served as v.p. for digital strategy and sponsorship operations. Previously, he managed editorial publications and digital and IT infrastructure at several radio and television stations and print publications.
Accounting
WCNY in Syracuse, N.Y., has hired Lorie Emlaw as senior accountant in the station’s finance department. She previously worked at Albany Medical Center.
Operations
After 36 years at Tri States Public Radio in Macomb, Ill., Kenneth Thermon, operations manager, will retire Nov. 30. Thermon began his career at the station while a broadcasting student at Western Illinois University. He helped guide the station’s conversion to digital and was instrumental in its growth from a single signal to its current four broadcast signals.
Marketing/communications
Larry Raymond has joined WCNY in Syracuse, N.Y., as senior media designer, focusing on marketing and communications. He previously worked as a consultant.
Fellowships
Dan Carsen, education reporter at WBHM-FM in Birmingham, Ala., is a fellow in the Renaissance Journalism’s Equity Reporting Project: Restoring the Promise of Education. The project is part of the Ford Foundation’s More and Better Learning Time Initiative and Renaissance Journalism, an experimental storytelling and engagement initiative for underserved communities created in 2009 by San Francisco State University’s department of journalism. Thirty-one journalists and organizations will receive training, technical assistance, consultation and grants for media innovations. “This fellowship allows Dan and WBHM to strengthen our commitment to in-depth reporting on issues of education and inequity — a topic often overlooked in the media,” said Rachel Lindley, WBHM news director. Carsen’s project will air and be published before June 2015.
Development
Emily Hotaling is a new membership associate in the development department at WCNY in Syracuse, N.Y. She formerly worked at Wegmans Food Markets.
Legal affairs
Bob Winteringham, former deputy general counsel at CPB, has joined Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth in Washington, D.C. Winteringham spent more than 15 years in the CPB’s general counsel office. He also assists financial reporting compliance professionals through the Public Media Consulting Group. In his new position, Winteringham will provide clients guidance on CPB Community Service Grant agreements, including on-site reviews and advice on policy, best practices and documentation development; assistance to CPB grantees facing a CPB Inspector General’s audit; and facilitation of pubcasting meetings or training seminars.
Digital
James Embry has joined dual licensee WCNY in Syracuse, N.Y., as digital services manager, a new position. Embry will manage the website and digital-platform communications. Embry previously worked at the local Universal Health Services as website and electronic marketing editor.