Turner leads development at NHPR, KQED promotes several staffers and other comings and goings

New Hampshire Public Radio hired major-giving veteran Deborah Turner as development VP.

Turner helped oversee CPB’s major giving initiative from 2004–07, with responsibility for programs at 40 stations, designing and presenting training and managing creation of a web-based major-giving resource portal.

Since 2008 she worked as major and planned giving adviser for Greater Public. Turner also served as executive director of its Leadership for Philanthropy project, a national program teaching radio stations how to raise major gifts.

Earlier in her career, Turner spent nearly 16 years at Maine Public Broadcasting in roles including membership manager and development VP.

Management

KQED announced several promotions, including a new VP for news. Holly Kernan, who has worked as executive editor for news since arriving at KQED in 2014, now leads editorial direction for the news division. Former SVP and Chief Content Officer Michael Isip rises to executive vice president to oversee content, technical infrastructure and personnel. Isip joined the San Francisco station in 2001 as VP, television. Former digital VP, Tim Olson, ascends to chief digital officer. He oversees all web, mobile and interactive work. Olson was initially hired in 2003. Susie Hernandez moves up to senior director, television programming from program director. She also adds oversight responsibility for the KQED Presents team, which co-brands and distributes national programs and series. Hernandez joined KQED as associate program director in 2013. And David Markus, previously executive in charge, arts, shifts to executive in charge, KQED arts, food and learning. His responsibilities now include management of the learning unit, which produces original content and services for teachers and students. Markus arrived at KQED in 2014.

Judy Maggio joined KLRU in Austin, Texas, as news and public affairs editorial director. Maggio served as managing editor and anchor at KEYE-TV, the local CBS affiliate, from 2003–14. Recently she consulted on communications and video production. At KLRU, she will lead work to expand public affairs reporting backed by grants from the local Stillwater Foundation as well as Luci Baines Johnson and Ian Turpin.

WGBH hired Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Kenneth Cooper as senior editor. His background includes reporting for the Washington Post and serving as national editor for the Boston Globe.

Carl Watanabe, station manager and ombudsman at Capital Public Radio in Sacramento, Calif., is retiring Friday after 40 years in radio. He’s led the station since 1998. Previously he was program manager at WGBH-FM, Boston and music director at New Hampshire Public Radio in Concord. “Carl has seen this station through growing pains and growth spurts,” said Rick Eytcheson, CEO of Capital Public Radio. “He’s a force that helped propel us to the success we see today. He’ll be greatly missed.”

Also retiring this month is John Greene, GM for KUER-FM in Salt Lake City. Over his nearly 40-year career he also managed NPR affiliate KUNR in Reno. Greene has served on the boards of NPR and several local nonprofit organizations. Licensee University of Utah will announce Greene’s successor in February.

Beverly Hacker, former board president for the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, joined the organization as chief operating officer. Most recently, Hacker led NFCB’s GiveBig to MyStation, its year-end fundraising initiative for community radio. Hacker previously served as executive director of KDHX in St. Louis for 17 years.

WSRE in Pensacola, Fla., named a new general manager and announced two additional promotions. Taking the leadership post is Bob Culkeen, former station manager and interim CEO of Illinois Public Media in Urbana. Culkeen also worked in management roles at Florida public media stations WJCT in Jacksonville and WUFT in Gainesville. He replaces Sandy Cesaretti Ray, who rises to associate VP of community and government relations for licensee Pensacola State College. And Darrel Harrison, formerly chief engineer and director of broadcast operations and facilities, is now assistant GM. He joined the station in 1997.

WRTI-FM in Philadelphia promoted Bill Johnson from station manager to GM. He joined the station in 2000. Johnson has also held leadership positions in corporate and foundation relations for licensee Temple University and Cornell. He’s served on several boards including for local public broadcaster WYBE.

Content

Shari St. Clair joined KLRN Public Television in San Antonio as director of news and production. She’s producing and anchoring the daily News Updates program and Texas Week with Rick Casey while also overseeing the KLRN production team. St. Clair has spent the last 12 years working at KSAT News, the local ABC station, as special projects and investigative producer.

60dB, the audio startup co-founded by former NPR reporter Steve Henn, hired several public radio  journalists as reporters. Brenda Salinas and Daisy Rosario previously produced for NPR’s Latino USA, where Michael Johnson reported. And Hannah McBride formerly worked at KUT in Austin. 60dB will create stories with content partners including Vox, the Verge, the New York Times and Quartz.

WBUR-FM in Boston hired Yasmin Amer as local Morning Edition field producer. She’s spent the past six years at CNN as an assignment editor on the international desk, as well as a news editor, writer and producer.

Chuck Todd, moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press, joined WGBH’s news program Boston Public Radio. He’s appearing each Thursday to discuss the presidential transition.

Governance

Two new members joined the board of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters. Adriana Gallardo is a reporter on the engagement team at ProPublica. Previously she was network manager for Localore: Finding America from the Association of Independents in Radio. And Nathan Moore is GM at WTJU Radio at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. In 2013 he launched WXTJ, the university’s student run radio. He  also has worked for Pacifica Radio.

Three new members joined the board of the Online News Association. Imaeyen Ibanga, web and video producer at NBC News, and Elite Truong, product manager of partner platforms at Vox Media, were elected by ONA members. And Celeste LeCompte, director of business development at ProPublica, was appointed by the board.

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