Lin joins CPB as journalism VP, NY Public Radio hires COO and other comings and goings

Joy Lin, whose experience includes working as a White House producer for Fox News during the Obama administration, is CPB’s new VP, journalism.

Most recently Lin was a producer on This Week With George Stephanopoulos on ABC News.

She also produced for CBS News. At Fox, she was a producer and presidential campaign embed reporter for Special Report with Bret Baier.

“Joy brings extensive hands-on experience in broadcast news, a belief in the mission of public media and a commitment to CPB’s goal to broaden the reach and impact of public media journalism,” said Kathy Merritt, CPB SVP, journalism and radio, in an announcement.

At CPB, Lin will focus on journalism strategy, planning and major initiatives. She succeeds Joyce MacDonald, now CEO of Greater Public.

New York Public Radio has hired former Viacom executive Depelsha McGruder as COO.

McGruder spent 17 years at Viacom in senior leadership roles at MTV and BET. She led the launch of two Viacom cable networks for diverse audiences, MTV Tr3s for U.S. Latino youth and Centric for African-American adults. At MTV her work included overseeing the launch of its video-on-demand, broadband and mobile businesses.

McGruder is also founder and president of Moms of Black Boys United Inc. and M.O.B.B. United for Social Change Inc., “sister organizations dedicated to positively influencing how Black boys and men are perceived and treated by law enforcement and in society,” according to an announcement.

Content

Louisville Public Media in Kentucky has hired Ashlee Clark Thompson as culture editor, a new position. Starting Friday she will oversee Do502, LPM’s social calendar service, “as well as connect the cultural content across LPM’s outlets,” according to the station. Clark Thompson’s experience includes reporting for the Lexington Herald-Leader, where she created the casual-dining blog Ashlee Eats. She also authored the book Louisville Diners and is a host of the Moth StorySlam, a monthly LPM competition.

Interim head of content at KCRW is Quinn O’Toole, managing producer of the daily Press Play with Madeleine Brand. He joined the Santa Monica, Calif., station last year after working for five years as managing director of NPR West and deputy national editor of NPR News.

Angelo M. Bautista has joined To The Best Of Our Knowledge from Wisconsin Public Radio. Most recently Bautista has been interning for NPR’s Code Switch. He was also a producer at WFIU Public Radio in Bloomington, Ind.

Personal news! I'm joining Wisconsin Public Radio next month as a Producer/Interviewer for To The Best Of Our Knowledge, a nationally-syndicated, Peabody award-winning show about all the things that make us curious. Super excited to make cool and weird radio for your ears! pic.twitter.com/QITMZVYkPw

— AnGHOULo BOOtista ? (@angelombautista) October 23, 2018

Vermont Public Radio has announced two new directors. Kari Anderson oversees programming on VPR News and VPR Classical. Previously Anderson worked as a classical morning host, managing producer and music director. RaMona Sheppard will supervise human and financial resources, beginning Monday. She had worked as the finance director and HR manager for the town of Underhill, Vt., since 2010.

Mike Flanagan, program director of Colorado Public Radio’s OpenAir, will retire Wednesday. He also hosts the weekend show Retrofit, highlighting songs dating to the 1950s. Flanagan has worked in radio for more than 50 years, including nearly 15 years at CPR. He joined the station as a classical music host.

Serri Graslie, who directed digital training for NPR Training, is joining the public radio show On Being as director of community experience and strategy. Graslie started work at NPR in 2012 as a producer for All Things Considered and NPR.org.

After eight (!) years, it's time for my first real Personal News tweet:

I'm leaving @NPR. I'm both sad and very grateful for everything this place and its people have given me.

I am joining @onbeing as their Director of Community Experience and Strategy. I am *beyond excited*

— Serri Graslie (@sgraslie) October 18, 2018

Management

Steven D. Hammel is interim executive director and GM for UNC-TV in Chapel Hill, N.C. He steps in for Brian Sickora, who left Friday to work at cannabis firm Acreage Holdings. Most recently Hammel worked as VP and GM at local NBC affiliate WRAL-TV.

Marta Bechtol has taken over as executive director of the Educational Communications Board, a licensee of Wisconsin Public Media. She previously worked as deputy executive director of the network. Bechtol succeeds Gene Purcell, who was named director of Wisconsin Public Media earlier this year. She joined the public broadcaster in 2004 as director of its Wisconsin Media Lab, which curated free K-12 multimedia educational content tailored to the state’s academic standards.

Development/communications

The PBS Development Advisory Committee has elected four new members, who will join the panel in January: Cathy Edwards, corporate development director at PBS 39 in Fort Wayne, Ind.; Aimee Granger, legacy giving manager, Wisconsin Public Television, Madison; Kathy Reed, assistant VP, major and planned giving, WXXI, Rochester, N.Y.; and Jim Rademaker, assistant GM, development and  community engagement, WCMU, Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Hugo Rojo is departing NPR to join The Atlantic’s communications team. Most recently Rojo was manager of social media communications at NPR.

Awkward to handle comms around an announcement that involves me. So I'll begin this #PersonalNews thread by saying that after 3 years with @NPR, I'm joining @TheAtlantic's communications team next month.

— Hugo Rojo (@hugorojo) October 18, 2018

WCNY in Syracuse has hired four staffers, including two vice presidents, and promoted an executive. Cristina Hatem is VP and chief marketing officer. Previously Hatem managed communications at JADAK, a medical technology firm. Martha Lemondes is VP and chief people officer. Her previous experience includes working as director of people development at AOL. Shannon Hanrahan rises to vice president and chief development officer. Previously Hanrahan was director, individual giving. Caroline Marra is associate director, education. Most recently she worked as a lead teacher at Cayuga Seneca Community Action Agency. Will Landry is media sales account executive. Formerly Landry was a media buyer and strategist at ABC Creative Group.

Education

The National Educational Telecommunications Association has hired Rachel Morrison Parsons as senior director, education strategy. Parsons previously worked at PBS for 14 years, most recently directing education services and station relations. “During Rachel’s time at PBS, she has been at the center of our most impactful education initiatives, helping member stations stand out within their communities,” said Sara Schapiro, VP, PBS education, in an announcement. “We will miss her dedication and leadership, and look forward to working with her as part of the NETA education team to further our shared goals.”

The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla., has hired Katy Byron as the first editor and program manager of MediaWise, its digital news literacy initiative for middle-school and high-school students. Byron will manage a team of of teenage fact-checkers as well as professional journalists including former PolitiFact reporter Allison Graves and former NBC-affiliate producer Hiwot Hailu. Byron is a former managing editor at Snapchat and CNN producer.

Fellowships

Emily Kwong is the latest Above the Fray Fellow. She will spend three months reporting on climate migration in Mongolia through stories of a nomadic population forced to settle in a crowded capital city. Kwong most recently reported for KCAW in Sitka, Alaska. The fellowship is a collaboration between NPR and the John Alexander Project. It began in 2010 in memory of former NPR journalist Alexander, who died on assignment for Koppel On Discovery in Chongqing, China.

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