Chuck Murphy, an award-winning journalist who spent 10 years at the Denver Post and led the newspaper’s 125-person Metro staff, will build Colorado Public Radio’s first investigative reporting unit. He has more than 20 years experience as an investigative reporter.
“Chuck’s background and success in investigative reporting is an incredible asset to our newsroom, particularly given that we’re extending our storytelling into new territories with the formation of this first investigative team,” said Kevin Dale, CPR executive editor, in a news release. “His leadership experience paired with his deep knowledge of Colorado issues and policies will serve CPR well as we build on our vision to be a statewide resource for Colorado.”
Murphy will lead recruitment and management of three full-time investigative reporters and a data specialist — a new team that marks a significant expansion of CPR’s newsgathering capacity. Earlier this year, an anonymous donor provided a $300,000 grant backing startup of the investigative unit.
“I’m honored to join the exceptional newsroom at CPR, and I’m excited for the challenge of leading the charge of this new venture for the organization,” said Murphy. “I’m passionate about Colorado, and I’m looking forward to diving in deep and serving its communities with news that matters.”
Florangela Davila will join KNKX in Tacoma, Wash., as news director Sept. 9.
Davilia, who departed her job as managing editor of Cascade Public Media’s Crosscut Aug. 5, succeeds Erin Hennessey, who has led the public radio newsroom for 23 years.
Hennessey is moving into a new role in community engagement, according to a news release from the station.
The KNKX job marks a return for Davila, who previously worked for the station as a freelance reporter, project manager, education reporter and co-manager of School of Jazz, a music education program.
“Florangela brings a brilliant constellation of experience to the newsroom,” said Matt Martinez, KNKX content director. “She also brings a clear vision, an enthusiasm for our journalism, and a deep commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.”
Cascade Public Media fired Davila less than a week after employees at Crosscut, its digital news site, voted to form a bargaining unit under NewsGuild. A CPM spokesperson cited “differences in the strategic outlook for the newsroom” for letting her go. Following Davila’s ouster, Crosscut union members objected to her firing in a letter to management that was shared on social media.
Market Enginuity has tapped American Public Media’s digital sales director to lead marketing of digital and podcast sales.
The sponsorship sales organization with public media clients has hired Laurie Belleau as VP of digital innovation and GM of the Market Enginuity Podcast Group.
Belleau joins the marketing company from APM, where she was director of digital sales, ad operations and revenue partnerships. Her appointment, announced Monday in a press release, coincides with an internal realignment of the sales team intended to boost podcast sponsorships.
Jim Lally moves from SVP of national podcast and network broadcast sales to become chief podcast sales officer, a role in which he will help “unlock podcast revenue potential from marketers across the country,” the release said. Doug Latino and Alanna Vaughns were promoted to VP of client solutions and innovation and director of sales operations, respectively.
The appointments reflect the organization’s “commitment to bringing cutting-edge technologies and services to mission-driven media properties,” according to the release.
Content
Adriene Hill is returning to KPCC in Pasadena, Calif., as managing editor of its radio newsroom and LAist. Hill previously worked at the station as senior editor of the statewide journalism collaboration California Dream. She is an alum of WBEZ in Chicago and American Public Media’s Marketplace. “For all of you who enjoyed my Twitter silence, prepare to be disappointed,” she tweeted Aug. 6, after announcing her new job. “There will be a lot more LA news in this space. And some random.”
Carrie Neuman is the new afternoon-drive host for WTMD in Towson, Md. She moved from WRNR, a commercial Triple A music station broadcasting to Annapolis and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where she hosted middays. “Carrie has a lifelong passion for music, and she brings to air the excitement and enthusiasm of a fan who can’t wait to share new music discoveries with her friends,” said Scott Mullins, GM and PD of WTMD, which broadcasts into Baltimore and the northern suburbs of Washington, D.C. “She is energetic, knowledgeable, fun to listen to and will be a great asset to WTMD.” Neuman went to Baltimore Orioles games as a child and began frequenting Baltimore’s music venues and art events when she came of age. “I am more than just thrilled to be coming to Baltimore – it simply feels like the most natural thing for me to do,” she said.
Caroline Ballard is moving on from Wyoming Public Media, where she wore multiple hats as Morning Edition host, newsroom editor and host/producer of the award-winning podcast HumaNature. She’s joining KUER in Salt Lake City. After five years with the Wyoming state network, Ballard left in July to get married and enjoy her honeymoon, she announced on Twitter. She will host All Things Considered when she signs on at KUER this month.
Melissa Ousley will take over as host of Classical MPR’s live broadcasts of Minnesota Orchestra performances Sept. 20, at the start of the 2019/2020 season. She succeeds Brian Newhouse, Classical MPR managing director, who signed off in June after hosting the Friday-evening performance series for more than 25 years. Ousley’s voice will be familiar to Classical MPR listeners. In addition to serving as a substitute host for orchestra broadcasts in recent years, she hosts live broadcasts of the Minnesota Opera and fills in as host for both Classical MPR and Classical24. “It has always been a dream of mine to host live broadcasts,” Ousley said. “I love the idea that you’re taking the listener into a space and letting them hear and even ‘see’ what’s going on.” Ousley, a graduate of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., got her start in classical music broadcasting at Wichita-based Radio Kansas and hosted at WCAL in Northfield, Minn., the classical station that MPR acquired in 2004 for its contemporary music station, The Current.
Lauren Rosenthal left her job as an investigative reporter and producer for North County Public Radio in Canton, N.Y., to relocate to Minneapolis. She’s now working on independent reporting projects as a freelancer and offering newsroom coaching on data reporting for radio and project management.
Governance
WUFT’s Randy Wright is the new chair of Florida Public Media. During board elections at the association’s annual meeting in July, Wright was elected to succeed Dolores Sukhdeo, president of Miami-based South Florida PBS, as chair. Wright is executive director of WUFT-TV/FM in Gainesville. Joining him on the FPM board are Bob Culkeen, GM of WSRE-TV in Pensacola, who was elected board vice-chair; David Mullins, GM of WFSU -TV/FM in Tallahassee, treasurer; Amy Shumaker, associate GM of content at WGCU-TV/FM in Fort Myers, secretary; and Phil Hoffman, executive director of WUCF-TV in Orlando, at-large member. FPM is a membership association of the state’s 24 public broadcasting stations. Its television stations distribute The Florida Channel, which provides live coverage of all three branches of the state government. FPM’s radio members serve as the backbone of the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network.