CPB promoted Kathryn Washington to SVP of television content, effective Dec. 19.
“After an extensive search and many many interviews of great candidates managed by an executive search firm, we found that our very best candidate was right here at CPB,” said President Pat Harrison during a board meeting Dec. 2.
Washington was promoted earlier this year to VP of television programming. Since joining CPB in 2009, she has also worked as director of diversity and innovation and as senior director of content strategy. In those roles, Washington worked with Henry Louis Gates’ production team, Firelight Media’s Documentary Lab, American Masters, American Experience, Nature and Nova. She also oversaw funding for programs including Stanley Nelson’s The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution.
In addition, Patricia Cahill, Judith Davenport and Elizabeth Sembler will leave CPB’s board at the end of the year. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to have served with you for these many years,” said Board Chair Bruce Ramer. “Together we’ve tackled many issues: the financial crisis, how best to increase diversity, how to support innovation and reach new audiences, maintain editorial integrity and now how to work entirely through virtual platforms during this global pandemic.”
Harrison also said during the meeting that Nadine Feaster, director of grants administration, is retiring after working for the organization for more than 32 years. “She’s the second–longest-serving employee, and her dedication to public media is evident in each of those 32 years,” Harrison said. “For example, she played a key role in advancing the CPB grant system into the computer age.”
James King was named artistic director for All Arts, the streaming platform and broadcast channel operated by WNET in New York City.
King previously worked as managing director for Harlem Stage, a performing arts theater. He has also served as an inaugural member of the All Arts editorial advisory board. The theatrical drama “Antigone in Ferguson,” which he produced for Harlem Stage, premiered on the All Arts series House Seats. He has also been GM and director of production for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and managing director for Cherry Lane Theatre.
King succeeds Jörn Weisbrodt, whose two-year term ends this month. Weisbrodt will remain involved as a member of the All Arts editorial advisory board.
“I’m honored to have this opportunity to play a greater role in growing this innovative platform,” King said in a news release. “All Arts’s mission is so rooted in serving our diverse community, so my work will remain centered on amplifying the voices and work of marginalized artists.”
Kyle Claude was hired as executive director of content operations for Houston Public Media.
In his new role, Claude will oversee the news, content and radio operations at Houston Public Media. Claude most recently worked as marketing director for Space Center Houston. He has also worked for commercial television stations in Houston; New Orleans; Oklahoma City; Columbus, Ohio; Mobile, Ala.; and Wichita, Kan.
“Kyle Claude is the right person to lead the station’s content division, and I am especially excited to have his leadership over our growing digital services to our community and beyond. His experience and strategic direction will make him a key member of the station’s executive team,” said Station Manager Joshua Adams.
Louisville Public Media promoted Laura Ellis to director of podcasts and special projects.
“In this newly created position, Ellis will launch and manage a new podcast incubator designed to amplify important and diverse voices and stories in Louisville,” according to a news release. Ellis’ new role took effect last month. The organization plans to launch the podcast incubator program next year.
Ellis joined Louisville Public Media in 2004 as a talk show assistant. She has managed the station’s podcast strategy as senior producer and podcast editor since 2018. Ellis has been involved with the creation of podcasts including Strange Fruit, Here Today, The Pope’s Long Con, Curious Louisville and Dig, a podcast by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting.
“One thing I love about LPM is our willingness to try new things, and that ambition has allowed us to make our mark in the podcast world with some groundbreaking work,” Ellis said in the release. “But try as we might, we can’t do every podcast ourselves, and there are some stories that aren’t necessarily ours to tell. With this podcast incubator I hope to find and foster the folks in our community who want to do that work, but need a little guidance getting it out into the world.”
Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor added three employees to its newsroom.
Beenish Ahmed will be a reporter based in Detroit. Her first day will be Jan. 11. Ahmed is a Spencer Fellow for the Columbia University School of Journalism in New York and has also been a reporter for WNYC in New York City. She spent two years in Islamabad working with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, covering politics and education.
Nisa Khan was hired as a data reporter. Her first day will be Jan. 4. Khan has recently worked as a data intern for the Detroit Free Press, analysing COVID-19 data. She has also been a digital intern for Michigan Radio and worked with Believed, a podcast about former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. Khan was also a City University of New York Journalism Fellow at ProPublica.
Erin Allen will join as a producer for Stateside, a daily program. Her first day will be Jan. 4. Allen has worked as EP for the Detroit Podcast Festival and co-producer for Radio Campfire, a listening event series. Before that, she was a content producer for WDET in Detroit.
Content
Pria Mahadevan was hired as a business and economy reporter for WFYI in Indianapolis. Mahadevan previously worked for Georgia Public Broadcasting as a producer for On Second Thought and the station’s podcast department. She has also been a fellow for KALW in San Francisco and an English teaching assistant in São Carlos, Brazil for the Fulbright program.
KCRW in Santa Monica, Calif., promoted Novena Carmel and Anthony Valadez to host its music show Morning Becomes Eclectic. Carmel and Valadez, both weekend hosts, will take over for PD of music Anne Litt. Litt has been filling in for former host Jason Bentley, who left in 2019. Carmel, a former singer who is also the youngest daughter of the musician Sly Stone, has been a concert booker and DJ. She joined KCRW’s on-air staff in 2018. Valadez, a producer, has also hosted the vinyl collection show Crate Diggers on Fuse TV. He joined the station in 2008.
A.C. Valdez, a former senior editor for Guns & America at WAMU in Washington, D.C., announced on Twitter that he is joining The Atlantic as senior producer for podcasts. Valdez previously worked as a senior producer for Panoply Media and Latino USA on NPR. He has also been a producer for America Abroad, an editorial assistant for NPR and a desk assistant for PBS NewsHour.
Governance
Maxwell King was elected board chairman for Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting, the parent organization for WESA and WYEP. King most recently worked as CEO of the Pittsburgh Foundation. He has also been president of the Heinz Endowment, editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Fred Rogers’ biographer. Dina Clark was elected vice chair. Clark is head of diversity and inclusion for Covestro and has also been the senior director for race and gender equity for the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh.
Southern Nevada Public Television in Las Vegas announced changes to its board of directors. Clark Dumont became the board’s president after serving as VP. He is the founder of Dumont Communications LLC and has held top communications roles for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Hampshire, Anthem, the Nevada Cancer Institute, BAE Systems and MGM Resorts International. He has also been on the boards of New Hampshire PBS and New Hampshire Public Radio. Dumont replaces Tom Warden, who was VP of research for Allstate and was a chief data officer for AIG. Nora Luna, 4H youth development programs coordinator at the University of Nevada, Cooperative Extension, becomes board VP. She was previously secretary. Michael Cunningham, a senior managing director for the Bank of Nevada, was named secretary.
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