Bob Feinberg was promoted to VP of business development and chief legal officer for the WNET Group in New York City.
Feinberg joined the station in 2008 as deputy general counsel and most recently worked as VP, general counsel and secretary. A WNET news release credited him with helping create Public Media NJ, the nonprofit that oversees NJ PBS, as well as the acquisition of NJ Spotlight. He also oversaw the acquisition of WPPB-FM, which became WLIW-FM, and the acquisitions of WNDT and WMBQ, which now carry First Nations Experience programming.
“This new title formalizes the important work Bob has been doing and will continue to do in exploring new opportunities for distribution, acquisitions and partnerships as we navigate our constantly changing media environment” said WNET CEO Neal Shapiro in a news release. “I look forward to continuing our work together.”
Janice Hui was named managing director for Frontline.
Hui most recently worked as managing director of the Investigative Reporting Program, a professional newsroom and teaching institute at the University of California Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. She has also held producer roles for CBS, CNN and the Associated Press Radio Network.
“It is such an honor to be joining FRONTLINE, a series I’ve been watching with deep admiration for decades,” Hui said in a news release. “I look forward to working with its incredibly talented team to deliver rigorous, trustworthy journalism in new and exciting ways.”
Hui succeeds Jim Bracciale, who is retiring from the program. Bracciale joined Frontline in 1988 as a publicist. He was promoted to director of communications in 1992, then series manager in 1997 and managing director in 2015.
“It’s rare these days to make a career in one organization, but that speaks to how special a place GBH has been to me,” said Bracciale in the news release. “Along the way I’ve continued to learn something new every day, and I’m especially grateful for both David Fanning and Raney Aronson for believing in me and allowing me to grow both personally and professionally through my work,” adds Bracciale. “I also want to thank the exceptional colleagues I have within FRONTLINE and GBH for their guidance, camaraderie, kindness, and humor. For me, it’s always been about the good work we produce—and the people that help produce it.”
WHQR Public Media in Wilmington, N.C., hired a reporter/host and added two fellows.
Kelly Kenoyer joined the station as an investigative reporter and weekend host. Kenoyer previously worked for The New Era in Sweet Home, Ore., and was on the editorial staff of Investigative Reporters and Editors. She was also a reporter and editor for the Eugene Weekly in Oregon.
Ashley Brown was named a community fellow. The position was created with support from a local donor. Brown previously worked as an intern for Impact Strategies, participated in the Disney College Program for Walt Disney World and was a camera operator for ESPN. She also held positions for KSHU, a student-run station at Sam Houston State University.
Bethanie Simms became the station’s University of North Carolina Wilmington news fellow. Simms is seeking a master’s degree in English at the university and previously worked as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
WHQR also created a public affairs program, The Newsroom, airing twice monthly on Fridays at noon. The new program is hosted by Ben Schachtman, the station’s news director. Schachtman joined the station in October.
Content
Elisabeth Perez-Luna, an EP of audio content for WHYY, retired from the station. Perez-Luna joined WHYY in 1999. Before WHYY, she worked as a New York correspondent for the Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional and was also an independent producer working on programs for public radio stations. Perez-Luna told Current that she will continue working as an independent producer.
Duncan Lively retired as director of operations and programming for KCLU in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Lively joined the station in 2015. Luc Flannery succeeded Lively and will be director of operations and production. Flannery most recently worked as a traffic coordinator for KPBS in San Diego.
Amber Hall left her position as senior producer of The Takeaway, produced by WNYC in New York City, to become deputy editorial director for talk podcasts at Vox. Hall joined WNYC in 2015 as planning editor for The Takeaway and was also senior producer of Politics with Amy Walter.
Elliott Robinson was hired as news director for VPM in Richmond, Va. He succeeds Craig Carper, who left the station this year. Robinson most recently worked as news editor for Charlottesville Tomorrow, a nonprofit. He was also a reporter and editor for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Daily Progress in Charlottesville. “Nearly all of my career has touched some part of VPM’s coverage area,” Robinson said in a news release. “I’m looking forward to helping VPM shape and expand its news coverage across what has become my second home region.”
Margaret Barthel became Northern Virginia beat reporter for WAMU in Washington, D.C. Barthel joined the station in 2018 as a producer for The Kojo Nnamdi Show and was most recently a general assignment reporter.
Alex Baumhardt announced that she’s leaving her position as a producer for American Public Media’s APM Reports to become a reporter for the States Newsroom in Oregon. She was a fellow and production assistant in 2015 and 2016 and rejoined the station in 2017.
Amber Hoback joined WNRN in Charlottesville, Va., as music director and midday host. Hoback most recently worked as music director for WTTS, a commercial station in Bloomington, Ind. She also held several roles for KRSH in Healdsburg, Calif. “It’s been my radio dream to work in public radio and I am thrilled not only to find a home at WNRN, but also to return to my home state of Virginia,” Hoback said in a news release.
Sean Saldana was promoted to production assistant for Morning Edition with NPR and will be based in Los Angeles. Saldana most recently worked as a news assistant for the program and was also an intern and news assistant for The Indicator from Planet Money.
Kay Henderson was hired as the next host of Iowa Press, produced by Iowa PBS. Her first broadcast as host is scheduled for Sept. 17. She succeeds David Yepsen, who will retire from the program this month. Henderson has been a guest panelist for the program since 1987. Since 1994, she has been news director for Radio Iowa, a statewide commercial network. She will remain in that role while hosting Iowa Press. “Kay is already a member of the Iowa PBS family,” said Molly Phillips, executive director and GM in a news release. “She has capably subbed as host and has been a regular second chair at the Iowa Press desk. She’s participated in countless campaign debates over the last three decades. We couldn’t ask for a stronger, more esteemed and experienced journalist to continue the Iowa Press legacy.”
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