Maribel Lopez was hired as head of PBS Digital Studios. Lopez succeeds Brandon Arolfo, who left the organization to become a VP at Travel + Leisure. She will report to PBS Chief Programming Executive Sylvia Bugg. Her first day is Dec. 13.
Lopez most recently worked for TPT in St. Paul, Minn., a station she joined in 2010. She was managing director of Rewire, a TPT-owned website that ceased publishing in August. Lopez was also EP of SoundField, a music series under the PBS Digital Studios banner, and managing director of Racism Unveiled, a TPT initiative.
PBS Digital Studios announced plans this year to create regional centers, produce more science programming and partner with PRX for new podcasts.
“This digital-first programming has been extremely successful in attracting younger viewers, and I know it will continue to thrive under Maribel’s leadership,” Bugg said in a news release.
Melissa Wright, CCO for TPT in St. Paul, Minn., will leave the station Friday.
CEO Sylvia Strobel confirmed Wright’s departure in a statement to Current. Wright was promoted to CCO last year. She joined the station in 2014 and has also been SVP and general counsel.
In a memo obtained by Current, Strobel told staff, “I know TPT has been in transition for nearly four years, which is challenging.” Strobel also said the search for a new CCO will begin in January and take several months.
Dan Lothian was appointed EP for The World, co-produced by PRX and GBH in Boston.
Lothian joined the program as interim EP in March. “Over the past eight months, he has demonstrated his exceptional journalistic skills and deep commitment to the mission of GBH and public media,” said GBH CEO Jon Abbott in a news release.
Lothian previously worked as president and founder of Little Park Media, a company that develops videos, podcasts and websites. He has also been a White House correspondent and Boston bureau chief for CNN, a West Coast correspondent for NBC News and a reporter for several local television stations. Lothian has also served on PRX’s board since 2017.
The NPR Foundation added four trustees to its board.
The trustees who began three-year terms last month are:
- Suki Carson, past-chair of the Library Foundation of Memphis and past-president of the Junior League of Memphis. She has also been board chair of committees for the Memphis University School and the Women’s Foundation of Memphis. Earlier in her career, Carson was an analyst for Legg Mason and an investment banker for JP Morgan.
- Susanna E. Lachs, a former commercial litigation partner with the law firms including Kaufman, Coren & Ress in Philadelphia. She is the immediate past chair for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and also serves on the policy board for WXPN in Philadelphia.
- Jaison Robinson, a partner and co-founder of Dream Variation Ventures, an investment company focused on technology, sports, health, entertainment and real estate. Robinson is also the founder of JJM Investments, which invests in real estate. He was a contestant on the television show Survivor in 2009.
- Steven Summer, CEO of the Healthcare Institute. Summer previously worked as CEO of the Colorado Hospital Association, CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association and SVP of the Maryland Hospital Association. He is also on the board of directors for KUNC in Greeley, Colo.
Andrea Sosa was named PD for the Programming Service for Public Television.
Sosa most recently worked as director of program content for KLRN in San Antonio. Sosa joined the station in 2003 as a programming assistant and also worked as a programming associate, programming manager and director of programming.
Sosa was board president and VP for the Public Television Programming Association. She will remain on the board until 2022.
“After 18 years in Public Broadcasting with KLRN in San Antonio, I am delighted to embark on a new journey with The Programming Service for Public Television, where I will continue to develop program schedules for KLRN, as well as other stations across the country,” Sosa said in a news release.
Content
GBH hired Paris Alston and Jeremy Siegel to co-host Morning Edition. Alston most recently worked as host of Consider This, a podcast produced by WBUR in Boston. She joined WBUR in 2018 as associate producer of Radio Boston. Before that, she was a digital production assistant for GBH and host of Keep It Social, a digital series. Siegel is leaving his position as host and producer of the podcast Politico Dispatch, produced by Washington, D.C.-based Politico. He has also been an intern, reporter, producer, editor and weekend anchor for KQED in San Francisco. Alston and Siegel will become co-hosts in early 2022, according to a news release.
Tony Arnold became government and politics editor for WBEZ in Chicago. Arnold most recently worked as an Illinois politics reporter. He joined the station in 2008 and has also been a general assignment reporter, morning show producer and interim news desk editor. Arnold takes over for Alex Keefe, who became WBEZ’s engagement editor. Keefe rejoined the station in 2017 as senior editor of the government and politics team after working for WBEZ as a producer and reporter from 2010–14.
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