Judy Woodruff plans to step down as anchor of PBS NewsHour by the end of the year.
“I will continue to anchor through this year’s midterm elections, until the end of 2022. After that, I’ll stay at @NewsHour & @wetatvfm at least thru 2024 & the presidential election,” Woodruff said on Twitter.
Woodruff added that she will transition to reporting longer pieces and special projects for NewsHour Productions and WETA in Washington, D.C., which owns the nonprofit company and presents the news program on PBS.
Woodruff was named sole anchor in 2018, when Amna Nawaz joined the show as a substitute anchor and correspondent. Woodruff and the late Gwen Ifill co-anchored the weeknight broadcasts from 2013 to 2016, the year that Ifill died. Woodruff began anchoring in 2011, when the NewsHour’s six senior correspondents shared rotations into the role.
Much earlier in her career, Woodruff reported on Washington for The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour from 1983–93 and anchored Frontline with Judy Woodruff on PBS from 1984–90. She spent 12 years as an anchor and correspondent for CNN and worked at NBC News. She returned to the NewsHour in 2007 as a senior correspondent.
Kenya Young will join New York Public Radio as SVP of WNYC Studios, a newly created position.
Young, who starts the job next month, will oversee a portfolio of audio programs that includes The New Yorker Radio Hour; The Takeaway; The United States of Anxiety and Death, Sex and Money. She will also work in partnership with Emily Botein, VP of original programming, to build WNYC Studios’ new documentary unit for longform nonfiction programs.
Young is currently managing editor of collaborative journalism for NPR, where she oversees regional newsrooms in California, Texas, the Midwest and the Gulf States. She previously worked as EP of Morning Edition, Up First and All Things Considered. Young joined NPR in 2007 as an intern for the California bureau.
Lehigh Valley Public Media in Bethlehem, Pa., announced two executive promotions.
Yoni Greenbaum, chief content officer since 2017, was promoted to COO. Before joining the dual licensee, he worked as director of integrated media NBC stations in Philadelphia and was also an EP and VP for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Art Troccoli steps up to chief administrative officer. Troccoli joined the organization in 2017 as CFO. He previously worked as CFO for Roster Financial and the Corporate Synergies Group. He was also a VP for AIG, an SVP for Marsh and a senior manager for American Express.
KNKX in Tacoma, Wash., announced changes to its hosting staff.
Ed Ronco departed as All Things Considered host to become a news director for Interlochen Public Radio in Michigan. Ronco joined the station in 2013 as a Morning Edition producer and started hosting local ATC broadcasts in 2015. “The fact is, it’s time for me to be closer to my family, and to try a new adventure,” Ronco said in a news release.
Dave Meyer will host Weekend Edition Saturday. Meyer has worked for KNKX since 1987 and previously anchored Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
Vivian McCall, who joined the station last year as All Things Considered producer, is hosting Weekend Edition Sunday. Before signing on at KNKX, McCall worked as a freelance reporter for Business Insider and WBEZ in Chicago and The Chicago Tribune.
Content
Sal LoCurto will join NPR next month as senior director of broadcast programming strategy. He will report to Anya Grundmann, SVP of programming and audience development. LoCurto, who will be based in Los Angeles, most recently worked as PD for KPCC in Pasadena, Calif. He has also been an SVP for Fuse TV and a VP for AMC Networks, Warner Bros. and MTV Networks.
Devin Katayama is departing KQED in San Francisco to become a producer of Throughline, a history program and podcast produced by NPR. “I’m beyond thrilled (a mix of happy, nervous, curious, nostalgic) to be part of a team that makes some of the coolest [expletive] around!” Katayama said on Twitter. At KQED he most recently worked as editor of talent and development; previously he was a host for The Bay, the station’s news podcast.
Jason Saul joined WNYC in New York City as assistant PD. Saul most recently worked as news director for WYSO Public Radio in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He previously worked as managing producer for BirdNote, managing director for No Idea Media and director of digital services and corporate development representative for WWNO in New Orleans.
Keren Carrión became a short-form video producer for NPR. Carrión most recently worked as a photojournalist for KERA in Dallas through Report for America. She has also been a video editor for CNN and participated in the New York Times Student Journalism Institute.
Aaricka Washington was hired as an associate editor for Southern California Public Radio. “My team and I will be producing a daily community-centered, engaging, informative newsletter all about the people and places that make L.A. such a uniquely beautiful, but complicated place,” Washington said on Twitter. She previously worked as a reporter for Chalkbeat and an education reporter for the Austin American-Statesman.
Governance
Three public media leaders were elected to three-year terms on the board for the Public Media Business Association. The new directors are: William (Bill) Carignan, VP and controller for Detroit Public Television; Sonja Pasquantonio, VP of human resources, training and development for Connecticut Public; and Timothy Smith, assistant director of business and finance for WUSF Public Media in Tampa, Fla.
Fellowship
Sierra Lyons was selected for the 2022 class of investigative interns for the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting. Lyons will work with NPR for the program. She graduated from Florida A&M University last year and has also been a freelance writer and an editorial intern for the American Prospect.
The Bush Foundation in St. Paul, Minn., selected Lori Walsh for a fellowship that will provide up to $100,000 over 12 to 24 months for an educational project. Walsh is a host and senior producer for In the Moment, a news and culture program produced by South Dakota Public Broadcasting. For her fellowship, Walsh will pursue solutions-based journalism initiatives centered on personal trauma and nonviolent communication, according to a news release.
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