Julie Shapiro, VP of editorial for PRX and Radiotopia, is leaving the organizations.
Shapiro is set to become executive creative director of Novel, a UK-based podcast studio. “Looking ahead, I’m deeply impressed by Novel’s creative ambitions and dedication to craft, and I’m thrilled to be joining their team,” Shapiro said in a news release. “I’m keen to bring my experience and artistic vision into this international podcast environment, and to continue working with creators to explore podcasting’s endless capacity to express big ideas and impart beautiful and impactful stories.”
Shapiro joined PRX and Radiotopia in 2015 and was also EP for Ear Hustle. She was co-founder and artistic director for the Third Coast International Audio Festival and was founding EP for the Australian Broadcast Corp.’s Creative Audio Unit.
According to Deadline, Shapiro “will help with Novel’s pivot to the U.S. following a recently-struck partnership with UTA and deal with iHeartMedia to forge 11 narrative podcasts over three years.”
Chad Lampe became manager of station services for PRX.
Lampe previously worked as station manager for WKMS in Murray, Ky. He was also news director and assistant station manager for WKMS.
In 2019, Lampe was selected for the Public Radio Incubation Lab, a project led by NPR that focused on converting NPR’s digital audiences to local station membership. He has also served on the board of directors for the Public Media Journalists Association.
Justin Barney became assistant PD for WNXP, a Nashville Public Radio music station.
Barney most recently worked as music director and host for 88Nine Radio Milwaukee. Barney joined the station in 2014 as an intern and had also been assistant PD.
“This is a dream scenario,” said WNXP PD Jason Moon Wilkins in a news release. “To have someone so passionate about public radio with such an accomplished skillset will help our station move forward with the mission to serve this community and its amazing music scene.”
Mark McDonald, founding host for the public affairs television program Illinois Stories, was laid off by producing station WSIU in Carbondale, Ill.
“WSIU recently developed a common schedule and did a comprehensive audit of programming. The decision was made to end production of new episode[s] of Illinois Stories and rely on the bank of existing content as we look toward developing a new slate of programming in November,” said Jim Potter, a spokesperson for Southern Illinois University, the station’s licensee, in a statement.
McDonald first worked as a producer and host for WSEC, which was acquired by the university in 2018, and has been a host for Illinois Stories since 2003. He previously worked as public information officer for the Illinois state police.
Development
Lexie Beck was hired as development assistant for PBS Reno in Nevada. Beck most recently worked as program facilitator for Nevada PEP, a nonprofit that supports children with disabilities. “Professionally, I am passionate about accessibility, collaboration, and making an impact in the community, and I look forward to infusing this into my work at PBS Reno,” said Beck in a news release.
Content
NPR hired Cristina Kim as a reporter and producer for Throughline, a history program and podcast produced by the network. Kim most recently worked as a race and equity reporter for KPBS in San Diego. She has been a producer for Here & Now, a nationally distributed program from WBUR in Boston, and a producer for KQED in San Francisco.
Aaron Glantz announced that he’s leaving his position as senior investigations editor for public radio’s California newsroom, a collaboration among NPR and stations in the state. “It’s been an honor to work with so many talented journalists & make a big impact. Taking a break for the Summer. Stay tuned for what’s next!” he said on Twitter. Glantz joined the newsroom last year. He previously worked as a senior reporter for Reveal, led by the Center for Investigative Reporting.
Peter Biello was hired as local host of All Things Considered for Georgia Public Broadcasting. Biello previously worked as afternoon host for New Hampshire Public Radio, a station he joined in 2015.
Christina Shockley, host of All Things Considered for Michigan Radio, announced that she’s leaving the station. “I’m off on a new endeavor to teach, consult, and guide public radio stations, podcasters, and undergrads across the country,” she said on Twitter. Shockley first joined the station in 1998 as an intern and later became a Weekend Edition host and producer for the nationally distributed program The Todd Mundt Show. She left in 2002 to work for Minnesota Public Radio and WUWM in Milwaukee before rejoining Michigan Radio in 2007 as a Morning Edition host. She switched to the afternoon host spot in 2017.
Jillian Forstadt announced that she left her position as health and housing reporter for WSKG in Binghamton, N.Y. “More on next steps later. For now, I’m going to take some time away from this app and go see some mountains,” she said on Twitter. Forstadt first joined the station in 2018 as an intern and rejoined WSKG full-time in 2020.
Engagement
GBH in Boston appointed Sandra Lopez Burke as managing director of community and government relations. Lopez Burke will manage the station’s community advisory board and oversee the GBH/Apsell STEM Scholarship for Boston Public Schools students. She most recently worked as executive director of City Year Boston. Before that she was VP for Boston 2000, the city’s millennial committee, and an executive director for the San Antonio Sports Foundation.
Rayna Kingston was hired as a listener engagement specialist for KASU in Jonesboro, Ark. Kingston previously worked as an adjunct professor for station license-holder Arkansas State University’s Campus Querétaro in Mexico, where she developed and organized writing workshops and edited an annual literary magazine.
Ka Vang left her position as director of impact and community engagement for American Public Media to become VP of equity, diversity and inclusion for Meet Minneapolis, an organization that promotes the city as a business destination. Vang joined APM in 2014 and previously worked as diversity programs director for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
Education
Johnna Pullig was hired as director of education for Basin PBS in Midland, Texas. Pullig most recently worked as an eighth-grade social studies teacher as well as a volleyball, basketball and track coach for Reagan County ISD in Big Lake, Texas. “Johnna’s experience in a small school district gives us an insight on how to better serve the smaller communities in our viewing area,” said Basin PBS CEO Laura Wolf in a news release.
Fellowships
The Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education selected 57 fellows for Maynard 200, its flagship fellowship. The eight public media employees selected are:
- P. Kenneth Burns, South Jersey reporter for WHYY in Philadelphia.
- Emily Elena Dugdale, criminal justice reporter for Southern California Public Radio.
- Alexandria Hasenstab, breaking news editor for Oregon Public Broadcasting.
- Christina Yao Lee, EP of enterprise journalism for Houston Public Media.
- Miranda Kennedy, supervising senior editor for NPR’s Morning Edition.
- Victor Lim, director of growth marketing for Chicago Public Media.
- Ben Trefny, interim executive director for KALW in San Francisco.
- Priya David Clemens, host of KQED Newsroom for KQED in San Francisco.
Fellows will receive training in executive leadership, media entrepreneurship, investigative storytelling and editorial and managerial areas.
Send news of “comings and goings” to [email protected]