Irene Noguchi was hired as EP for NPR’s Enterprise Storytelling Unit, which produces Embedded, Invisibilia, Rough Translation and Up First Sunday.
Noguchi most recently worked as EP of the Opinion Audio department at the New York Times, overseeing programs like The Ezra Klein Show and First Person, a program hosted by former NPR host Lulu Garcia-Navarro. Noguchi was also head of audio for Politico and co-launched Vox’s daily podcast Today, Explained.
By joining NPR, Noguchi is returning to her public media roots. She previously worked as a producer for KQED in San Francisco, Nevada Public Radio and KUOW in Seattle.
“I’ve been a lifelong fan of NPR, and loved working at member stations,” Noguchi said in a staff memo. “It’s been many moons since my internship on the national desk, and I’m happy to be returning to the DC mothership.”
New Hampshire Public Radio announced staff changes.
Daniela Allee was promoted to senior news editor and will oversee reporting on climate and environmental issues. Allee will also lead the station’s Spanish-language news initiative ¿Qué Hay de Nuevo, New Hampshire? She joined NHPR in 2018 as a Couch Fellow, a program for recent graduates, and later became a reporter.
Casey McDermott steps up from news editor to senior news editor and will oversee education and health/equity reporting. McDermott joined the station in 2015 as a digital reporter and producer. She was also a health policy and political reporter and investigative/data reporter and editor.
Mary McIntyre became senior producer of news magazines, where she will help oversee Morning Edition and All Things Considered. She joined NHPR in 2017 and previously worked as a Morning Edition producer.
Jeongyoon Han joined the station as a one-year Couch Fellow. She previously worked as a production intern for Weekend Edition at NPR and was also a news assistant for WAMC in Albany, N.Y.
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Matt Bush joined WYPR in Baltimore as news director. Bush most recently worked as news director for Blue Ridge Public Radio in Asheville, N.C. He joined the station in 2016 after working as a reporter for WAMU in Washington, D.C. At WYPR, Bush succeeds Joel McCord, who became news director in 2012 and has worked at WYPR since 2003. “McCord will continue to serve as a member of the WYPR news department through mid-December to ensure a smooth transition for Bush,” the station said in a news release. “As he pursues his passions, McCord will continue contributing environmental stories related to the Chesapeake Bay for WYPR news.”
Rob Timm was hired as production manager for WTMD, a music station acquired by WYPR last year. Timm most recently worked as production director and host for WRNR in Annapolis, a commercial station. He was also a host for WHFS, a now defunct rock station. “I am thrilled to have a legendary, local broadcaster joining our team,” said PD Carrie Evans in a news release. “Rob brings a familiar voice, a quick wit and a true passion for music and culture. His authenticity and integrity are a welcome addition to the WTMD airwaves.”
Hawaii Public Radio hired two music hosts. Leimomi Bong became Tuesday evening host for Bridging the Gap, a weeknight music program. Leimomi, who goes by her first name on air, takes over the position from Paige Okamura, also known as DJ Mermaid, who stepped away to focus on HPR’s Sunday music program Hawai‘i Kulāiwi. Leimomi was co-founder of CPTRadio, a now-defunct Honolulu-based community radio platform. Olivia Waring will host Evening Concert, a classical music program, Thursdays and Fridays. Waring previously worked as a classical music host for GBH in Boston and as an intern for NPR. She is studying for a doctorate in linguistics at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.
Chamian Cruz announced that she was hired as criminal justice reporter for WABE in Atlanta. Cruz previously worked as a government and courts reporter for the Appen Media Group in Alpharetta, Ga. She was also a reporter for the Northeast Georgian and the Gwinnett Daily Post.
Michael Lyle Jr. became host of All Things Considered for KUNC in Greeley, Colo. Lyle previously worked as an anchor and reporter for WSHU in Fairfield, Conn. He was also a host and producer for New England Public Media. “For everyone whom I have worked with over these near two decades at several outlets in Connecticut and Massachusetts — and to those whom I had the blessing to call colleagues and friends, I can’t thank you enough for your guidance, love and support,” he said on LinkedIn. “See you on the radio out in the Rockies!”
Destiny Ann Mermagen joined Kansas Public Radio as a classical music host. She will host evening programs from Mondays through Thursdays. Mermagen, a violin soloist and chamber musician, has performed in the U.S. and Europe and has appeared on KPR’s airwaves since 2019. She succeeds Marcia Higginson, who retired from the organization in July.
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