NPR appointed Eric Marrapodi VP of news programming.
Marrapodi succeeds Sarah Gilbert, who announced she was leaving the network in June. Gilbert eventually became CCO for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
“Eric is a creative and thoughtful journalist, just the person we want making sure our audience is well served now and in the years ahead,” said NPR’s Interim SVP of News and Editorial Director Edith Chapin in a news release.
Marrapodi joined NPR in 2019 as live specials lead and became acting VP of news programming when Gilbert resigned. Before joining NPR, he worked as a senior producer for NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt and was a senior producer for CNN.
This American Life announced editorial changes.
Nadia Reiman was promoted from supervising producer to editor. Reiman joined the organization in 2018 as a producer. She previously worked as senior editor for Futuro Media Group’s Latino USA and was also a senior producer for StoryCorps.
Phia Bennin joined the show as an editor. Bennin first worked for the program as a fellow in 2013. She most recently served as supervising producer for Gimlet Media’s Reply All and was also an assistant producer for NPR’s Planet Money.
Bethel Habte was hired as an editor. Habte most recently worked as a contract producer for Serial Productions. She was also an associate editor for Reply All and a reporter and producer for Gimlet’s Resistance.
Development
Robin Mercer rejoined PBS Reno in Nevada as a development officer. Mercer previously worked for the station in 2010 and 2014 on fundraising events as a coordinator. She has also worked as a consultant for the Nevada Mining Association and the Nevada Trucking Association and on political campaigns for former Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons and other state politicians.
Content
Camille Smiley became project manager of programming operations for NPR. Her job is to advance the network’s diversity, equity and inclusion work. She joined NPR in 2016 as an executive assistant to the SVP of programming and audience development.
Michael Hibblen is leaving his position as news director for KUAR in Little Rock, Ark., to become senior producer and director of public affairs for Arkansas PBS. Hibblen said on Twitter that he resigned from KUAR Nov. 21 and will start his job at the state network Jan. 3. Hibblen joined KUAR in 2009.
KVPR in Fresno, Calif., hired Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado as news director He previously worked as a reporter for PBS NewsHour covering California’s San Joaquin Valley. Rodriguez-Delgado was also a reporter for the Fresno Bee and contributed reporting to CalMatters. “Growing up in the region, I have seen how information can shape our communities and I strongly believe KVPR is a unique source of news and information that brings nuanced and inspirational storytelling to empower and educate,” he said in a news release.
Anders Yocom stepped down from his position as host of the classical music program Sunday Brunch, produced by Wisconsin Public Radio. Yocom has been the program’s host since 2012, though he joined the station in 2001 as a fill-in host and was also associate director of radio. Before that he was SVP of broadcasting for WTTW in Chicago and a program coordinator at PBS. “I’ve come to the end of a long journey. I’ve enjoyed it,” Yocom said in a news release.
Claire Donnelly announced on Twitter that she became a producer for On Point, the radio show produced by WBUR in Boston. Donnelly most recently worked as a health reporter and host of the podcast FAQ City for WFAE in Charlotte, N.C., a station she joined in 2019.
Fellowships
The Poynter Institute selected seven public media workers for its eighth annual Leadership Academy for Women in Media, the third of three classes that were held this year. Thirty-three media professionals in total were chosen. The public media staffers are: Donna Blankinship, news editor for Crosscut in Seattle; Ayana Contreras, content director for Vocalo/Chicago Public Media; Laura Ellis, director of podcasts and special projects for Louisville Public Media; Marlene Harris-Taylor, director of engaged journalism for Ideastream Public Media in Cleveland; Lori McCue, breaking news editor for WAMU/DCist in Washington, D.C.; Jessica Placzek, supervising editor of It’s Been a Minute for NPR; and Kelly Whalen, senior producer for KQED in San Francisco.
Send news of “comings and goings” to [email protected]