Michael Tribble was appointed CCO of WAMU in Washington, D.C.
Tribble succeeds Tom Hudson, who left the station in June to become senior economics editor and special correspondent for WLRN in Miami.
Tribble most recently worked as VP of multiplatform content and integrated storytelling for National Geographic. He joined NatGeo in 2016 as director of design and has also been senior director of major projects.
“WAMU is such an extraordinary institution that plays a vital role in the heart of D.C. and the region,” Tribble said in a news release. “I’m honored for the chance to serve this community and excited about forging stronger bonds with our audience and shaping how we connect with the next generation of WAMU fans.
IRSC Public Media in Fort Pierce, Fla., announced staff changes.
The organization changed its music station WQCP 91.1 to an adult R&B format and rebranded it as Q 91.1. The switch is related to a commercial station moving to West Palm Beach, leaving listeners in the Treasure Coast region without a local R&B station, according to a report in the Okeechobee News. Classical music programming previously found on 91.1 is now streaming at WQCS.org and on 88.9 HD2.
Michael James will host the Mighty Michael Morning Show weekdays on Q 91.1. He previously worked for WFLM and WJFP in Fort Pierce.
Rodney Spencer is now weekday afternoon host from 3–7 p.m. Spencer has hosted the local afternoon news program on WQCS, also owned by IRSC Public Media, since 2016, and is host of Jazz on the Treasure Coast. He will also host Sunday Night Jazz.
IRSC Public Media will add additional on-air personalities for daily afternoon programs and a Sunday morning gospel program.
In addition, the station promoted Gerald Wilcox to general sales manager for Q 91.1. Wilcox has worked with WQCS and IRSC Public Media as an underwriting account executive since 2012.
Marketing
Steven Chrypinski is retiring from his position as marketing director for Michigan Public in Ann Arbor. Chrypinski joined the station in 2005 after holding underwriting positions for WDET in Detroit. “I have had a wonderful career in public media in both development and marketing and had the pleasure of working with and getting to know some fantastic colleagues at stations across the country, but I’m ready and looking forward to moving on,” he wrote in the Public Radio Association of Development Officers Slack group. “I wish you all the best in the great work you do every day!”
Content
Lionel Ramos joined KOSU in Stillwater, Okla., as the station’s state government reporter. Ramos most recently worked as a reporter covering race and equity through Report for America at Oklahoma Watch, a nonprofit newsroom in Oklahoma City. A news release said a grant from CPB led to the creation of Ramos’ position. “KOSU, along with its collaborators KGOU, KWGS, KCCU and HPPR, was awarded a two-year $250,000 grant to increase coverage of state government from CPB last fall,” the release said. “The grant is part of $2.25 million in funding to strengthen public media state government reporting in seven states, including Oklahoma.”
Haya Panjwani announced that she left her position as Travis County reporter for KUT in Austin to move to Washington, D.C., and join the audio team for the Associated Press. “I’m so grateful for everything I’ve learned, everyone I’ve met and the stories I’ve been able to tell,” she said on X, the site formerly known as Twitter. Panjwani joined KUT in 2022. She previously worked as a reporter for Houston Public Media and was also a fellow and reporter for KERA in Dallas.
Dan Clark became a journalist covering state government and politics for the Times Union in Albany, N.Y. “I’m a super-fan of the TU, and getting to work here feels really, really cool. Onward!” he said on X. Clark announced last year that he was leaving his role as host of New York NOW, a public-affairs program produced by Schenectady-based WMHT Public Media. Clark joined the program in 2020.
Governance
WFYI Public Media in Indianapolis announced the results of recent board elections. Neelay Bhatt, CEO for Next Practice Partners LLC, was elected board chair for a one-year term. Bhatt, a former vice chair, succeeds Raquel Richardson, a partner at Centric Consulting. Howard Schrott of Schrott Consulting was elected vice chair, stepping up from secretary. Terren Magid, executive director of global enterprise risk, was elected secretary. Sue Back was reelected treasurer.
Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations, a consortium of 17 radio and TV stations in the state, elected Anthony Hunt, GM of WVPE in Elkhart, as chair of its board of directors. Hunt, who most recently served as vice chair, succeeds Nichole Carie, GM of Vincennes PBS and director of operations for WVUB-FM. “Anthony brings a wealth of experience to the chairmanship,” said IPBS Executive Director Mark Newman in a news release. “He is one of our longest tenured board members, has more than 30 years of experience in the industry, and has successfully led stations all across the country. He’s moving into this role at a pivotal time in our organization’s evolution.” In addition, Chuck Roberts, CEO of Lakeshore Public Media in Merrillville, was elected vice chair; Phil Hoffman, GM of Ball State PBS in Muncie, succeeds Tim Black as secretary/treasurer.
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