Fred Engel is retiring from his position as CTO for PBS North Carolina.
Engel joined the station in 2016 as senior director of technology and was promoted to the chief role in 2019. He previously worked as senior director of technology for Kentucky Educational Television. He began his public media career as a technician with WTTW in Chicago in 1978 and rose to VP of technology.
In retirement, Engel plans to continue working on the NextGen TV initiative. He has been a board member of the Advanced Television Systems Committee, which is working on the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard.
Connecticut Public announced changes to its audio staff.
Catie Talarski announced that she’s leaving her position as senior director of storytelling and radio programming. She joined the organization in 2007 as a senior producer and has also been EP and interim CCO.
“I often feel like the luckiest person to get to do what I do, with truly THE best group of people I know,” she wrote on LinkedIn. “I am incredibly proud of our work, and it’s been a privilege to help expand CT Public’s local programming and lead our award-winning talk show teams. And now I’m ready (and excited, and terrified) for a new challenge! My next moves are tbd, taking some time this month for myself and my family before I jump into the next big thing.”
As part of the change, Meg Dalton was promoted to director of audio storytelling and talk shows. Dalton joined the state network last year as deputy director of storytelling. Before that, she was a producer for City Cast, an associate producer for WNYC in New York City and an EP and staff writer for the Columbia Journalism Review.
LAist hosts announced their retirement.
Susanne Whatley retired from her position as host of Morning Edition. Whatley joined the station in 2009. Nick Roman, All Things Considered host and host of The L.A. Report podcast, also retired. Before joining LAist, he was a producer, anchor and news director for commercial stations in Los Angeles.
“Thank you to both Susanne and Nick, whose voices have made LAist a trusted source of news and information,” said the organization on LinkedIn. “As we bid farewell to them both, we look forward to continuing our mission with the same passion and dedication that they have exemplified.”
Content
Kendra Carr joined Colorado Public Radio–owned station KRCC in Colorado Springs as Morning Edition host. Carr previously worked for Interlochen Public Radio in Michigan, a station she joined in 2019 as All Things Considered host. She was also host of the podcast Stories That Heal and host and producer for the limited series Our Global Neighborhood.
Luis Antonio Perez became a program manager and senior producer for the Youth Empowerment Broadcasting Organization. He most recently worked as a podcast editor and producer for Colorado Public Radio.
Governance
Ben Payavis II, CCO for WVIA Public Media in Pittston, Pa., was elected to the board of governors for the Mid-Atlantic National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Board members serve a two-year term. Payavis joined WVIA in 1995 as director of on-air promotions and has also been production manager, EP and VP of production.
Fellowships
GBH in Boston awarded fellowships to eight staffers. The recipients of a Becton Fellowship are Alyson Roseman, associate producer for Antiques Roadshow; Louise Flannery, senior digital producer for GBH Kids; Hannah Reale, associate digital editor with GBH News; and Alexi Cohan, digital producer at GBH News. Receiving a Margret and Hans Rey Fellowship are Kathleen DiPerna, producer for Masterpiece; Shirin Jaafari, reporter for The World; and Jessica Andrews, director of strategic projects for GBH Kids. And Michelle Mizner, senior documentary editor and producer of Frontline, received a Peter S. McGhee Fellowship.
“These eight producers have demonstrated a dedication to creating exceptional content. From promoting STEM learning in early childhood to covering overseas conflicts, each fellow has set a high standard for creativity and innovation,” said GBH CEO Susan Goldberg in a news release. “We are proud to celebrate the work of our 2024–2025 fellows and look forward to their continued growth and success.”
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