Carla McCabe, CEO of WVIA Public Media in Pittston, Pa., will join the PBS board of directors.
Later this month, McCabe will take the seat held by Kevin Martin, CEO of Ideastream Public Media in Cleveland, who will reach the end of his term.
McCabe was appointed CEO of WVIA in 2020. She previously worked as COO of Kansas City PBS in Kansas City, Mo. She was also head of production at Tern Television Productions Ltd. in the U.K. and a production planner for the BBC in Northern Ireland.
“I am honored to be elected by my peers from across the country to serve on the PBS Board,” McCabe said in a WVIA news release. “This is a remarkable opportunity to shape the future of public media and to redefine how PBS can better serve the needs of today. Not only will I advocate for WVIA and the people in our region, but I will proudly advocate for all of Pennsylvania’s needs on the national level. I will champion stations of all sizes and will speak up specifically for rural communities, often underrepresented in broader media conversations.”
NPR hired Thomas Evans as managing editor of editorial review.
In a memo to staff, Edith Chapin, NPR’s acting CCO, SVP and editor-in-chief, said Evans will lead the creation of the “Backstop” system NPR announced in May “as part of a larger effort to enhance our editorial operations as a unified Content Division.”
Evans most recently worked as a strategic advisor for Unpress. Before that, he worked for CNN for 21 years in several positions, including senior international producer in Baghdad, senior director of coverage and London bureau chief.
“Thomas’ years of experience in the field, in often challenging environments, and as an editorial leader in a complex organization give him unique insight into the promise of what the Backstop can be: an extra layer of protection around our journalists and content creators,” Chapin wrote. “He also knows what it can’t be, and that is, a roadblock to you doing your best work. He is committed to working with all of you to figure out the best approach for this organization.”
Thomas will report to Chapin “with a dotted line” to Collin Campbell, NPR’s SVP of podcasting strategy and franchise development.
Management
Cari Kozicki left her position as chief of staff to the COO for PBS39 in Bethlehem, Pa., to become founder of CK Project Management Consulting. Kozicki joined PBS39 in 2015 as an office manager and was also project manager and VP of project management and culture. “I’ve always believed in the transformative power of public media and nonprofits in enriching communities, and I want to serve businesses in these areas,” she said on LinkedIn.
Content
Bazi Kanani was hired as a co-host to help develop a new daily podcast for Colorado Public Radio. Kanini previously worked as director of content for SE2, a marketing firm. She was also a correspondent for ABC News in Washington, D.C., and held anchor and producer roles at commercial television stations in Denver; Las Vegas; Buffalo, N.Y.; and Lansing, Mich. “What a joy to be back home and back to reporting and storytelling in our community, working alongside a team of enormously talented colleagues,” she said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Elise Kline joined WMHT Public Media in Troy, N.Y., as a multimedia journalist for New York NOW, a weekly public affairs program. She succeeds Shantel Destra, who was promoted from that position to host and managing editor in April. Kline most recently worked as a multimedia journalist for Lilly Broadcasting’s New York state capitol bureau. “Reporting at the state Capitol, covering policies and issues that can have an impact on so many people, has been an incredible experience,” said Kline in a news release. “I’ve always loved the power of broadcast reporting in helping the public understand how important decisions lawmakers make in Albany can affect their everyday lives. I am truly honored and excited to start my next reporting adventure with WMHT at New York NOW, which is the go-to program for coverage of New York state government.”
Molly-Jo Tilton joined KWBU in Waco, Texas, as a reporter. Tilton, a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, previously worked as an intern for Texas Standard, a daily public affairs program.
Kelsey Tolchin-Kupferer announced on LinkedIn that she was hired as a lecturer for the reporting and documentary storytelling program at the University of Vermont and will lead a new audio storytelling internship program at Vermont Public for college students. She previously worked as a RadioActive youth media program producer for KUOW in Seattle.
Abigail Beckman left her position as a reporter and fill-in host for KRCC in Colorado Springs, Colo., to become a content writer for philanthropy and engagement at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. Beckman joined KRCC in 2018 and was also a Morning Edition host.
Fellowships
The Poynter Institute named 26 public media journalists to its 2024–25 Public Media Editorial Integrity and Leadership Initiative, a nine-month fellowship funded by CPB. “Through the Editorial Integrity and Leadership Initiative, public media news managers are gaining valuable skills in guiding their newsrooms and ensuring ethical decision-making,” said Kathy Merritt, CPB SVP of journalism, radio and CSG services, in a news release. “Skilled, effective editors are vital to producing content that upholds the highest editorial standards in producing independent reporting that informs an engaged civil society.”
The fellows are:
- Beau Baker, newscast editor and producer for KUNC in Greeley, Colo.
- Adelyn Baxter, audience engagement editor for KTOO in Juneau, Alaska
- Brendan Byrne, assistant news director, Central Florida Public Media in Orlando
- Andrew Catalina, news editor for Maine Public
- Corin Cates-Carney, news director for Montana Public Radio
- Jason deBruyn, supervising editor of digital news for WUNC in Chapel Hill, N.C.
- Tracci Dial, multimedia news director for Northwest Public Broadcasting in Pullman, Wash.
- Gabriela Fernandez, news director for KCBX Public Radio in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
- Ben Giles, senior editor for KJZZ in Phoenix
- Alexander Gonzalez, senior editor for KQED in San Francisco
- James Haddadin, investigative editor for Connecticut Public
- Kayla Hewitt, All Things Considered producer and editor for WAMU in Washington, D.C..
- Megan Kamerick, news director of KUNM in Albuquerque, N.M.
- Kamila Kudelska, news director for Wyoming Public Media
- Chris Lehman, news director for KLCC in Eugene, Ore.
- Joey Palacios, engagement producer and internship coordinator for Texas Public Radio in San Antonio
- Gabriela Resto-Montero, managing editor for Rocky Mountain PBS in Denver
- Edward Ronco, news director for Interlochen Public Radio in Michigan
- Emily Russell, reporter and assistant news director for North Country Public Radio in Canton, N.Y.
- Tom Scheck, deputy managing editor for APM Reports at American Public Media in St. Paul, Minn.
- Julie Sidoni, director of journalism for WVIA Public Media in Pittston, Pa.
- Sage Smiley, news director for KYUK Public Media in Bethel, Alaska
- Ryan Van Velzer, Kentucky Public Radio managing editor for Louisville Public Media
- Andrew Villegas, news director for Colorado Public Radio
- Kristyna Wentz-Graff, photo editor for Oregon Public Broadcasting
- Andrew Yeager, managing editor for WBHM in Birmingham, Ala.
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