Ayana Contreras was promoted to VP of radio for Rocky Mountain Public Media in Denver.
Contreras succeeds Tina Cartagena, who joined the station in 1985.
Contreras will lead The Drop, a hip hop and R&B station, and jazz station KUVO. She will continue working as The Drop’s PD and host of KUVO’s Soulful Strut, roles she’s held since November.
Before joining RMPM last year, Contreras held several roles with Chicago Public Media, including host of Reclaimed Soul, content director for Vocalo, senior producer of content, producer of Sound Opinions and host of Global Overnight.
“Ayana is a pioneer in urban alternative public radio, and we are thrilled to welcome her into this new role,” said CEO Amanda Mountain in a news release. “Her extensive expertise and vision will be instrumental as we expand our community impact and reach new audiences under her dynamic leadership.”
Daniel Doktori will join American Public Media Group as SVP and general counsel.
Doktori succeeds Michael Lewis, who left the organization in March.
Doktori most recently worked as general counsel and chief of staff for Credly, a software company that was acquired by Pearson in 2022. He has also been a corporate associate for WilmerHale, director of higher education for the New York State Executive Chamber and editor-in-chief of the Journal of International Affairs.
“We were impressed by Daniel’s experience leading through change,” said Jean Taylor, CEO of APMG in a news release. “He’s had great success helping guide organizations that needed to innovate as they built up multi-platform and digitally savvy operations.”
Education
Stephanie Murray was named director of education for WJCT Public Media in Jacksonville, Fla. Murray will oversee family engagement workshops at learning centers and Head Start sites. She will also manage the annual children’s writers contest, the Jax PBS KIDS Club and WJCT’s Parenting Minutes, a literacy program. Murray, a consultant, previously worked as a senior producer for the WNET Group in New York and has been a project manager and advisor for Fred Rogers Productions and WGCU Public Media in Fort Myers, Fla.
Communications
Erin Callanan, senior director of external communications for GBH in Boston, is leaving the station to work for the Helmsley Charitable Trust. Callanan joined GBH in 2018 as director of media relations and was promoted to her current role in 2021. “As I wind down my days at GBH, I think about how much public media matters,” she said on LinkedIn. “Behind the free content you consume on TV, radio, or via streaming, there are people who strongly believe in the mission of enriching people’s lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain, fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives. I have worked with many of these people and have learned so much that I will carry into my next adventure!”
Content
Chandelis Duster joined NPR as a reporter. “I’m excited & grateful to join this dynamic organization of journalists who have tremendously impacted millions through on-air & online storytelling,” Duster said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Duster joined CNN in 2019 as a breaking news reporter and most recently reported on race and equality for the network. She was also a news desk assistant, associate producer and reporter for NBC News.
Ashley Sterner was named co-host of WYPR’s On the Record, the Baltimore station’s local public affairs program. Sterner, who moves from her longtime role as WYPR’s Morning Edition host, will work alongside Sheilah Kast, who has hosted the station’s midmorning programs since 2006. Sterner joined the station in 2005. In addition to hosting local broadcasts of Morning Edition, she has also been interim assistant PD. “Ashley has been instrumental in how our listeners start their day, and now she brings that same expertise to deepen the dialogue on On the Record,” Kast said in a news release. “We are delighted to welcome her as co-host and look forward to the fresh perspectives she will introduce alongside our engaging program content.”
Fellowships
Two public media employees were selected for the Poynter Institute’s third and final Leadership Academy for Women in Media cohort for 2024. The cohort includes Karen Anderson, director of radio programming for Vermont Public, and Eileen Imada, senior managing producer for On Point, produced by WBUR in Boston.
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