The board of directors for PBS reelected Larry Irving and Catherine Robb to new terms as chair and general vice chair Thursday.
Irving, principal of the Irving Group consultancy, shaped telecommunications policy as an assistant secretary in the Commerce Department during the Clinton Administration. He joined the board in 2021. Robb, who joined the board in 2019, is counsel in the business litigation practice group in the Austin office of Haynes and Boone, LLP.
Courtney Pledger, executive director and CEO of Arkansas PBS, was reelected professional vice chair. She has led the station since 2017.
The following were all reelected to new three-year terms on the board as general directors: Jorge Plasencia, co-founder, chair and CEO of Republica Havas; Tina Sharkey, founder and former CEO of Brandless; Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the Science Family of Journals; and Vivian Riefberg, professor of practice at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.
The following were all reelected to new three-year terms on the board as professional directors: Shae Hopkins, executive director and CEO of Kentucky Educational Television; Amy Shaw, CEO of Nine PBS in St. Louis; Ed Ulman, CEO of Alaska Public Media; and Jayme Swain, CEO of VPM in Richmond, Va.
Sam Brewer was named GM of GBH Music in Boston.
Brewer succeeds Anthony Rudel, who is leaving the station to work on a book, teach and work as a consultant.
Brewer most recently worked as deputy director GM for GBH Music. He joined the station in 2018 as assistant director of media relations and was also associate director of external communications. Before joining GBH, he was a senior publicist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
“Sam brings to GBH Music a deep understanding of how audiences engage with music and a forward-thinking approach to forging partnerships to introduce classical and jazz programming to new listeners,” said GBH CEO Susan Goldberg in a news release. “With his extensive experience in communications, public media, and classical music, he is uniquely positioned to lead and grow GBH Music’s initiatives across multiple platforms.”
Content
Kealey Bultena was named associate director for Wisconsin Public Radio. Bultena joined WPR in 2017 after nearly seven years at South Dakota Public Broadcasting. At WPR, she has been a producer, EP, host and interim PD for its news network. “Since joining WPR, Kealey has repeatedly demonstrated her commitment to her colleagues, our mission, and our audience,” said Director Sarah Ashworth in a news release. “She has been a thoughtful, collaborative manager, and I’m very pleased she will be taking on this critical leadership role for WPR.”
WSHU in Fairfield, Conn., named Emily Boyer host of its morning classical music program. Boyer succeeds Kate Remington, who retired after 24 years with the station. As part of her role, Boyer’s morning shift will include the noontime segment Midday Mozart. Boyer, a French horn player, is an adjunct music instructor at Sacred Heart University, which owns WSHU. She has also worked as an instructor for the University of Rhode Island, Connecticut College and Connecticut State Community College. “Emily brings an educator’s passion and knowledge to her on-air delivery that we hope will inspire new and existing audiences,” said WSHU PD Julie Freddino in a news release.
Hannah Maier was named music director and host of The Route, produced by WXXI in Rochester, N.Y. Maier most recently worked as a host for WRUR in Rochester and WITH in Ithaca, two stations that partner with WXXI. As an active musician, Maier is the lead singer and guitarist for the country band Candy. She is also owner of Mom’s Home Booking, an agency that curates events.
Eleanor Bennett rejoined Aspen Public Radio as a reporter and will work on the Social Justice Desk as part of a collaboration with Aspen Journalism. Bennett left her position as a Morning Edition host for the station earlier this year to participate in a summer-long Spanish intensive program in Vermont. Bennett first joined Aspen Public Radio in 2019 as a podcast producer and editor. “I am thrilled to be back home in the valley reporting after a summer studying Spanish,” she said in a news release. “I look forward to covering a range of challenges impacting our community, from a lack of affordable housing to mental health access barriers — as well as local efforts to solve these issues. I also hope to continue practicing my Spanish and building relationships with fellow community members.”
Matt Katz announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he accepted a voluntary layoff with severance from New York Public Radio following the organization’s announcement that it would cut jobs. Katz will now work as EP of City Cast Philly, a daily podcast and newsletter. He joined the New York station in 2013. “It’s been a privilege to talk on the radio for 11 years: I filed ~2,000 stories, guest-hosted 5 shows, exposed abuse in ICE & at Rikers, helped win a Peabody for #Bridgegate,” he wrote. “I’ll miss you, @WNYC ! Thanks for listening.”
Fellowships
NPR selected Dhanika Pineda as its inaugural Petra Mayer Memorial Fellow, named after the NPR books editor who died in 2021. In the role, Pineda will work on the Book of the Day podcast and Books We Love list, two NPR initiatives that were led by Mayer. Pineda previously worked as a race and culture reporter for ABC News and has also been a blogger for We Need Diverse Books, a nonprofit. “This fellowship, established by Petra’s parents, will support the Arts and Culture hub as we build on Petra’s legacy of sharing her love of literature with our audiences,” NPR said in a news release.
Governance
Bill Hendrich was named board chair for WJCT Public Media in Jacksonville, Fla. Hendrich, a former EVP for Cox Media Group, will succeed Farley Kern, whose two-year term is expiring. “WJCT Public Media’s sole purpose is to serve our community. Local radio, NPR, PBS, JAX Today, Jacksonville Music Experience, political debates and discussions, and a strong commitment to improving early childhood education are just a few ways that WJCT serves us all every day,” Hendrich said in a news release. “It’s an honor to be the Board Chair of this organization and to work with the WJCT team in support of making these services available for the benefit of everyone in our region.”
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