Comings and goings: Firelight Media hires CEO, Houston Public Media appoints GM …

Loira Limbal was named president and CEO of Firelight Media.

Limbal succeeds Marcia Smith, who co-founded the nonprofit with her husband, documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson. Smith announced her departure last year. Limbal will take over June 1.

“As Firelight transitions from being a founder-led organization for its 25 years of existence, and at such a pivotal time for the documentary industry, Loira is the ideal person to ensure the longevity of the organization for the next 25 years and beyond,” Nelson and Smith said in a news release.

Limbal first joined Firelight in 2009 and also worked as SVP of programs until 2021. During her tenure, she helped expand Firelight’s flagship Documentary Lab and oversaw the launch of the Groundwork Regional Lab, the William Greaves Research & Development Fund, the Impact Campaign Fund and the “In the Making” documentary short film series, produced in partnership with American Masters.

Limbal’s documentaries include Through the Night, a 2020 feature about a 24-hour daycare center that aired on POV, and the 2009 film Estilo Hip Hop.

“Documentary filmmaking is one of our most powerful tools for social change — a force that disrupts, reveals, and reimagines,” Limbal said in the news release. “My time at Firelight has only strengthened my conviction in its ability to challenge harmful narratives and sow the seeds of new, transformative ones. At a time when our field faces unprecedented challenges, it is a privilege to stand alongside Firelight Media’s brilliant and dedicated staff, championing filmmakers whose work illuminates our present, preserves our past and expands the possibilities for our collective future.” 

Joshua Adams was appointed associate VP and GM for Houston Public Media.

Adams will succeed Lisa Shumate, who is leaving the station May 31. She will continue teaching as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston, which owns the station.

Adams joined HPM in 2012 as EP and has also been director of technology and operations, executive director of operations and station manager. He’s also been a producer for KHOU, a CBS affiliate in Houston.

“During the search process, it became clear that Houston Public Media is not just a local asset — it’s a national leader in public broadcasting,” said Raymond Bartlett, SVP for administration and finance at the University of Houston in a news release. “We realized that the best way to build on our strong foundation was with a leader who deeply understands our mission, our community and our momentum. Josh has been instrumental in our digital transformation, and his knowledge of both the market and the team positions him perfectly to lead us into the next chapter.”

Chicago Public Media, owner of the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, announced leadership changes.

Tracy Brown was named chief partnerships officer. Brown joined the organization as managing editor of WBEZ in 2019 and most recently worked as CCO. Before that, she was deputy managing editor for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and was also deputy arts editor for the Dallas Morning News.

Jennifer Kho succeeds Brown as interim editor-in-chief. She joined the Chicago Sun-Times as executive editor in 2022 after working as VP of journalism and information equity for DoGoodery, a consulting agency. She was also U.S. managing editor for the Guardian and managing editor and director of strategic innovation for HuffPost.

Gilbert Bailon was named executive editor of news platforms. Bailon joined WBEZ in 2023 as executive editor. Before that, he was executive editor for KERA in Dallas. He’s also been editor-in-chief of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and editor of Al Día, a Spanish-language newspaper, website and sister publication to the Dallas Morning News.

“This is a pivotal moment for Chicago Public Media, and these leadership changes reflect our commitment to deepening our service to the people of Chicago through ambitious journalism, bold experimentation, and greater collaboration across our platforms,” said Chicago Public Media CEO Melissa Bell in a news release. “Tracy, Jenn, and Gilbert each bring vision, integrity, and a passion for public service journalism. Together, they are shaping a future for our organization that is rooted in community, guided by editorial excellence, and ready to meet audiences wherever they are.”

The Radio Research Consortium hired two staffers.

Carl Nelson, diary client services manager, and Carol Jacobs, business manager and interim president, will move into part-time roles in July ahead of their eventual retirement. Nelson plans to leave the organization in December, and Jacobs will step away in June 2026.

“While it’s hard to envision the RRC without them, we wish them both all the very best as they approach this next chapter in their lives,” the organization said in a news release.

As part of the change, David Ginsburg was hired as dual client services manager and Patricia Moynihan was named technology and digital solutions specialist.

Ginsburg most recently worked as GM, PD and host for WICN Public Radio in Worcester, Mass., a station he joined in 2018. “I’m proud to leave WICN in better shape than I found it,” he wrote on LinkedIn.

Moynihan most recently worked for Florida State University, which she joined in 2006. She’s been a web content specialist, director of digital projects and product and HPC application designer.

Content

Alana Watson is leaving her position as collaboration and content manager for WKU Public Media in Bowling Green, Ky., to work for the Cascadia Daily News in Bellingham, Wash. Watson first joined WKU Public Radio as a Charles M. Anderson fellow in 2017 and later became an economics and infrastructure reporter for the Ohio Valley ReSource. She was also an All Things Considered host. “Her infectious laugh, humor, versatility, and willingness to fill many roles at once have made her an indispensable part of our family,” said WKU Public Media on Facebook. “Alana is leaving us better than when she got here, and for that we are so grateful and wish her the best in this exciting new chapter!”

Lee V. Gaines announced on LinkedIn that she left her role as an investigative education reporter for WFYI Public Media in Indianapolis, a station she joined in 2021. She told Current in an email that she moved to Philadelphia because her spouse found work there and that she’s currently freelancing while being open to future full-time work. “During my tenure at WFYI, I lost both my parents to cancer,” she wrote on LinkedIn. “When my mom was dying, I felt safe enough to cry with colleagues. When my dad died two years later, and I had to fly home to Rhode Island, they sent me a care package that included, among other things, several Butterfinger bars, because they knew that’s my favorite candy. I hear a lot about toxic workplace cultures. I experienced the opposite at WFYI. I celebrated my colleagues’ successes, and they celebrated mine. I tried my best to show up for my colleagues, because they have certainly shown up for me. I’m so fortunate to have had this experience. I don’t take it for granted.”

Send news of “comings and goings” to people@current.org