Comings and goings: MPT hires VP of technology, NPR announces changes to Business Desk …

Ling Ling Sun joined Maryland Public Television as VP of technology.

Sun most recently worked as CTO for Nebraska Public Media, which she joined in 2014. Before that, she was chief engineer for WOSU Public Media in Columbus, Ohio.

Sun was previously chair of the PBS Engineering Technology Advisory Committee from 2013–18. She’s also been chair of the National Association of Broadcasters BEIT Conference Program Committee and was on the board for the Advanced Television Systems Committee.

NPR announced changes to its Business Desk.

John Ruwitch became a tech correspondent and will be based in San Francisco. Ruwitch joined the network in 2020 and previously covered China for the International Desk. He’s also been a journalist for Reuters based in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Hanoi and Beijing as bureau chief and correspondent.

As part of the change, Bobby Allyn, who has covered tech for NPR since 2020, will permanently shift to the Power and Influence team led by supervising editor Brett Neely. Earlier this year, Allyn began working with the government restructuring team that has reported on Elon Musk and the technology industry’s influence on the federal government.

Employees at WAMU in Washington, D.C., accepted voluntary retirement packages from the station’s license holder, American University.

Eliza Saunders, planned giving manager, and Lucile Horn, audience engagement associate, will leave the station May 30. In March, Diane Rehm announced that she had accepted a buyout. Rupert Gardener, an EP who joined the station in 2016, is also leaving.

Technology

Randall T. Decker was hired as senior director of technology for the WNET Group in New York. Decker will oversee infrastructure and production technology as well as engineering and broadcast services. He is co-founder of ZionMason, a consulting firm that has advised WNET on technology for the past decade. He was also senior director of Latin American operations and director of U.S./Canadian regional facilities operations for Pfizer. “Randy has demonstrated exceptional leadership, technical and project management acumen, and a strong commitment to our goals,” said WNET CEO Neal Shapiro in a news release. “We’re excited to continue the great technological progress Randy has spearheaded thus far at the organization.” 

Engineering

Thomas Dula is retiring from his position as director of engineering and operations for Central Florida Public Media in Orlando. He joined the station in 2007 and previously worked as chief engineer of the Public Radio Partnership and of KRVS in Lafayette, La. “Our facility is, quite literally, the house that Mac built,” said GM Judith Smelser in a LinkedIn Post, referring to Dula’s nickname. “One of the first things he did when he came on board was a complete rebuild of our radio studios, but he’s also overseen roof replacements, lift station repairs, construction of a new transmitter site for WMFV, and much more. He kept us on the air through hurricanes, lightning strikes, and a Cuban tree frog in the satellite (no kidding!). And he did all that with a quiet calm that made everyone around him feel like everything was gonna be ok.” 

Content

Zena Issa was hired as a criminal justice reporter for Michigan Public in Ann Arbor. Issa joined the station as an intern last year and has worked with the Stateside and digital teams on social media and election projects. She previously worked as a multimedia journalist for WLNS, a commercial television station in Lansing, Mich. Her new position is funded by a grant from the Public Welfare Foundation.

Desiré Moses was named music and media manager for WNRN in Richmond, Va. Moses most recently worked as content director. She joined the station in 2017 as a producer and digital director and has also been managing producer and assistant music director. Before working for WNRN, she was a digital media intern and later production assistant for NPR Music. “Over the past eight years, I’ve worn many hats at WNRN and I’m honored to have contributed to the growth of our organization throughout Virginia,” Moses said in a news release. “I have a true passion for championing the voices in our community—from the non-profits making a difference in our listening areas to the musicians revolutionizing the Commonwealth scene—and I’m excited to continue to advance WNRN’s content creation while connecting our listeners to the great music being made in our backyard and beyond.”

Fellowships

American Documentary, the nonprofit behind POV and America ReFramed, will host the filmmakers selected for the eighth annual Wyncote Fellowship program at the PBS Annual Meeting in Atlanta this month. (Current receives funding from Wyncote.) The 12 filmmakers selected for the fellowship are Tarek Albaba, Isabel Alcántara Atalaya, Deborah Riley Draper, Luchina Fisher, Robie Flores, Marquise Mays, Sandra McDaniel, Sam Miller, Jota Mun, Brittany Shyne, Clay Tweel and Laura Varela.

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