Comings and goings: WXXI hires CMO, ITVS announces promotions …

WXXI in Rochester, N.Y., hired Kevin Kalvitis as CMO.

Kalvitis, who starts the job Jan. 5, most recently worked as director of marketing for Greenlight Networks. Before that, he was director of marketing and creative strategy and services for WHEC, an NBC affiliate in Rochester, and was director of marketing and creative services for WHAM, an ABC affiliate in Rochester.

“As we look to optimize our business model without relying on federal funding, hiring Kevin is essential to our sustainability and future growth,” said WXXI CEO Chris Hastings in a news release. “His strong background in the media industry and his forward thinking makes him the right leader to help us envision a new future for public media in our community.”

The Independent Television Service, producer of Independent Lens, announced several title changes and promotions for its executives.

Jim Sommers, SVP of content, was promoted to EVP of content. Sommers joined ITVS in 2001 as national outreach and education director. He has also been VP of broadcast and communications and SVP of content management.

Royd Chung stepped up to SVP of programming and production. He previously worked as VP of production. Chung joined ITVS in 2019.

Lois Vossen, EP of Independent Lens, took on the new title of founding EP. Vossen joined ITVS in 1996 and has been EP of the series since 2002, when it relaunched under ITVS.

Lisa Tawil, VP of marketing and communications, became SVP of brand, communications and audience growth. Tawil joined ITVS in 2013 as director of marketing, publicity and creative services. She has also served as managing director of marketing and communications.

Beatriz Castillo was promoted to VP of marketing and engagement. She previously worked as senior director of engagement and impact operations. Castillo first worked for ITVS from 2007–18 and rejoined it in 2020.

Dave Eisenberg was named VP of production. Eisenberg began working for ITVS in 2011 as supervising producer and has also been senior supervising producer, associate director of production and senior director of production.

“These shifts represent ITVS’ response to a changing public media landscape and clarify the company’s strategic priorities,” ITVS said in a news release. “As the next-generation public media company, ITVS continues to double down on serving the public through diverse storytelling while maintaining its vital mission of supporting documentary filmmakers with funding, guidance and distribution. ITVS remains at the forefront of an evolving public media business model – expanding like-minded partnerships, redefining non-fiction formats and distribution, and strengthening the pathways through which stories reach and resonate with audiences.”

American Public Media Group announced staff changes.

MPR News named Darius Walker managing editor. Walker’s first day in the role will be Jan. 5. He previously worked as SVP and senior EP of CBS News Digital. He also held several positions at CNN, including VP, New York bureau chief and senior director of news coverage for CNN’s Washington, D.C., office. Before that, he worked for commercial stations in Atlanta, Boston and New York.

“I’m excited to join the award-winning team at MPR,” Walker said in a news release. “It’s refreshing to see the passion and caring this team has in sharing and covering stories that have real impact on the community that they serve. I look forward to growing with this team and helping new audiences experience the quality of MPR News’ work.”

Curtis Gilbert will be deputy managing editor of investigations and will oversee APM Reports and MPR News enterprise and investigative projects. His first day will be Dec. 28. Gilbert has been a reporter, producer and editor for MPR News since 2004. He joined the APM Reports team when it launched in 2015 and is currently senior editor and correspondent.

“I’ve been part of these newsrooms for my whole career,” Gilbert said in a news release. “I’m excited about helping them take big swings, tell powerful stories and spark positive change — in Minnesota and across the country.”

Mark Evans was promoted to senior director of distribution and network services. Evans joined APMG as a national sales executive in 2013 and was also director of radio distribution and managing director of APMG broadcast distribution.

Amy Lundgren was promoted to director of distribution and will oversee APM’s culinary culture program The Splendid Table and poetry podcast The Slowdown. Lundgren joined APMG in 2010 as member benefits representative and also worked as station relations representative. Her most recent role as director of portfolio and operations had her managing production partnerships with the BBC, Marketplace,  Classical 24, This Old House Radio Hour and The New York Times, among others.

WFMT, a classical music station in Chicago, announced a new morning lineup.

Jan Weller became a weekday morning music host. Weller first joined the station as a host and producer in 1995. He has also been a production director for WDAV in Davidson, N.C.; a host and producer for Jefferson Public Radio in Ashland, Ore.; and a host and producer for Wisconsin Public Radio.

Kristina Lynn will host weekend mornings. Lynn joined the station in 2020 and has hosted live performances and artist interviews. Before joining WFMT, she worked in radio production for WQXR in New York City.

Both hosts will report to WFMT lead and midday host Lisa Flynn.

Content

Amanda Peacher announced on LinkedIn that she’s leaving her role as senior acquisitions editor for Marketplace to take a sabbatical in Vienna, Austria. Peacher joined the program in 2021 as a senior reporter and has also been an editor. Before joining Marketplace, she worked for the Mountain West News Bureau based at Boise State Public Radio. She was also Central Oregon bureau chief for Oregon Public Broadcasting and an Arthur F. Burns Fellow for NPR based in Berlin.

Clay Wallace announced on Bluesky that he became a Morning Edition host for WUKY in Lexington, Ky. Wallace will also continue to be a general assignment reporter and a podcast and segment producer. He joined the station in January 2024 to cover state government.

Governance

Members of the Online News Association elected Kenya Young, president and CEO of Louisville Public Media, to the organization’s board of directors. Young will begin a two-year term on the board Jan. 1 alongside four other new members. “The ONA Board of Directors is delighted to welcome these new members,” said ONA Board President Charo Henríquez in a news release. “All of them are leaders in different areas of our community and our industry. They are innovators, change agents, and will be great partners and advisors as ONA continues to support the evolution and sustainability of news media and the protection of free speech and press freedom.”

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