Quick Takes

Pubcasters in Colorado join commercial stations for on-air wildfire relief fundraiser

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Colorado public broadcasters are among stations uniting for a live on-air fundraiser Thursday for victims of recent destructive wildfires in the state. Denver stations Rocky Mountain PBS, Colorado Public Television and KUVO-FM, along with KUNC-FM in Greeley and KRCC-FM in Westcliffe, will participate in the “Red Cross 2013 Colorado Wildfires Fundraiser” statewide broadcast, along with six commercial stations. Donations will support Red Cross efforts to assist residents affected by the recent Black Forest fire, and other wildfires that may occur this year. Red Cross volunteers will take calls from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time at Rocky Mountain PBS’s studios in Denver.

People

Yore departs Marketplace as APM pares executive ranks

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J.J. Yore, a veteran producer credited as a creator of the public radio show Marketplace, was one of three senior executives riffed June 17 from American Public Media, the Minnesota-based company that produces the series. Yore, who rose up through the production ranks to become v.p. and g.m. of the weeknightly business and economics show two years ago, will be succeeded by Deborah Clark, executive producer who steps up into the role of v.p.

APM also eliminated positions of Mary Pat Ladner, v.p. of marketing, and Kathy Golbuff, v.p. of underwriting. An APM spokesperson described the restructuring as a move to eliminate layers of management and organize the company around an “Audiences First” strategy. Clark has worked for Marketplace over two stints since 1995, and APM expects her to move the show forward “business as usual,” Mardi Larson, spokesperson, wrote in an email confirming the layoffs. “We thank J.J. for his valuable and lasting contributions to our company’s mission and audience service, and we wish him well in his next career opportunity.” Yore’s departure is the third set of job cuts to hit Marketplace’s staff since last July.

Quick Takes

PBS unveils plans for New York-based NewsHour Weekend

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PBS President Paula Kerger today told pubTV execs that PBS NewsHour Weekend, a 30-minute broadcast on Saturdays and Sundays, will premiere Sept. 7 from WNET in New York City. Kerger called it “an exciting step forward for PBS NewsHour,” the longtime weekday public affairs show produced at WETA-TV in Arlington, Va. The New York Times first revealed PBS’s plans for the show in March, quoting unnamed public television employees. According to today’s release, Linda Winslow, NewsHour’s executive producer since 2005, will oversee both programs. Marc Rosenwasser, former e.p. of Need to Know, WNET’s recently canceled Friday night newsmag, will serve as executive producer of the new weekend show.

Quick Takes

Ford grant will support PRI’s immigration initiative

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The Ford Foundation has awarded Public Radio International a two-year, $500,000 grant to support Global Nation, a project that will cover social-justice issues affecting immigrants to the U.S. and their children. Launched last year, Global Nation uses partnerships with ethnic media, independent producers and local public radio stations to find social-justice stories affecting immigrants. The resulting stories air on PRI’s The World. The initiative was initially supported by the Rita Allen Foundation. Using the Ford support, PRI will expand the initiative’s reach with enterprise reporting and an online community of people and civic organizations concerned about immigration issues.

Quick Takes

Four emergency requests from NewsHour bring $3 million from PBS to help pay bills

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Executives from MacNeil/Lehrer Productions have asked PBS officials for “emergency $1 million infusions so they could pay the NewsHour bills” four times in recent months, according to the New York Times. The newspaper quotes unnamed “public television employees” as saying that the PBS NewsHour received at least $3 million, which went toward a $7 million deficit on the program’s $28 million budget this year. The story also noted that the nightly news program was criticized in a confidential May 2012 report commissioned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a major supporter of the program, which concluded that the show needed to “modernize news gathering production.” The Gates Foundation, whose $3.56 million, three-year grant to NewsHour to cover global health expired in December 2011, “has yet to return as a supporter,” the story said. And although PBS provided money to support the program, it also wants changes in the format, including a permanent anchor or two co-anchors, according to the pubTV sources.

Quick Takes

WBGO president takes leave, citing health issue

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WBGO-FM in Newark, N.J., announced Wednesday that station President Cephas Bowles will take a leave of absence for health reasons. In the interim, Amy Niles, the station’s c.o.o., will serve as acting president. “My doctor has placed me on medical disability leave as I work to correct an escalating health issue,” Bowles said in a press release. “During this period, I will offer my support and cooperation to the Board, Amy and the station as needed. I am grateful for your thoughts and I look forward to returning to work as quickly as possible.”

Niles has led WBGO’s development, membership, marketing, programming and underwriting departments.