People

Allegations about sex life prompted firing, says CBC’s Ghomeshi

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Jian Ghomeshi, host of CBC Radio’s Q, said Sunday that he was fired by the Canadian pubcaster over a threat about allegations regarding his sex life going public. In a lengthy Facebook post, the ousted host said that an ex-girlfriend had been collaborating with a freelance writer on a story that would claim that Ghomeshi had been abusive in their relationship. The former host said the allegations were without merit and that he had filed a $50 million (Canadian) lawsuit against the CBC over his firing. Ghomeshi acknowledged that the relationship had included “rough sex (forms of BDSM)” but that all activities had been consensual. CBC executives agreed that “information provided showed that there was consent,” he wrote: “They said they’re not concerned about the legal side.”

People

CPB Board members elect Sembler and Gilbert as new leadership

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The CPB Board elected new leadership Tuesday in two unanimous votes. Chairing the governing body is Elizabeth Sembler, a Florida educator, with Nevada broadcaster Lori Gilbert as vice-chair. Each will serve one-year terms.

Outgoing CPB Chair Patricia Cahill presented Sembler with the chair’s gavel at the end of the board’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Cahill is the retired head of KCUR-FM in Kansas City, Mo., and was the first radio broadcaster elected chair. Sembler was first nominated to the board by President Bush and originally confirmed by the Senate in 2008. She was renominated by President Obama and confirmed for a second term this month.

CPB

Senate approves three Obama nominees for CPB Board of Directors

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The Senate approved three members of the CPB Board Thursday, one returning and two new. The three were nominated by President Obama earlier this year. New to the governing body for a term expiring in 2016 is David Arroyo of Brooklyn, N.Y., s.v.p. for legal affairs at Scripps Network Interactive. From 2008-12 Arroyo chaired the Board of Latino Justice, formerly the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. He also was recognized by the Imagen Foundation as one of the most influential Latinos in entertainment in 2012.

People

Jones steps aside as PBS COO; Kerger announces additional executive hires

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Michael Jones, PBS’s chief operating officer since January 2009, is moving into an advisory role as executive vice president. In a Sept. 9 memo detailing several changes within PBS’s top ranks, President Paula Kerger announced that Jones will continue to report to her, serving “as a chief adviser working closely with me on a series of critical projects.” Those include management of an upgrade to public TV’s interconnection system and issues related to the upcoming television spectrum auction. PBS is currently conducting a national search for a new COO, Kerger said. It’s unclear how PBS has adapted its reporting structure for its senior executives during the search.

People

“Steve was my hero”: a remembrance of a radio rebel

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Steve Post, legendary New York radio personality for more than 50 years, died Sunday. He was 70 years old. Steve was the acerbic host of Morning Music, heard on WNYC-FM for 25 years. Every morning Steve read his version of the news. When Mayor Ed Koch had a stroke, his doctors announced that he had “the brain of a 12-year-old.” Ever after Steve referred to His Honor as “him with the 12-year-old brain.”

Weather reports were called “the weather lies.” Steve delivered news of leaks from nuclear reactors, always ending with the line, “No significant amount of radiation was released,” whether in the wire copy or not, read absolutely straight with an incredulous voice.

People

Bresnahan to lead two Central Illinois TV stations as dual president

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Moss Bresnahan will become the public television system’s first dual president when he takes over in September at WTVP-TV in Peoria, Ill., and WILL-TV, 90 miles to the east in Urbana-Champaign. He succeeds interim dual General Manager Chet Tomczyk, who delayed his retirement from WTVP to temporarily lead the two stations. Tomczyk has been in charge of WTVP, a community licensee, and WILL, part of the College of Media at the University of Illinois, since September 2013. The unique agreement was designed to foster more collaboration on content between the stations and to save on salary costs. “We have two great stations here, and the staff at each is so dedicated and has such a great legacy,” Bresnahan said in an announcement Friday.

People

MPT promotes execs, APM announces changes, and more comings and goings in public media

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Maryland Public Television in Owings Mills promoted executives. Steven Schupak rises from s.v.p. and chief content officer to e.v.p. and chief operating officer at the Owings Mills station. George Beneman, chief technology officer, is now s.v.p. And Jay Parikh steps up to v.p. and head of MPT’s content division. “The promotions were due to the talents of these individuals coupled with restructuring to accommodate MPT’s fundraising campaign and Vietnam initiative,” said Larry Unger, MPT president, referring to a major event honoring veterans and their families that the state network is planning for April 2016.  “We are very excited for what the future has in store for MPT.”

Schupak joined MPT in 2003 after a three-decade career in television and media.

Margaret Low Smith

Margaret Low Smith, NPR’s senior news veep, will depart for The Atlantic

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Margaret Low Smith, NPR’s senior vice president for news, is leaving the network to take a position with The Atlantic as president of its live-event division, AtlanticLIVE. Smith has worked for NPR for 32 years, heading the news division since 2011. Before holding that job, she worked as VP of programming. She started at NPR in 1982 as an overnight production assistant for Morning Edition. “Her departure will be felt as profoundly as any in recent memory,” NPR Chief Content Officer Kinsey Wilson wrote in an email to station executives.

People

Rocky Mountain PBS restructures exec ranks, Fraser heads KMUW-FM and more comings and goings in pubmedia

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Rocky Mountain PBS in Denver has restructured its management team. “It is critical that we have leaders at the helm of our ship who can help shape the future of public media for all of Colorado and beyond,”said Doug Price, c.e.o. of the Rocky Mountain Broadcasting Network, in an announcement. “We have made tremendous strides over the past year with the merger of Rocky Mountain PBS, KUVO jazz public radio and I-News, our public-service journalism team, and I look forward to continued growth and success up ahead.” The organizations joined forces in January 2013. Harris Ravine, network c.o.o., is also now president and general manager of KRMA-TV, one of the network’s five stations. His previous experience includes chairing the board of Twin Cities Public Television in St.

People

WGBH’s Taylor leaves imprint on kids’ content, Gilbert to exit Marketplace, and more comings and goings in pubmedia

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Kate Taylor, an influential children’s media executive and producer at WGBH, is leaving public broadcasting in July after 42 years. Taylor joined the Boston pubcaster’s mailroom in 1972. She worked on the original version of Zoom from 1973-77 and executive-produced the updated version in 1997. She also served as associate director of children’s and cultural programming at PBS from 1982-86 until returning to WGBH as director of children’s programs.

During her long career, she won a Peabody Award and multiple Emmys. “The productions that have benefited from Kate’s talents have changed the face of children’s media,” said Brigid Sullivan, WGBH v.p. for children’s media and educational programming, in a note to colleagues, citing Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, Peep and the Big Wide World and Fetch!