NPR hired Susanna Capelouto as Southern bureau chief.
“Susanna will collaborate with member station journalists across a large swath of the South (and beyond), with her territory ranging from Texas to the Mid-Atlantic,” said Chief National Editor Ammad Omar in a staff memo.
Capelouto most recently worked as deputy managing editor for WABE in Atlanta. She has also been an editor for CNN and a reporter and news director for Georgia Public Broadcasting.
Amy Isackson, an editor for All Things Considered, served as interim Southern bureau chief during the search. Russell Lewis, supervising editor for the National Desk, worked as the bureau’s chief for 15 years until 2021.
Monica Nickelsburg joined the station as labor and economy reporter. She most recently worked as a freelancer and was also a reporter, producer and civic affairs editor for GeekWire. Nickelsburg has also been a regular contributor to KUOW’s Week in Review.
Samantha West was hired as an education reporter. West most recently worked as a reporter in Memphis for Chalkbeat, the nonprofit education-focused publication. She previously covered education for the Post-Crescent and the Leader-Telegram, both in Wisconsin.
Gustavo Sagrero became a race and identity reporter. He previously worked as bilingual reporter for KUNR in Reno, Nev. He was named an Association of Independents in Radio New Voices Scholar in 2021.
Marketing
Carolyn Connolly joined Austin PBS in Texas as chief marketing officer. Connolly most recently worked as senior director and head of brand experience for Restore Hyper Wellness. She was also creative director for Rain the Growth Agency and T3, both marketing agencies. Her clients have included Allstate, J.P. Morgan Chase, HBO and Marriott Hotels. “I look forward to utilizing my experience in marketing and advertising to help [CEO Luis Patiño] and the entire Austin PBS team grow the organization into a world-class modern media company,” Connolly said in a news release.
Management
Christopher Norris is joining StoryCorps as a strategic adviser to the CEO. Norris most recently worked as managing editor of community and engagement for WHYY in Philadelphia. He joined the station in 2021 after working as a host for commercial radio stations in Philadelphia.
Technology
NPR hired Brendan Williams as product manager of Grove, the content management system used by most member stations. “My initial focus on the product team will be assisting with the migration of the remaining stations who have chosen to join us on the collaborative platform,” Williams told Current in an email, adding that he starts the job Feb. 27. Williams will leave his role as digital product lead for St. Louis Public Radio Feb. 15. He joined STLPR in 2016 as an intern and was also a digital media specialist. Last year, Williams worked with the Station Digital Solutions team at NPR on the final phase of the Grove rollout, advising from a member station perspective.
Michael Garth left his position as a senior broadcasting recording technician for WBUR in Boston to become a technical producer for Rococo Punch, a podcast production company. Garth joined WBUR in 1999.
David Kingsbury left his position as systems engineer for TPT in St. Paul, Minn. He joined the station in October and previously worked as director of information technology for U.S. Bank Stadium, the High School for Recording Arts and a local Four Seasons hotel. In addition, Michael Groskreutz left his role at TPT as a technology project manager. He joined TPT in October after holding several positions for Quality Bicycle Products.
Development
Marci Schramm joined NPR as director of development for the Gulf States Newsroom, a regional collaboration led by NPR and member stations in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. She previously worked as director of membership, events and engagement for the Bureau of Governmental Research. She was also executive director of the New Orleans Opera Association and French Quarter Festivals Inc.
Content
John Decker became senior director of content development for KPBS in San Diego. Decker joined the station in 1995 as director of programming and most recently worked as associate GM for content. He served on the NPR board from 2017 until January.
Emily Hofstaedter announced that she was hired as a general assignment reporter for WYPR in Baltimore. Hofstaedter previously worked as a reporter and fact-checker for Mother Jones. She was also a reporter for KNOM, a noncommercial Catholic radio station in Nome, Alaska.
Jackie Ourada left her position as a Morning Edition host for Nebraska Public Media to become a communications specialist for the Nebraska secretary of state’s office. “I’ve had the time of life reporting on stories across Nebraska and working with the journalists at NPM … thank you for reading my stories and keeping me company in the early mornings,” Ourada said on Twitter. She joined the state network last year.
Governance
Eric Deggans, television critic for NPR, was one of five new members appointed to Poynter’s National Advisory Board. “These journalism leaders are not only widely respected and accomplished, but they are among the brightest media thinkers practicing today,” said Poynter President Neil Brown in a news release. “Our national advisory board is a vital ally in ensuring that our teaching programs, events and coverage of the news industry are as relevant and smart as possible. We’re grateful for their participation, insights and their belief in Poynter.”
Send news of “comings and goings” to people@current.org
Susanna Capelouto left WABE in Atlanta to join NPR.