WBFO to Expand In-Depth News and Community Engagement
by
Published on
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 20, 2022
Media Contact: Heather Hare
VP, Marketing & Creative Services
(716) 845.7155 • hhare@wned.org
Buffalo Toronto Public Media has enhanced the structure of its NPR station, WBFO, to allow its journalists to provide news on the many platforms its audience uses as well as to provide more opportunities to engage with the community, including through its new weekday program, “Buffalo, What’s Next?" which launched in response to the racist mass shooting in May.
“WBFO is our community’s trusted source for news, and we are making these changes to strengthen its ability to provide that essential service for the Western New York and Southern Ontario region,” said David Rotterman, Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer for Buffalo Toronto Public Media. “We’re fortunate to have been able to maintain an excellent reporting staff while also launching ‘Buffalo, What’s Next?’ and ensuring our work is available on the digital platforms our audience uses.”
WBFO has added a program director for the station, mirroring the structure of the organization’s other radio stations (WNED Classical and WBFO The Bridge). Tom Berich heads up the station’s voice, programming, and engagement with the community. Berich, who has extensive experience in public radio across the US, comes to Buffalo from Montana Public Radio where he was Creative Services Producer and regular host of “All Things Considered.” The on-air hosts and the newly created position of Digital Editor will report to Berich.
WBFO's managing editor, Brigid Jaipaul-Valenza whose previous experience includes executive producer in charge of the morning shows at WGRZ Channel 2, now heads up all news content for Buffalo Toronto Public Media. Jaipaul-Valenza supervises the reporting staff, including two new multimedia journalists to be hired. WBFO reporters will continue to dig deep into the issues that matter to our region, providing the in-depth reporting WBFO is known for, while also nimbly providing that reporting on all platforms.
In fact, WBFO has already proven its agility with issues that are both paramount and deeply complicated. Following the racist mass shooting in May, WBFO launched a new daily show and podcast, “Buffalo, What’s Next?” to provide an open and honest forum about what happened, what’s next, and what role each of us can play in solving the problems that caused it. Within days of coming up with the concept for the show, “Buffalo, What’s Next?” was on air and delivered as a podcast. Dave Debo was an integral part of the team that launched the show and as Senior Reporter is a producer and host of the program, and Jaipaul-Valenza is executive producer.
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