Michigan Radio Program Director Tamar Charney has been elected chair of the Public Radio Program Directors Association, the organization announced today. She succeeds Todd Mundt of Louisville Public Media (formerly of NPR Digital Services and Michigan Radio) who had reached his term limit. She will assume leadership of the board at its annual retreat in Chicago later this month.
“Tamar has distinguished herself as a savvy, intelligent and energetic advocate for audiences in public radio content across platforms” said Arthur Cohen, PRPD president. “With her insight, analytical skills and directness, she is an ideal leader as we address the exciting opportunities of the new media landscape. ”
Charney joined Michigan Radio in 1997 as a newscaster and shortly thereafter started the award-winning Arts and Humanities Radio Project. She was the founding producer of the magazine program Stateside and the Jack Lessenberry Show. In 2007 Charney produced the Murrow Award winning documentary Ashes to Hope: Overcoming the Detroit Riots which also won a Clarion, a PRNDI and numerous regional and state awards. She also produced the 2008 documentary Foreclosing on the American Dream, which won a Clarion Award and numerous state awards, and the 2009 documentary Facing the Mortgage Crisis.
The Public Radio Program Directors Association exists to support the role programmers play in providing the highest level of service to public radio audiences. It includes almost 200 members representing over 800 stations, public radio organizations, national networks and independent producers.
