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Sep 20, 2010

HoustonPBS selects Torres-Burd as executive content director

Patricia Torres-Burd is the new executive director of content at HoustonPBS/KUHT, the licensee announced today (Sept. 20). She will develop and coordinate local, national and international content initiatives across multiple platforms. She previously worked as g.m. at Locke Bryan Productions, a film and video company. Between 1995 and 2008 she was with several international broadcasting ventures including Latin America Broadcasting and RTV B92 in Serbia. She also previously worked at the station as unit director and series producer from 1991 to 1995.

Management deal a likely outcome for WBFO in Buffalo

Two Buffalo pubradio licensees may be moving toward a licensee management agreement under which independent nonprofit WNED would operate the university-owned WBFO, the licensees announced Sept. 15. SUNY’s University at Buffalo, which owns the stronger news station, WBFO, “is committed to remaining as the license-holder for WBFO and its repeater stations,” according to the joint statement. But the university also wants to reduce its contribution to operating costs. When its station manager took another job last fall, the university didn’t hire a permanent successor. The two are continuing “cordial and collaborative” talks and expect to conclude them by year’s end, the statement said.

At least two dozen universities, squeezed by the recession, have also been considering the licensee management agreement option, or consolidating their stations with others, or selling them outright, according to a July survey by pubradio’s University Station Alliance. That was the situation reported by 26 stations, or nearly a fifth of those responding to the alliance survey.

Search is on for new NPR ombudsman

NPR is looking for a new ombudsman, reports the Ombuds Blog ("News and Information For and About Organizational Ombuds"). The blog says it's "one of the most high-profile News Ombuds in the U.S., and not the type of position for which there is often a public search." Current Ombudsman Alicia Shepard was appointed in October 2007 for a three-year term. Think you have what it takes to explain the network and its news-gathering issues to the public? Click here for more information and to apply.