SYRACUSE PUBLIC BROADCASTER HIRES AWARD-WINNING PUBLIC RADIO & TELEVISION JOURNALIST TO LEAD STATION’S NEWS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM

Syracuse, N.Y. – WCNY has announced the appointment of Susan Arbetter as News and Public Affairs Director. In this newly created position, Arbetter will oversee WCNY’s array of public affairs programming on all platforms: web, radio and television.  She will be responsible for the content and growth of existing programs such as Central Issues, as well as the development of new public affairs programming. 

Arbetter will split her time between WCNY in Syracuse and the State Capitol in Albany where she will host and produce live radio shows heard throughout WCNY’s 19 counties, as well as via web-streaming. 

In addition to her work on radio, “Susan will be developing a news service for both public and commercial television broadcasters,” according to Brian Damm, the VP of Television at WCNY.  “My vision is to see Susan’s daily political reports from the Capitol on stations around the state, from Long Island to Buffalo.”

WCNY is investing in news during a time when other news outlets are downsizing.  “It falls to public media to foster public engagement.“ said Robert J. Daino, President and Chief Executive Officer of WCNY-TV/FM and Chair of the Association of Public Broadcasting Stations of New York State. Daino continued, “Our goal at WCNY is to provide our viewers and listeners with the information they need to evaluate news and government action at the local and state level.  An engaged, active media promotes political debate and ensures civic engagement.  That’s why this kind of significant investment in personnel and equipment is critical.”

According to the Pew Research Center, “Nearly one out of every five journalists working for newspapers since 2001 is gone, and 2009 may be the worst year yet. In local television, news staffs, already too small to adequately cover their communities, are being cut at unprecedented rates”.  

--  The Project for Excellence in Journalism, "State of the News Media 2009 - An Annual Report on American Journalism”.

“WCNY is focused on becoming a premier content provider in news and public affairs,” said Daino.  “Susan has earned over 30 state & national awards for excellence in journalism. With 20-plus years experience in both public radio and public television news, and with her familiarity with New York State politics, Susan will be an invaluable asset to WCNY.  That she should choose to join WCNY is a testament to the powerful team we have assembled here.  With Susan driving the direction of news and public affairs, WCNY will be perfectly positioned to connect legislative action in Albany with the everyday lives of New Yorkers.”

Prior to joining WCNY, Susan was employed by Albany PBS station WMHT where she produced the Edward R. Murrow & NETA award-winning political show, “New York Now” seen on all nine PBS stations around New York State, including WCNY in Syracuse.  

A graduate of Boston University, Arbetter moved to Albany in 1991. In 1993, she began a lengthy and successful partnership with WAMC Northeast Public Radio where she held the title of News Director for six years.  She and her team garnered over 25 awards, including a national Scripps Howard Award for Excellence in Environmental Journalism for coverage of the Hudson River PCB clean-up.  In 2000, she created, produced and began hosting the critically and popularly acclaimed “Roundtable Show” on WAMC, winner of multiple New York State Associated Press awards, as well as the New York State Broadcasters Association Award for “Best Public Affairs Show” for three consecutive years. 

“I am thrilled to be working at WCNY with such a high energy, passionate, and talented team,” said Arbetter. “WCNY’s commitment to and focus on public affairs will fully leverage my experience, interest, and talents as a journalist.”

Susan’s email at WCNY is susan_arbetter@wcny.org.