D-C Radio: WAMU Reorganizes Newsroom

The growing collaboration between the WAMU 88.5 FM and DCist newsrooms that began with expanded coverage of the coronavirus pandemic and continued with breaking news in recent months has led WAMU to consider ways to leverage this collaboration in order to produce local and regional content with the greatest impact and reach, according to a website posting.

In recent weeks, WAMU has grappled with structural challenges and tensions in the newsroom that have undermined morale and led to employee turnover.  The station says it has committed to being responsive to feedback from staff and tackle these issues immediately, as well as to ensure the resolutions have a lasting impact on the station well into the future.

WAMU has appointed Rachel Sadon as interim news director, and she is already working with leadership to improve newsroom operations. According to WAMU, her proven track record as a journalist who has covered this region in-depth, along with her considerable management skills that have built a thriving team culture at DCist, made her the strongest choice within the organization for this role. During this time, WAMU will be conducting a search for a candidate to fill the news director role permanently.

Jeffrey Katz has taken on the role of senior editor in the WAMU newsroom where he will draw upon his 42 years of print, audio and digital journalism experience to help grow and strengthen the organization’s regional journalism work. Natalie Delgadillo will step in as interim managing editor at DCist.

WAMU will be conducting a search to hire a permanent news director after a new chief regional news officer is in place this fall. The chief regional news officer, a new position, will direct the content strategy for WAMU and DCist with a focus on creating a cohesive newsroom while also balancing the demands of audio and digital workflows.