Boston Radio: WGBH Names New Interim Host For 'Morning Edition'

Boston Public media juggernaut GBH said Monday it will relaunch next year a new version of ”Basic Black,” previously the longest-running public television program nationwide focused on people of color until GBH suspended production earlier this year.

The Boston Globe reports the announcement was among a number of programming changes GBH announced, including new roles for both ”Morning Edition” cohosts. Paris Alston will host the new version of “Basic Black,” which will have a new name when it restarts in 2025, and fellow cohost Jeremy Siegel will host a new one-hour news show and podcast that will center on stories that make Massachusetts unique, also launching next year.

“Paris and Jeremy are both accomplished storytellers, and we hope listeners will join us as we explore new topics and geographies together,” said Dan Lothian, editor in chief of GBH News and “The World,” in a statement.

The latest changes come after the public media organization, which operates an NPR news station and is the country’s top producer of PBS programming, in May laid off 31 employees, or roughly 4 percent of its workforce, and suspended the three TV programs, citing rising costs as revenue remained flat.

Starting Oct. 28, GBH News reporter Mark Herz will serve as the interim host of “Morning Edition.” The program will air from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The new programming is also the latest development under Lothian, who became editor in chief in May after the departure of former general manager Pam Johnston, now the president and CEO of the merged Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio. GBH also launched an equity and justice unit to pursue stories “that aim to explore and expose injustice at all levels of society earlier this month after it initially announced its creation last year.

WBUR, Boston’s other NPR news station, has also made changes to its “Morning Edition” show recently. “Morning Edition” is produced nationally by NPR, but stations such as GBH and WBUR also include local programming and hosts. Tiziana Dearing, who previously hosted WBUR’s “Radio Boston,” began hosting “Morning Edition” last month after the departure of Rupa Shenoy at the end of June.