{"id":13695,"date":"2017-03-21T16:00:44","date_gmt":"2017-03-21T21:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.robertfeder.com\/?p=13695"},"modified":"2017-03-21T16:20:59","modified_gmt":"2017-03-21T21:20:59","slug":"program-boss-ben-calhoun-leaving-wbez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/2017\/03\/21\/program-boss-ben-calhoun-leaving-wbez\/","title":{"rendered":"Program boss Ben Calhoun leaving Chicago Public Media"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

<\/a> Ben Calhoun<\/p><\/div>\n

For the second time in less than three years, Chicago Public Media<\/a> is in the market for a new programming chief at WBEZ FM 91.5.<\/a><\/p>\n

Ben Calhoun is leaving as vice president of content and programming, effective in April. He is expected to return to the staff of \u201cThis American Life,\u201d where he spent five years as a producer and reporter for the public radio magazine show.<\/p>\n

Culminating a national search, Calhoun was named<\/a> director of content and programming in December 2014, and was promoted to vice president the following July. He\u2019d previously worked at WBEZ, starting as an intern in 2000 and rising to assignment editor, documentary producer, deputy news director and political reporter.<\/p>\n

Goli Sheikholeslami, president and CEO of Chicago Public Media, announced Calhoun\u2019s departure to the staff Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past 2\u00bd years, Ben has expanded and led a 60-person team of first class reporters, editors, producers, hosts and anchors,\u201d Sheikholeslami said in a statement. \u201cIn addition to leading the award-winning news team, Ben oversaw the launch of WBEZ\u2019s digital experience, with innovative podcast programs like 'Making Oprah' and 'Nerdette,' successfully polished 'The Morning Shift,' and revamped WBEZ\u2019s programming schedule.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith his leadership and ability to identify and recruit top talent, Ben has allowed us to produce great journalism and elevate our ability to tell the stories that matter to our community, and our listeners. While he will be greatly missed, Ben\u2019s ambitious plans and high standards will be fulfilled as we continue to deepen our coverage of the essential news and information that is so vital to our city, state and nation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

In response to a request for comment, Calhoun said:\u00a0\u201cSince I joined the station as an intern answering the phone in the newsroom, I have loved this station. I have believed in it. I love its values, its people, and the city and public it serves. That has only grown over time. To be a partner in shaping WBEZ\u2019s future with Goli and the staff \u2014 that has been an honor I\u2019m humbled by and grateful for. I think this organization\u2019s future is stronger and brighter, and its future has always been bright. But I\u2019ve decided to step away from this role, and to get my hands back on the tools of the craft I\u2019ve dedicated myself to.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite that, I\u2019m going to be president of their fan club. And I\u2019m going to be rooting them on as they continue to grow, and to do more brilliant and creative work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

No word on plans for Calhoun\u2019s successor. Before his appointment, the station\u2019s top programming job has been vacant for two years. Steve Edwards relinquished the role in 2012 to become host of \u201cThe Afternoon Shift.\u201d Later that year, Edwards left to join the University of Chicago\u2019s Institute of Politics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For the second time in less than three years, Chicago Public Media is in the market for a new programming chief at WBEZ FM 91.5. Ben Calhoun is leaving as vice president of content and programming, effective in April. He is expected to return to the staff of \u201cThis American Life,\u201d where he spent five... Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13695"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13695"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13695\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13702,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13695\/revisions\/13702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}