Expect the space on the WTJU website that has read "[vacant]" for months to soon read Nathan Moore, an administrator at Free Speech Radio in Madison, Wisconsin, who has been hired in the head position at UVA’s volunteer-run community radio station.
When longtime general manager Chuck Taylor retired in early 2010, the Office of Public Affairs, which operates the station, hired Burr Beard as a replacement. Beard and the Office of Public Affairs caused a stir among the station’s volunteer staff by proposing format changes. Beard quit the post in October, citing family reasons.
According to a release from Marian Anderfuren and Carol Wood, in the Office of Public Affairs, in his previous job Moore "did many of the things that are critical to WTJU, including fundraising, web and social media. At Pacifica, he was the national programming coordinator, charged with developing public affairs programs and getting them on the air at Pacifica affiliates. Before that, he was news and public affairs director at WORT in Madison, the scrappy public station that does battle with Wisconsin Public Radio."
Pacifica is the progressive-leaning network of radio station that produces shows like "Democracy Now." The release also notes that Moore lived in Charlottesville in 2008, telecommuting to a job in Washington, D.C.
Nailgun blogger and WTJU deejay James Ford was involved with the interview process. "The person we went with is a young guy, who has a lot of backround in online promotion," says James Ford.
"Looking at his resumé, I’m really happy to have him," says rock programming director Colin Powell. "He seems really interested in what WTJU is, and has a handle on ways to improve our public affairs and news programming."
Will the new General Manager at WTJU be a good fit?