KPBS Hires News Director

Continuing his pledge to expand the KPBS News Division, General Manager Tom Karlo announced the hiring of a director of news to oversee the organization’s content division. Karlo has also reorganized the management structure at the station.

Director of news and editorial strategy

Suzanne Marmion, has been hired as KPBS’ director of news and editorial strategy. Marmion is an award-winning public media journalist with extensive multimedia reporting and editing experience in broadcast, print and online platforms.
 
Her recent experience includes:

• Serving as an adjunct professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism
• Working as an international correspondent for The World, Frontline/World, Marketplace and other public media news outlets
• Five years as news editor at the BBC World Service/PRI's The World
• Reporting for Capital Public Radio

Suzanne has a master's degree in broadcast journalism from Columbia University.

“We’re excited to have such an accomplished journalist lead KPBS news into the new decade,” said Karlo. "Suzanne’s experience brings a new perspective to our growing news department and I am confident her background will enhance our award winning coverage of local issues.”

Marmion’s first day will be Feb. 8.

New roles and responsibilities

Marmion will report to Deanna Martin Mackey, KPBS station manager. General Manager Tom Karlo created the position of station manager last year and promoted Mackey into the position to oversee the TV and Radio stations’ day-to-day operations. This includes oversight of:

• All content
• KPBS.org
• Production
• Operations
• Communications/marketing
• Education/outreach
• Membership/fundraising departments

Mackey has worked at KPBS for 20 years and has been a member of the management team for 12 years, most recently as associate general manager for marketing, education and new media. She is a graduate of SDSU with degrees in broadcast journalism and political science.

“Deanna shares the same enthusiasm for KPBS’ future as I do,” said Karlo.

“As we expand our local news presence on all platforms, celebrate our 50th Anniversary, and connect with the local community through programming and events, Deanna is the right person to lead these initiatives. She is both a strategic planner and risk taker – two attributes that will help KPBS succeed in the new decade.”

Management reorganization

In addition, as part of the KPBS management reorganization, Stephanie Bergsma becomes associate general manager. Bergsma has been with KPBS since 1982 and previously served as associate general manager for development.

She retains her leadership over the development department at KPBS with the goal of expanding major giving, planned giving and KPBS’ Producers Club.

“Over the years Stephanie has demonstrated her outstanding skills working with local donors,” Karlo said. “She and I are working as a team to secure funding for news and content initiatives in order to fulfill the goal of expanding KPBS’ local news coverage across all platforms.”

About KPBS

KPBS is a public service of San Diego State University, serving the region with TV, radio and Internet content that is educational as well as entertaining—and free of commercial interruption.