WHYY announces staff for Delaware news service
WHYY’s longstanding commitment to providing news and information for Delaware will continue with reports on television, radio and the web, led by experienced reporters and producers.
Stephanie Aldrich, Tom Byrne and Bill Cook will be based at WHYY’s Wilmington news office as reporters and producers. Micheline Boudreau will lead a revamped Delaware news operation as managing editor. Lisa Shiner will direct a TV program and handle additional duties in Philadelphia.
WHYY will retain an office in Wilmington devoted to serving the entire state. Beginning in early August, the news staff will cover Delaware communities and state government, and will prepare stories for broadcast on WHYY-FM and publication in an enhanced Delaware news section on WHYY.org.
The news staff will also produce a weekly public affairs magazine on WHYY-TV that will focus solely on Delaware and premiere in September. Other WHYY news and technical staff will be available as needed for additional Delaware coverage.
Many other former “Delaware Tonight” staff members will be assigned to WHYY’s Philadelphia offices to develop enhanced web-based news.
WHYY’s transition from a traditional radio and television broadcaster has called for the public media provider to refocus its delivery of news and information by using multiple media platforms.
The transition comes at a time when commercial and other public broadcasters are changing how they connect with citizens in the face of declining news audiences.
Combined with the significant costs of operating a weekday TV operation, the challenging economic climate has made now the right time for WHYY to change how it reaches Delawareans.
Cook has been WHYY’s statehouse reporter and Dover news bureau chief since 2008. With more than 17 years’ experience in the TV news industry, he has reported stories for CNN and Fox News, and he has served as anchor for WIVT-TV in Binghamton, N.Y.
Aldrich was named anchor of “Delaware Tonight” in 2008. She previously produced the program’s “Experience Delaware” segment, winning awards from the Delaware Press Association and Philadelphia Society of Professional Journalists.
Byrne has been a sports anchor and reporter with WHYY since 1996.
The Ithaca College graduate has also been a sports editor for WILM Newsradio and play-by-play announcer for Delaware State football.
Boudreau was appointed WHYY’s director of television news in 2004. She previously served as news producer for “Delaware Tonight” and was a senior producer at WBUR radio in Boston.
Shiner has been senior producer for program production and director since 2004. She joined WHYY five years earlier as director and facility manager and has also worked as a director at QVC and an NBC affiliate in Connecticut.
