Chris Hastings, EP and chief editor of GBH’s World, has been named the new president and CEO at WXXI in Rochester, N.Y.
He takes the helm at the dual licensee Nov. 11, succeeding Norm Silverstein, who is retiring after nearly 30 years with the station, WXXI announced Tuesday.
With Hastings’ departure, Nina Chaudry, senior series producer for Frontline, will become EP for World, GBH also announced Tuesday.
World, a digital multicasting channel focused on news and documentaries, is carried by 194 public TV stations. Its signature series include America ReFramed, Local USA, and Doc World, which Hastings co-created and oversaw curation and production for more than 12 years.
“Joining WXXI and coming to Rochester is more than just a career move — it’s a chance to be part of a community-focused organization that understands the transformative power of local media,” Hastings said in a news release. “WXXI’s work demonstrates how a local station can act as a pillar of support, education and cultural enrichment for its community, and I am excited to lead and expand upon this essential mission.”
Hastings has worked as a producer on numerous programs during his more than 20 years at GBH. He led the WGBH Lab, which experimented with new forms of storytelling, and worked on programs such as Greater Boston, Basic Black, and La Plaza.
He has partnered with organizations like the Independent Television Service and American Documentary Inc. to help bring diverse stories to national audiences.
His work has earned awards, including the Peabody, duPont-Columbia and news and documentary Emmy.
Before joining GBH, Hastings worked at Black Entertainment Television, where he was part of the team behind BET Tonight, the release said.
“Chris is an extraordinary leader whose career reflects a profound dedication to public media and its role in serving all communities,” said David Tang, chair of the WXXI Board of Trustees, in the release. “His extensive experience, from his early days at BET to his dynamic leadership at GBH, uniquely positions him to lead WXXI with vision, integrity and a deep commitment to diversity.”
Chaudry will join World later this month and focus on developing collaborations with Frontline and other documentary productions, GBH CEO Susan Goldberg said in a release. The channel will continue to present its original storytelling as it moves towards this “next chapter.”
“Since first broadcasting in 2005, WORLD has established itself as a premier platform for global news and independent documentaries that amplify the issues and voices of underrepresented communities,” Chaudry said in GBH’s release. “I’m excited to take on this new role, add my journalistic experience in producing documentaries to WORLD’s success, and [bring] these exceptional stories to a wider audience.”
