Jimmy Vielkind Joins WNYC / Gothamist to Expand Albany and Statewide Coverage Ahead of 2026 NY Governor’s Race
New position, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, is part of the New York Public News Network, a collaboration of 13 public radio newsrooms across the state
(January 6, 2025 – New York, NY) – WNYC today announced that experienced Albany reporter Jimmy Vielkind will join the WNYC / Gothamist newsroom as part of a Capitol bureau expansion that will provide statehouse reporting to 13 public media organizations across the state.
The Capitol bureau – which is part of the New York Public News Network – is supported through a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to fuel more enterprise and investigative journalism on key topics including education, taxes, transportation, and housing, along with how statewide policies affect the lives of New Yorkers.
As part of this new team, Vielkind will work alongside WNYC / Gothamist reporter Jon Campbell and WXXI reporter Jeongyoon Han. Their reporting will be broadcast and published on North Country Public Radio (Canton); WAMC (Albany); WBFO (Buffalo); WJFF (Liberty); WLIW (Long Island); WRVO (Oswego); WSHU (Connecticut/Long Island); WSKG (Vestal); WXXI (Rochester); WAER (Syracuse); WCNY (Syracuse); and WMHT (Albany), in addition to WNYC.
Vielkind joins WNYC from the Wall Street Journal, where he served as a politics and U.S. news reporter for six years and was part of the award-winning team that covered the downfall of Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Previously, he was Albany bureau chief at POLITICO. Vielkind began his career as a reporter at the Albany Times Union. His work has been honored with national prizes, including the Gerald Loeb Award. In 2023, Vielkind spent two months reporting in Germany as an Arthur F. Burns Fellow.
“At a time when fewer media outlets can afford large statehouse bureaus, public media must play a role in ensuring that New Yorkers have access to information about what is happening in Albany and across the state,” said Audrey Cooper, WNYC’s Senior Vice President of News and Editor in Chief. “This collaboration ensures that New Yorkers from urban, suburban, and rural communities alike have access to reporting about issues in Albany that impact their lives. We’re grateful to the CPB for supporting this statewide effort.”
About WNYC
With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, WNYC is New York’s public radio station, broadcasting and streaming award-winning journalism, groundbreaking audio programming and essential talk radio to the city and beyond. WNYC is a leading member station of NPR and broadcasts programs from the BBC World Service, along with a roster of WNYC-produced local programs that champion the stories and spirit of New York City and the surrounding region, including The Brian Lehrer Show and All of It with Alison Stewart. From its state-of-the-art studios, WNYC is reshaping audio for a new generation of listeners, producing some of the most beloved nationally-syndicated public radio programs, including Radiolab, On the Media, and The New Yorker Radio Hour. WNYC broadcasts on 93.9 FM and AM 820 to listeners in New York and the tri-state area, and is available to audiences everywhere at WNYC.org, the WNYC app, and through major digital radio services. The WNYC newsroom also serves readers with local news at Gothamist.com. All of this is made possible through the generous support of our members, donors and sponsors.