New York Public Radio Names Christy Tanner as President and CEO

Transformative leader joins iconic center of excellence for audio and multiplatform journalism, music, arts and culture, and civic dialogue

NEW YORK, NY — February 3, 2026 Christy Tanner has been appointed the next President and CEO of New York Public Radio (NYPR), which includes WNYC, WQXR, WNYC Studios, Gothamist, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, and New Jersey Public Radio, NYPR’s Board of Trustees announced today. She will assume the role effective immediately.

Tanner is a highly accomplished CEO and board director, an award-winning journalist, and a longtime New Yorker. She is known for more than two decades of transformative media industry leadership in executive roles at CBS, TV Guide, and The Washington Post Company. She serves as Chair of Swerve Sports, a streaming TV company, and on the board of directors of Audacy, one of the nation’s largest audio companies.

“Christy is the leader NYPR needs at this moment,” said John Rose, Chair of the NYPR Board of Trustees. “She brings the leadership, experience, and vision to lead NYPR into an exciting and successful future. During an extraordinary career, she has distinguished herself as a pacesetter for media organizations that have successfully adapted, innovated, and grown while delivering award-winning public service. She recognizes our singular role in New York City, and the importance of reinforcing the trust we’ve earned with audiences over generations – while having the vision to advance our services, platforms, and formats to make the center of excellence that is NYPR sustainable for years to come.”

“As a longtime fan of NYPR’s magnificent work, I’m honored to join this powerhouse organization with local heart and global impact,” Tanner said. “I’m looking forward to serving New Yorkers and audiences everywhere in partnership with the trusted, world-class team who set the standards for audio and multiplatform excellence.”

Tanner started her career as a reporter and editor at The Associated Press and at The Commercial Appeal in Memphis. In senior executive roles for numerous media organizations, including The Washington Post Company and Reed Elsevier, she pioneered multiplatform programming, products and revenue models. As CEO of TV Guide Digital, she led its turnaround, growth and sale to CBS Interactive in 2013.

Assuming leadership of CBS News Digital starting in 2015, Tanner and her team innovated what news could look like on mobile, audio, social, and connected TV. CBSN –  the 24/7 live-streaming service – launched in 89 countries and 12 local markets and became a model widely adopted by other news outlets. During Tanner’s tenure, CBS News Digital grew to #1 among its peers, with consistent triple-digit year-over-year growth, reaching 1 billion streams in 2020.

Tanner’s notable honors include election as Co-Chair of Digital Content Next, the trade organization for premium content organizations, appointment as founding Co-Chair of the Reykjavik Global Forum for women’s leadership, and as a UN Generation Equality Leader. She was part of two Pulitzer Prize-winning teams at The Associated Press, and she was awarded by Scripps Howard and the Society of Professional Journalists for her reporting for The Commercial Appeal. She has received multiple Webby Awards, Broadcasting & Cable’s Technology Leadership Award, and AdAge’s Media Vanguard Award.

Tanner earned an MBA in Media and Marketing from Columbia Business School, and a BA in Art History from Brown University.

The announcement follows a national search led by the NYPR Board CEO Search Committee: John Rose, Anna Quindlen, Jenna Weiss-Berman, Gary Knell, and Marc Chamlin.

Tanner succeeds LaFontaine E. Oliver, who will continue to support the organization as Executive Chair, driving efforts to build stability and strengthen collaboration across the public radio system following the recent elimination of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.