KQED Names David Markus Executive in Charge, Arts, and Joe Matazzoni Arts Managing Editor.
KQED, the public media organization that serves Northern California, announced the creation of a new Arts Desk, which will expand KQED’s arts coverage on television, radio, digital and for educational use. KQED has named David Markus the new Executive in Charge, Arts. Markus had been the editorial director for George Lucas Education Foundation’s Edutopia since 2008, where he oversaw content creation and production as well as community development. As a journalist and a media executive, Markus has covered and developed content in a wide range of areas — health, family, education, politics and the arts. Joe Matazzoni, who was most recently at NPR Digital as the founding senior supervising producer of the Arts & Life section and NPR Books, has assumed the role of KQED’s Arts Managing Editor. Joining Markus and Matazzoni on the new KQED Arts Desk are Arts Partner Manager Siouxsie Oki and Arts Education Manager Kristin Farr.
Creation of the new Arts Desk is a part of KQED’s ongoing strategic plan to better meet the needs of its audience in the 21st century. KQED Arts is the second multiplatform desk, following the creation of KQED Science. KQED Science was formed with a similar intention to help coordinate and expand coverage and has since become the largest science editorial team in California.
“Arts are a central part of the civic and cultural fabric of the Bay Area and have always been a cornerstone of KQED’s identity in all its platforms,” said Michael Isip, VP, Television. “Local arts coverage has diminished considerably on commercial media outlets and KQED is uniquely positioned to respond by expanding and deepening its robust coverage of the arts. In this ever-changing media climate, we’re excited to create a multiplatform desk that will lead our coverage, content creation and community engagement to highlight the importance and relevance of arts, artists and arts organizations and to make the arts more accessible.”
The first stories to come out of the new KQED Arts Desk are part of a cross-platform series highlighting the role of art in building community called “Culture Creates Community.” The series includes a SPARK television special, which airs on Friday, March 25, at 7:30pm on KQED 9; KQED Public Radio stories, including discussions featured on Forum with Michael Krasny; and Web videos and articles. KQED Interactive is also reimagining the online presence of KQED Arts. The redesigned, mobile-friendly site will go live in the spring of 2014.