Two Big Hires for WGBH

Photograph by Christopher Churchill (Abbott); Courtesy of WGBH (Building)

WGBH has poached Kate McCarthy Zachry from ABC News to serve as the public broadcasting juggernaut’s new news director. McCarthy Zachry comes to WGBH after working for eight years as the editorial producer for This Week with George Stephanopolous, a popular Sunday morning chat show. Before working with the former Clinton advisor turned anchor, she worked as a producer for Good Morning America.

McCarthy Zachry replaces Ted Canova, who departed the station two months ago.

“Kate is an exceptionally talented journalist with deep and relevance experience. She brings to our newsroom a passion for storytelling and a vision for how WGBH News can continue to improve and grow as a public media leader,” said WGBH Radio General Manager Phil Redo in a statement.

WGBH also announced on Wednesday that it tapped Aaron Schachter for the newly created position of executive producer and editor for the broadcaster’s radio arm. Schachter joins the station from PRI’s The World where he worked in a variety of capacities during his 12 years there. Prior to working at PRI, Schachter spent time as the host of the Marketplace Morning Report and in the Los Angeles bureau of NPR.

The Holliston resident got his start as a State House reporter in Boston.

“The WGBH News team has worked closely with Aaron on several stories with global-local impact during his time at PRI’s The World. He has been a respected collaborator and supporter of our local coverage, and he brings significant editorial experience and skill for narrative audio craftsmanship that will be a valuable asset for our radio coverage,” said Redo in a statement.

The additions of Schachter and McCarthy Zachry come not long after the station hired multimedia reporter Mike Deehan as its new State House reporter, filling a void left by Sarah Birnbaum who left the station before the summer.