April 12, 2012
The relationship between Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and Marketplace is alive and growing. At least 10 J-School alumni from the radio concentration have been hired by Marketplace over the past 15 years. One alumnus refers to them as the “Dinges Mafia.”
“The first grad from my era to work for Marketplace was Steve Henn ’98” recalls Prof. John Dinges. “He was in the first radio workshop I taught, in 1997.”
In addition to Henn, who recently moved to NPR after 10 years at Marketplace, J-School hires include Collin Campbell ’03, contract reporter Jennifer Collins ’07, Nancy Farghalli ’03, David Gura ’07, Ethan Lindsey ’03, China correspondent Rob Schmitz ’01, senior reporter and morning host Stacey Vanek Smith ’03, Gretchen Wilson ’03, and most recently, Sitara Nieves ‘07.
“I'm starting as senior producer of Marketplace's PM show,” said Nieves. “It's an amazing opportunity to work on a show that keeps experimenting and innovating. The radio workshop at the J-School was a great foundation for my career -- it taught me how to run every part of a show and helped develop my ear for radio, taught by amazing professors who are still my mentors years later.”
Marketplace vice president and general manager J.J. Yore ’81, commented on why so many alumni are hired.
“Over the years, the J-School at Columbia has been the single largest source of talent for Marketplace,” said Yore. “Columbia grads have been well prepared and highly motivated. John Dinges, a long-time colleague, has been invaluable in helping us at Marketplace find the best and brightest students with an interest in audio journalism.”
The Radio Workshop produces a one-hour magazine each week. Listen in at www.uptownradio.org
Marketplace is produced and distributed by American Public Media (APM), in association with the University of Southern California. Marketplace programs are currently broadcast by more than 500 public radio stations nationwide across the United States and are heard by more than 9 million weekly listeners, the largest audience of any business or economics program on radio or television. The program focuses on the latest business news both nationally and internationally, the global economy, and wider events linked to the financial markets.
