Neal Charnoff, VPR’s longtime local host of All Things Considered, will be setting his alarm clock a bit earlier as the new host of Morning Edition at WFDD public radio in Winston-Salem, NC. The news of Neal’s departure from VPR was shared with his colleagues earlier this week. He cited long Vermont winters and a desire to be closer to stepchildren as reasons for his decision.
Neal joined VPR in 1996, when he started as a part-time host. He was also the host of VPR’s weeknight jazz show, before becoming host of All Things Considered. During his tenure, he played an important role in VPR's overall sound and expansion of news coverage.
“Over the last 14 years, Neal has played an important part in the development of VPR as a leading news organization in Vermont,” says John Van Hoesen, VPR’s senior vice president and chief content officer. “Neal helped to strengthen VPR's daily newscast and carry out expanded newscasts in recent years. He has interviewed many news makers during his time, and has also dedicated many years to coverage of Vermont's lively arts scene.”
Among Neal’s many accomplishments include the launch of “Weekly Conversation on the Arts,” which can be heard every Thursday. He also participated in VPR's Backstage project from the very beginning, providing listeners with insight into summer and regional theater as well as a sound-rich summary of plays performed on local stages.
“It has been such an honor to be at VPR, I cannot say enough about the caliber of the people I work with,” Neal says. “And of course, the arts beat has introduced me to many of the great folks who have made Vermont such a vibrant creative center. But ultimately, it has been the listeners who have made this whole experience so special.”
All of us at VPR wish Neal and his wife Judy the very best and will miss him dearly. Neal’s last day at VPR is Aug. 15.
“We are sorry to see him go,” John says. “Neal is part of a very talented staff at VPR, and has dedicated his career to high quality broadcasting. His work has left a mark and will help to keep us strong in the years ahead.”
