Aspen Public Radio is pleased to announce the hiring of Ariel Van Cleave as news director. Van Cleave, who will be relocating from Chicago, officially starts this August 4th.
Van Cleave is currently the senior editor of audio news at WBEZ in Chicago, and boasts sixteen years of experience in public media. Prior to her time with WBEZ, Van Cleave worked as the producer of Morning Edition at KNKX in Seattle, and also served as Morning Edition host and reporter at WYSO in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
She has also served on news teams at public radio stations in Homer, Kenai, and Dillingham, Alaska. She received her Masters degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois and also holds a journalism degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.
"I’m looking forward to coming to Aspen Public Radio to work with a dedicated, local team who want to explore creative, innovative, and thoughtful ways to report on the news. I can’t wait to learn more about the Roaring Fork Valley; working with the staff and the community to decide how we should be covering important issues is going to be a crucial part of my job. Plus, I’ll happily take any recommendations for the best karaoke spots, too," Van Cleave said.
The News Director is the leader and chief editor of Aspen Public Radio’s newsroom, overseeing news staff, production, and output of news on all platforms. In her new role, Van Cleave will set strategic priorities and goals to serve the public, and will ensure that all Aspen Public Radio news content is accurate, engaging, and produced with the highest standards of professional journalism. She will also work on developing meaningful, local content and news events throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, such as town hall meetings, debates, and community forums.
Aspen Public Radio executive director Tammy Terwelp says, “We’re so excited to have Ariel join our team, and to be able to thrive under her leadership, knowledge, and experience. This was a national search process and from the very beginning, Ariel stood out: her focus on collaboration, innovation, and community engagement will be key for our growth as a public service. We truly couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome her to the valley.”
