Stevan Smith Named Chief Content Officer of WBGO
(NEWARK, NJ) -- After an extensive search, public radio station WBGO welcomes Stevan Smith as the institution's first Chief Content Officer. Smith has 15 years radio experience in the New York market, most recently as Assistant Program Director at WNYC. He returns to WBGO after a three (3) year hiatus with the organization, where he formerly held the position of Traffic and Continuity Manager.
Born and raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York, Stevan Smith Jr. was surrounded by musical influences that became ingrained in his DNA. Graduating from the exceptional Boys and Girls High School with several business scholarships to attend the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management at Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD), Stevan decided to switch to a path that would allow him to follow his passion for music. Introduced to Jazz music via Hip-Hop, Stevan started a radio programming internship at the MSU owned WEAA in Baltimore. It was there that a deeper passion for jazz music and public radio was nurtured.
As an intern/volunteer host, and later full-time employee of WEAA, Stevan took full advantage of his opportunities to learn the ins and outs of radio programming, production, audience development, and more, ultimately serving as their Assistant Program Director. Smith subsequently worked at WBGO for close to 12 years, contributing to the station's digital efforts, producing features for broadcast, and filling in as a guest announcer. He also immersed himself in digital media, producing podcasts for himself and others.
Seeking greater opportunities to expand on his Public Radio skills set, Stevan left WBGO in 2018 to become Assistant Program Director at WNYC, New York Public Radio.
"Returning to WBGO in the role of Chief Content Officer is the culmination of everything I've worked for since I was 19 years old. Jazz music/radio has remained a constant throughout my journey, and it feels good to come HOME. It's time to be great!"
WBGO President and CEO, Steven A. Williams, agrees. "It wouldn't be a stretch to say that we are "over the moon" with the news of Stevan Smith's acceptance. In fact, his re-addition to Team WBGO gives us enormous lift, tantamount to a stage in propelling a rocket into space. Having Mr. Smith at the helm of our content strategies and tactics moves us significantly closer toward what may have, at one time, seemed like lofty goals of greater reach and deeper engagement - now, with him on board, we have those targets in clear view. For WBGO, Stevan is one of the few people on earth with the "Right Stuff" - a winning mix of knowledge, experience and character that is requisite for this unique and honorable assignment. We congratulate Mr. Smith and his family on the occasion of this remarkable turn of events."
WBGO is a publicly-supported cultural institution that preserves and promotes jazz, blues, Latin jazz and classic rhythm & blues. From its home base of Newark, New Jersey, public radio station WBGO has long been an anchor institution in community engagement through its music and news programming, live performances and partnerships. WBGO reaches a diverse audience from its broadcast location in America's number one media market, the New York/New Jersey metro area. Through programs such as Jazz Night in America, produced in partnership with NPR and Jazz at Lincoln Center, the organization’s reach extends to millions more across the country, and around the globe through WBGO.org and the WBGO mobile app and social media plus Facebook Live broadcasts. WBGO is broadcast at 88.3 FM in the NY/New Jersey area and may be streamed from WBGO.org.
