News
August 14, 2024WMHT’s Shantel Destra, Managing Editor and Host of New York NOW, Named One of the Nation’s Rising Stars in Public Media
WMHT Public Media, a multichannel public communications organization serving Eastern New York and Western New England, today announced that Shantel Destra, managing editor and host of its Emmy Award-winning public affairs program New York NOW, has been named one of 35 Rising Stars in Public Media.
The prestigious recognition from Current, the leading trade publication serving public media, honors early- and mid-career level professionals age 36 and under who are making a difference in public media. Chosen from more than 170 nominees at public media stations and national organizations across the country, Destra was cited for exceptional contributions to her workplace, community, and public media at large.
“Public media is so fortunate that these outstanding young professionals have chosen to bring their passions, talents and incredible work ethic to our field,” said Current Executive Director Julie Drizin. “Recognizing and rewarding diverse, younger talent helps support their career growth and helps public media expand its service to more diverse and younger audiences.”
Destra joined New York NOW in August 2023 as a multimedia journalist, and in April was promoted to managing editor and host. She has quickly gained attention as a familiar and authoritative journalist covering the state capital, interviewing elected officials and policymakers on critical issues, including housing and healthcare, birth control access and women’s rights, and the state budget process.
“I am honored and humbled to be selected by Current among its 2024 cohort of Rising Stars in Public Media,” said Destra. “The responsibility of providing fair, accurate and comprehensive coverage of issues that most impact New Yorkers is one I take seriously. This recognition reinforces my belief in the work we do at WMHT and in public media, and reignites my passion to pursue it with vigor.”
A native of Brooklyn, Destra earned a dual bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism and marketing management from the S.I. Newhouse and Whitman Schools at Syracuse University, and her master’s degree at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. She reported for City & State, THE CITY, and Politico’s Summer Journalism Institute before joining WMHT.
“I am proud to congratulate Shantel on this prestigious and well-deserved recognition,” said Anthony V. Hayes, President and CEO of WMHT Public Media and Board Chair of the Association for Public Broadcasting Stations (APBS), which represents public broadcasters statewide. “With an intelligent, thoughtful and thorough approach to covering issues important to our audience, Shantel embodies the power and value of public media in educating and enriching the public discourse.”
Current is a nonprofit news organization covering public media in the U.S for professionals in the industry. For over 40 years, leaders and staff at NPR, PBS, CPB, public radio and TV stations, and independent producers have relied on Current for information, inspiration and insights to help them fulfill public media’s mission.
