’BURspace
Meet our news team
Monica Brady-Myerov
General Assignment Reporter
My simple pleasure: I enjoy cooking and often bring in baked goods for the newsroom to share.
How my radio career began: My first paying job was in Nairobi, Kenya where I was a freelance radio reporter working mainly with the Voice of America.
The future of public radio is: I see public radio focusing more on our local audiences with shows and reports about our community, and that excites me.
The life experience that most influences my work today: For four years I lived and worked abroad—first in Kenya and then Brazil (like Fred Thys, I’m also fluent in Portuguese). I feel like this experience expanded my reporting horizons and also gave me a perspective on the world that I use in my local reporting.
Curt Nickisch
Business & Technology Reporter
Previous heroics: I fought forest fires each summer to pay my way through the University of Utah.
My first radio story: It was about thrift stores and the people who shop at them. It’s actually one of the best stories I’ve ever produced—probably because I hadn’t yet learned any rules.
The best part of my job: Going out, talking to people, taking the microphone to capture the scene, and then coming back to share those joys and sufferings with listeners.
The challenge public radio is facing: Public radio has come of age. Its challenge now is that it’s in danger of losing the enterprising and surprising qualities that got it to its unique place in the country’s media landscape.
Comments
Posted by: John Davidow, WBUR News Director
One story I’m really looking forward to from Curt is his coverage of “one laptop per child” based in Cambridge. It’s a group of scientists who are developing a laptop that they hope will change the world.
Fred Thys
Political Reporter
What you may not know about me: Before coming to WBUR, I was based in Mexico City as the Latin American correspondent for NBC News. I am also one of three WBUR reporters who are fluent in Portuguese.
What do I enjoy most about covering politics for WBUR? Covering political stories is a lot more than covering the politicians. It’s really about covering the people who are affected by political decisions.
My other passions in life: I enjoy rowing, hiking, world affairs, Latin America in particular, and cooking.
Where I see the future of public radio? I foresee more foreign coverage by NPR, as newspapers and television networks progressively cut back on their foreign coverage.
Comments
Posted by: John Davidow, WBUR News Director
Who would have thought we’d be sending Fred up to New Hampshire this early! The election coverage has started earlier than ever before and Fred is committed to providing listeners expanded coverage of this highly contested race.
Martha Bebinger
General Assignment Reporter
I spend roughly 20% of my time: Working on stories about the implementation of the state’s health care law.
What appeals to me about being a reporter in Boston: Boston is an inspiring place to live and work. There are so many smart, thoughtful, dedicated and colorful people from all over the world doing interesting things. It makes for great stories.
How my career in public radio began: My first job in radio was here at WBUR. I started as a producer on the weekends.
What I focus on when preparing a story for air: The emphasis is always on good story telling that uses sound in creative ways.
Comments
Posted by: John Davidow, WBUR News Director
Martha has done an outstanding job explaining the state’s new healthcare initiative. She is now hosting an online blog called Commonhealth. You can visit it here.
Andrea Shea
Arts & Culture Reporter
Fun fact: Before life at WBUR, I used to brew beer for a living.
How did my career in radio begin? I landed an internship on NPR’s National Desk in Washington. Within a few months, an Editorial Assistant position opened on Weekend Edition Sunday.
What I enjoy most about public radio? I feel there is an undercurrent of passion and intelligence that drives all of the work that goes on the air. This comes from both the people who make public radio and the people who listen to public radio. It’s a potent and wonderful combination.
What I enjoy about covering the arts? I am passionate about the things I am privileged to cover, including film, music, theater, and many others. I feel so lucky but also very connected and invested in my work.
Comments
Posted by: John Davidow, WBUR News Director
One of Andrea’s more memorable pieces this year was a multimedia report of a dancer who incorporates her artificial limbs into her performance. You can view the piece here.
Bianca Vázquez Toness
General Assignment Reporter
Interesting facts: I enjoy salsa dancing and want to learn to tango. I’m also the third WBUR reporter fluent in Portuguese.
Areas I cover as a reporter: I joke that I unofficially cover the death, detention and disaster beat. I reported on the Big Dig tunnel collapse immediately after it happened, the explosion in Danvers, the immigration raid in New Bedford, and have profiled a handful of marines and soldiers who’ve died in Iraq.
Why I work at WBUR: I was eager to work at a storied station with a group of talented reporters. I’m also overjoyed to live and work in a city that attracts young people.
Where I see public radio in the future: With the downsizing of newspapers, NPR and public radio have the opportunity to set the news agenda more and more.
Comments
Posted by: John Davidow, WBUR News Director
Bianca brings great energy and enthusiasm to every story that she covers. She is always pushing to enhance our web presence, which adds to the depth of our coverage.
Comments
Posted by: John Davidow, WBUR News Director
Monica is currently following the family of a service member whose son is in Iraq. It’s a unique way of telling the story of the war. You can see pictures and hear clips here.