WBHM Names Holmes General Manager
Charles W. “Chuck” Holmes, a veteran journalist and newsroom leader at NPR in Washington, D.C., has been named the General Manager of Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM, the listener-supported service of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Holmes will direct the operations of WBHM and the Alabama Radio Reading Service, a resource for the blind and print-impaired, as he develops and executes a strategic plan for the station’s news, programming, fund-raising and community engagement endeavors.
Holmes has led NPR’s daily news operation as Deputy Managing Editor since 2013 and previously served as Supervising Senior Editor of Morning Edition, one of the nation’s most-listened-to radio programs. Among his accomplishments at NPR, he shared the Peabody Award for his editorial guidance of “The Race Card Project.” His role in the network’s coverage of the war in Afghanistan earned an Edward R. Murrow Award.
“Chuck will lead a great team of public media professionals as they continue growing WBHM with quality journalism, meaningful programming, impactful community outreach and new and innovative fundraising efforts to support the station,” said Anne Buckley, APR, UAB’s chief communications officer.
“It’s a privilege to join WBHM and lead its talented staff,” Holmes said. “Robust coverage of local news and strong information and arts programming are vital to Birmingham and the communities of North Central Alabama.
“My family’s roots run deep in Alabama, and my commitment to the mission of public radio runs deep, too – serving the audience and making the community a better place to live,” Holmes said.
Prior to joining NPR in 2009, Holmes was foreign editor of Cox Newspapers (now the Cox Media Group) and earlier served as a foreign correspondent, posted in Jerusalem and Moscow, for the Atlanta-based company. Holmes gained industry recognition for his coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war in Kosovo, the Rwandan genocide and civil war, and the war in Afghanistan.
A Tennessee native, Holmes received a B.A. in Journalism from The George Washington University. He begins at UAB on Jan. 9, 2017.
Workers at Alabama’s Mercedes plants vote against joining a union
The workers voted 56% against the union, according to tallies released by the National Labor Relations Board, which ran the election.
Taylor Hunnicutt is championing her home state with debut album ‘Alabama Sound’
Alabama offers a diverse symphony of swampy rock, swaggering blues, murky country, and bone-rattling soul. It’s a sound singer-songwriter Taylor Hunnicutt recently reimagined on her debut album, Alabama Sound, which is out now.
UAB building among Alabama’s first to feature ‘bird safe’ glass
Advocates hope the new glass will prevent window collisions, a leading causes of bird mortality.
Researchers look into community health impact of wood pellet production in rural Mississippi
Brown University and Tougaloo College students are testing for potential air and noise pollution near the Drax wood pellet plant in Gloster, Mississippi.
Alabama coal company sued for a home explosion is delinquent on dozens of penalties
Crimson Oak Grove Resources has been cited for 204 safety violations since the March 8 blast, many involving “significant and substantial” safety violations.
The United Auto Workers faces a key test in the South with upcoming vote at Alabama Mercedes plant
The United Auto Workers is aiming for a key victory at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama. More than 5,000 workers at the facility in Vance and nearby battery plant will vote this week on whether to join the UAW.
