Tiziana Dearing to host WBUR’s Morning Edition starting in September

WBUR, the largest public radio station in Boston, has named a familiar voice to host its flagship morning program.

Tiziana Dearing, who currently hosts WBUR’s midday talk show Radio Boston, will anchor the station’s top-rated Morning Edition program beginning Sept. 18.

In an internal announcement Wednesday, WBUR Chief Executive Officer Margaret Low praised Dearing as a “singular talent — an extraordinary host with deep ties to this city and region.”

Dearing, 53, said she has loved hosting Radio Boston, and now looks forward to the opportunity to “meet a huge swath of Greater Boston as they get up and start their day.” She said “it’s a tremendous privilege and it’s a tremendous responsibility.”

The transition at one of Greater Boston’s most listened-to radio shows follows the departure of Rupa Shenoy, after she was unable to reach an agreement with the station this summer to extend her contract. Before that, Bob Oakes led the show for nearly three decades.

Dearing has hosted Radio Boston for five years, interviewing newsmakers from the governor, mayors and members of Congress to key players in business, culture and sports. She said she aims to share that experience with Morning Edition listeners, including her love of Massachusetts and her signature deep dives into issues that matter to people across the region.

WBUR Executive Editor Dan Mauzy called Dearing “one of a kind. A natural leader, a brilliant mind, rigorous journalist, virtuoso interviewer.”

Mauzy said that under Dearing, “Radio Boston has become a destination for elected officials — local and national — community leaders and power brokers who know they will get fair and rigorous treatment.”

Dearing has lived in Massachusetts with her family for 30 years, since moving here from the Midwest. Before joining WBUR in 2019, she worked as a college professor and ran nonprofits.

She was president of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Boston from 2007 to 2010. She went on to run the anti-poverty group Boston Rising for three years, then taught at Boston College’s School of Social Work for several years.

Dearing holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University and a bachelor’s in literature from the University of Michigan. She lives in Newton with her husband, a psychiatrist.

“I intend to bring every aspect of that knowledge, that life, those relationships to bear on how we help you understand your neighborhood, your state, and your world,” she said over a coffee (decaf, nonfat, no whip, extra hot mocha). She also is preparing to start her mornings much earlier: Morning Edition airs from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and Dearing plans to arrive at the station ahead of that hour to work with the show’s team.

WBUR has jockeyed for first place in the 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. time slot this year with 98.5 The Sports Hub among the prized 25-54 age demographic. Morning Edition contains a mix of national NPR programming and locally produced features, interviews and news from WBUR. The station has used interim hosts for the program, including veteran reporter and host Deb Becker, since Shenoy stepped down two months ago.

Dearing expressed gratitude for the Radio Boston staff she has worked with over the years. “The group of people putting that show on are magnificent,” she said. “They make me a better host every day.”

She is tentatively scheduled to finish hosting the mid-day program Sept. 6.

The announcement means WBUR now plans to search for a new host for Radio Boston, which airs at 11 a.m and repeats at 3 p.m. In the interim, the station plans to have two of its podcast hosts — Darryl C. Murphy and Amory Sivertson — run the program.

Like many public radio stations and other news outlets, WBUR has cut staff and made other changes this year to cope with significant declines in advertising revenue. However, the station says it is committed to maintaining the quality of its broadcast. It has also invested in podcasts and newsletters to expand its audience.

WBUR executives say fundraising and ratings have remained largely solid as the station has gained share from other stations, like WBZ-AM. WBUR also co-produces two national NPR shows, Here & Now and On Point.

Editor’s note: WBUR’s Todd Wallack reported this story, and WBUR’s Beth Healy is the story editor. Under standard practices for reporting on WBUR, no other BU or WBUR staff were allowed to review the story before publication.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.