Promotions elevate journalists and producers that contribute to the newsroom’s multiplatform, statewide reporting
July 9, 2021 – Newark, NJ – NJ PBS, New Jersey’s public television network, announced that its news division, NJ Spotlight News, has promoted several of its team members to new responsibilities that will afford new professional challenges and enhance its statewide reporting across broadcast and online platforms.
Two of the NJ Spotlight News team’s veteran reporters received promotions. Former Reporter Colleen O’Dea has been promoted to the role of Project Editor/Senior Writer, with a focus on NJ Spotlight News’s digital assets.
Former Senior Correspondent David Cruz was elevated with the title Senior Political Correspondent/Anchor. Cruz remains at the helm of two of NJ PBS’s public affairs programs, Chat Box with David Cruz and Reporters Roundtable with David Cruz.
Two producers have also been recognized and promoted. Julie Daurio has been promoted to Senior Editorial Producer and Buki Elegbede has been named Producer.
“Every member of our NJ Spotlight News team goes above and beyond to assure New Jersey has a reliable, ongoing news source both online and on-air, a feat made especially challenging throughout the pandemic,” said NJ Spotlight News Senior Managing Editor Jamie Kraft. “We are thrilled to be able to recognize the stellar work of these colleagues with new titles that mark their rise in responsibility, skillset and devotion to their journalistic integrity.”
Recently, NJ Spotlight News also welcomed Monsy Alvarado as a new Social Justice Reporter and Taylor Jung as an Associate Producer to its team.
These team members contribute to NJ Spotlight News’s multiplatform, statewide news coverage, which consists of NJSpotlightNews.org and the weeknight broadcast, NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi, which airs weeknights at 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on NJ PBS.
Major funding for NJ Spotlight News and NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi is provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the William Penn Foundation, the Fund for New Jersey, RWJBarnabas Health, NJM Insurance Group, New Jersey Education Association, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Orsted and PSEG.
