Program director Craig Curtis leaves KPCC

Friday's email from vice president of content Russ Stanton says that program director Craig Curtis leaves KPCC later in the month. He's already gone from the staff roster. The memo has nice words for Curtis, but there's no mention of him going on to anything else.

KPCC of course had all the upheaval last year over the killing of Patt Morrison's show, the hiring of new morning host A Martinez and the subsequent departure of Madeleine Brand, whose morning show without Martinez was KPCC's most listened-to local program. Then last month the staff voted to unionize the newsroom with SAG/Aftra. Some sources say there is concern at the station these days about ratings and the results of the latest fundraising campaign. No idea if that has anything to do with Curtis' exit.

Here's the Stanton note about Curtis leaving.

From: "Stanton, Russ"
Date: February 8, 2013 3:54:53 PM PST
To: "SCPR"
Subject: Craig Curtis

Colleagues,

Craig Curtis, our Program Director for the past dozen years, will be leaving Southern California Public Radio later this month.

Craig has played an integral role in the growth and success of SCPR. From his then-perch as program director at Minnesota Public Radio, Craig oversaw the transformation of KPCC's programming from its music+news format into the 24/7 news and information programming we deliver today. He also has been involved in the hiring of virtually all of our on-air talent, as well as the broadcast production staff.

He is responsible for KPCC's distinctive on-air sound which, among other things, boasts a core audience loyalty of 74%, a remarkable achievement.

As most of you know, Craig is a highly engaging fellow with wide-ranging interests that run the gamut from classical music to NASCAR. If there is a subject about which he has no knowledge, interesting observation, or fun story to share, it has yet to be identified. His contributions to KPCC are many, and we wish him much success in the next chapter of his career.

His last day will be next Friday, Feb. 15.

Russ Stanton

Vice President, Content

Southern California Public Radio

KPCC top boss Bill Davis also sent around a note letting people know about Curtis leaving.

Please note that Craig Curtis will be leaving SCPR next week. As a practical matter, Craig has been KPCC’s program director since SCPR was created, and much of the success we have enjoyed during the last decade-plus is as a result of Craig’s efforts, insights and intelligence.

Between our work at SCPR and at WUNC-FM in Chapel Hill, Craig and I have worked together for 17 of the last 23 years. We haven’t always agreed on everything, but I have always had tremendous respect for—and admiration of—Craig’s understanding of public radio programming, his determination to expand public radio’s audiences and his commitment to public service media. More importantly, I value his friendship. And I will miss his camaraderie.

I hope all of you will join me in wishing Craig nothing but the best in his future endeavors, both professional and personal.

All good things (considered),

Bill

Photo of Curtis: John Rabe