Renee Montagne to give up host seat at NPR West

Renee Montagne. Doby Photography/NPR

NPR announced on Monday the longtime "Morning Edition" host based here in Culver City, Renee Montagne, will step down after the election. She's not leaving NPR, but will give up the brutal early morning life — I'm told she starts work about midnight every weekday. Montagne has been hosting on "Morning Edition" for 12 years. In November she is set to become a special correspondent with her "focus on more long-form reporting."

Says the NPR story:

Renee is an essential part of public radio mornings for millions of people who wake up to her every week. Audiences will be pleased to know that in her new role, her voice and reporting will be part of NPR programs across the day and online. She will remain based at NPR West and bring her considerable skills and experience to bear in covering both domestic and international stories for Morning Edition as well as the other news magazines. She will also occasionally guest host Weekend Edition, keeping up her ties with morning audiences.

Freed from the daily demands of the hosting role and the punishing schedule of a workday that begins at midnight, Renee will be able to take advantage of opportunities that have opened up at NPR over recent years, including partnering with NPR desks and other long-form news organizations on stories as well as contributing to podcasts. Outside of work, she's also looking forward to doing some writing.