May 2, 2025; Washington, D.C. - NPR welcomes the election of Paul Hunton to the NPR Board of Directors.
Hunton, President and General Manager of North Carolina Public Radio, was elected to fill an unexpired term vacancy on February 20, 2025 for a term running through November, 2025.
"I'm honored to join the NPR Board at such a pivotal moment for public radio," said Hunton. "While we face real challenges, I'm energized by the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across the system to build a stronger, more sustainable foundation for the future."
NPR's 23-member Board of Directors is composed of 12 Member Directors who are managers of NPR Member organizations and are elected to the Board by their fellow Members, 9 Public Directors who are prominent members of the public selected by the Board and confirmed by NPR Members, the NPR Foundation Chair, and the NPR President & CEO.
Biography:
Paul Hunton is the President and General Manager of North Carolina Public Radio – WUNC, leading one of the nation's premier NPR member stations. With more than two decades of experience in public media, he has built a career at the intersection of journalism, digital innovation, and organizational leadership.
Before joining WUNC, Paul was the General Manager of Texas Tech Public Media, where he oversaw a transformative expansion, merging multiple PBS and NPR stations to create a regional media hub for West Texas. His leadership fostered award-winning storytelling, securing regional and national partnerships with PBS FRONTLINE, The Texas Tribune, and America Reframed.
Paul has won multiple awards for his documentary filmmaking, and has directed films such as Between Earth and Sky: Climate Change on the Last Frontier, which was distributed nationally to PBS stations, and executive produced Through the Repellent Fence, featured at MoMA NYC's Documentary Fortnight and SXSW. He also co-created the acclaimed YouTube series Global Weirding, hosted by climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe.
Paul has served on the PBS National Board of Directors, chaired Texas PBS, and currently sits on the Vision Maker Media board, supporting Indigenous storytelling. He has championed sustainability efforts in fundraising and content creation, working towards ensuring the long-term strength of public media.
Paul holds a Master's in Mass Communication from Texas Tech University and a Bachelor's in Broadcast Production, Film, and Television from Eastern New Mexico University. He remains committed to advancing public service journalism and the role of local news in civic engagement.
About NPR
NPR's rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling connects with millions of Americans every day — on the air, online, and in person. NPR strives to create a more informed public — one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures. With a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and 16 international bureaus, NPR and its Member organizations are never far from where a story is unfolding. Listeners can find NPR by tuning in to their local Member stations (npr.org/stations), downloading the NPR App or asking Alexa to "Play NPR." Additionally, listeners on Alexa will also be able to tune in to NPR's live coverage. Just tell Alexa to "ask NPR to play special coverage." The NPR mobile app brings together the best of the NPR Network from around the world and right in your community — live radio, podcasts, the latest local and national news and more — available wherever you are and whenever you want. Get more information at npr.org/about and by following NPR Extra on Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and Instagram.
About the NPR Board of Directors
The NPR Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of our 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The Board sets the policies and overall direction for NPR management, monitors the performance of NPR, and provides financial oversight.
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