Tarryn Mento named WAER news director

Tarryn Mento, professional in residence at WAER, has been named the station’s news director. The announcement was made by executive director and general manager Chris Bolt.

“Tarryn has a professional past that shows commitment to elevating journalism and creativity,” Bolt says. “In the professional in residence role, she has also demonstrated great enthusiasm and energy in helping students learn and grow. I see her as a perfect addition to help WAER with both of our missions: to enlighten, entertain and engage the community; and to provide professional development opportunities to students.”

Mento joined WAER in 2021 as professional in residence after her experience at KPBS in San Diego, where she produced audio, video and digital content as a health, immigration and community journalist. She was previously a multimedia producer in New York City at MetroFocus and a Pulliam Fellow at the Arizona Republic in Phoenix.

She will oversee the news department’s shift to more digital content and distribution and will also work to enhance broadcast news offerings, improve community engagement programming and elevate student experiences. She will report to Kevin Kloss, content and operations manager.

“Tarryn brings a tremendous number of fresh ideas to the role of news director, and we’re excited to see her vision for multiplatform news coverage develop at WAER,” Kloss says.

WAER serves the greater Syracuse area with NPR and local news, eclectic music and Syracuse University sports. The station has long been the training ground of choice for aspiring broadcasters from the Newhouse School, and it officially became part of the school last year.