Changes at Vermont Public

By Eagle Times Staff
After 20 years on the Vermont airwaves as the local host of Morning Edition, Mitch Wertlieb is passing the mic to All Things Considered co-host Jenn Jarecki.

Wertlieb will stay at Vermont Public to host The Frequency, Vermont Public’s daily news podcast, beginning this fall.

“Twenty years is a long time to do anything, even when you cherish it,” Wertlieb said. “After so many years having the alarm clock assert itself each morning before 4 a.m., I’ve made a decision to step away from my morning show hosting duties and explore a new chapter of work at Vermont Public that doesn’t take quite the toll on mind and body as Morning Edition demands.”

Wertlieb’s last day on Morning Edition will be July 28 and listeners are asked to send “thank you” messages that may play during his last Morning Edition broadcast by emailing a voice memo to [email protected] or leaving a message at 802-552-8899.

“For so many of us, Mitch’s steady presence on the air over the past two decades has almost made him synonymous with VPR, and now Vermont Public,” said Angela Evancie, interim senior vice president of content. “And yet he is also uniquely himself: a rare host whose integrity is never in question, whose humanity never falters and whose jokes never fall flat (unless you don’t like puns!).” Jarecki will begin hosting Morning Edition on July 31.

“I am deeply honored by and immensely grateful for the opportunity to spend each weekday morning with our listeners as Vermont Public’s new Morning Edition host,” Jarecki said.

As Jenn Jarecki moves to mornings, Mary Engisch will become full-time local host of All Things Considered.

“Mitch is one of the most thoughtful hosts and journalists I’ve ever known,” said Scott Finn, Vermont Public president & CEO. “Thank you for all those early-morning alarms and snowy drives. Thanks for guiding us through trauma and sharing moments of joy with such humanity. And thank you for paying attention to the little things that mean so much — the jokes, the music, the sports highlights. They’ve made mornings special on Vermont Public for 20 years.”