Alan S. Chartock

Alan Seth Chartock (born July 25, 1941) is the president and chief executive officer of WAMC/Northeast Public Radio, a National Public Radio affiliate, a position he has held since 1981. He was professor of political science at SUNY New Paltz and is a professor emeritus of communications at the State University of New York ( SUNY), and is executive publisher and project director for the ''Legislative Gazette'', a weekly newspaper staffed by college intern reporters covering New York State government.

Chartock serves in a variety of on-air roles at WAMC, including but not limited to hosting the ''Capitol Connection'', ''Vox Pop'', and ''Conversations with'' programs, sitting on panels for the ''Roundtable'' and ''Media Show'', serving as a political commentator, and filling a central role in the thrice-annual fund drives. He also writes a syndicated column on politics which appears in newspapers throughout New York state.

Background

Born in New York City, Chartock worked in the state legislature for Senator Manfred Ohrenstein. He attended the New Lincoln School, graduated from Rhodes High School. Chartock is a graduate of Hunter College, received a master of arts from American University, and a doctorate from New York University. He is married to Dr. Roselle K. Chartock, an author and professor of education at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams. They reside in Great Barrington, Massachusetts and have two grown children, Jonas S. Chartock and Dr. Sarah R. Chartock.

Chartock is of European Jewish descent.

Radio personality

Chartock participates in a broad swath of WAMC's radio programs, serving as host of the ''Capitol Connection'', ''Legislative Gazette'', and ''Congressional Corner''; appearing on '' the Media Project''; and being interviewed as the "political observer" at WAMC on a number of the on station, including as ''The Roundtable'', ''Midday Magazine'', and ''Northeast Report''. Chartock also hosts morning portions of on-air fund drives.

Chartock's presence on the air was increased after retiring from a full-time position teaching at SUNY Albany.

Awards

Chartock has won numerous awards at SUNY, including the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching and the SUNY Council of University Affairs and Development Award for Educational achievement. He was one of the first recipients of the SUNY Award for Excellence. In 2007, Chartock was chosen to receive the 2006 Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teacher from the SUNY New Paltz Alumni Association.

He is the recipient of an honorary doctorate for public service from the Sage Colleges and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Western New England College and Westfield State College.

Views of WAMC news and political commentary

Chartock's political views

Chartock says he is concerned about governmental restrictions on free speech. He is dismayed by what he calls the proliferation of corporate-run radio stations, which he believes express extreme right-wing views without giving opposing viewpoints. He has called Pete Seeger "an American hero".Alan Chartock, "New York has a chance to honor an American hero", ''Legislative Gazette'', April 24, 2009, found a
''Legislative Gazette'' website
Accessed April 29, 2009.

According to Gadi Dechter of CityPaper.com, Chartock "publishes a blog on WAMC's web site that has featured sharp attacks on the Republican party, the Bush administration, and ' neocons' in general."

Support for Chartock's programming

Stephen Yasko, manager of WTMD (89.7 FM), an NPR member station in Towson, Maryland which plays mostly adult-alternative music, contends that any quality-control challenges which might be created by NPR's decentralized nature are outweighed by the advantage of unique local programming.

"Public radio stations reflect the values and texture of the communities they serve," says Yasko, who has also worked in the NPR member services department. "If NPR or any national organization had too much control or input into every station's local personality, then you would lose the very thing that makes us what we are. So if Alan Chartock is what Albany and upstate New York created and what works for them, that's a beautiful thing, no matter what some outsiders might say."

Under Chartock's leadership, WAMC has grown into a network of fourteen stations (all broadcasting identical programming) and a web-based platform serving portions of seven New England and Middle Atlantic states, bringing news, information and cultural programming to what station leaders claim is an audience of nearly 400,000 monthly listeners. The station's thrice-yearly fund drives have a goal of one million dollars each as of 2013.

Books

*
*
*

References

External links

Chartock's web site

WAMC Northeast Public Radio Network
mdash;A tax-exempt, educational broadcaster for which Alan S. Chartock is currently chief executive
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chartock, Alan S.
1941 births
American chief executives in the media industry
American people of Jewish descent
American public radio personalities
American University alumni
Businesspeople from Albany, New York
Hunter College alumni
Living people
New York University alumni
State University of New York faculty