Following a staff revolt over how the station handled allegations of harassment against former reporter Martin Di Caro, American University Public News/Talk 88.5 WAMU Washington DC General Manager JJ Yore has resigned.

Employees at the station demanded Yore resign at a meeting last week over how he and the station failed to do anything about the complaints and promoted Di Caro to a full-time position despite being warned repeatedly about sexual harassment. At the staff meeting on July 31, Yore told employees he intended to stay on “my choice, at least for now is to is to stay is to face you and to try to implement the changes that we need to make.”

WAMU has had other issues in recent months including American University investigating Senior Managing Editor Zuri Berry over allegations that he’d created conditions that caused two Black journalists to leave, the resignation of Jeffrey Katz as News Director but staying on as Senior Editor, and the departure of Andi McDaniel in May to become President/CEO of WBEZ Chicago.

Yore joined WAMU in May 2014 after serving as Vice President and Executive Producer for American Public Media’s Marketplace from 1997 to 2013.

Monna Kashfi, who has served as Interim Chief Content Officer since McDaniel’s departure, will be named to that position permanently. Kashfi joined WAMU in December 2018 as Executive Producer of the Kojo Nnamdi Show. She previously spent the majority of her career and multiple television and digital positions in Washington including AOL, CGTN America, WYD Media, and Voice of America.

Today American University and WAMU General Manager JJ Yore announced that he has decided to leave WAMU. AU also announced measures to enhance the culture at WAMU 88.5, the local NPR station in the nation’s capital licensed to the university.

“Today, we are announcing a series of critical steps designed to address issues in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, human resources, and management, as well as how matters of misconduct are handled at WAMU. These actions are a combination of immediate and longer-term steps to accelerate WAMU’s work to enhance culture and workplace,” said Seth Grossman, vice president, people and external affairs and chief of staff and counselor to the president. “The changes will provide important support to the WAMU staff, who we thank for continuing to focus on producing award-winning journalism that the Washington, D.C., region relies on amid this period of change.”

Yore will step down as general manager effective today. During his tenure, Yore increased WAMU’s revenue by more than 70% and membership by 40%. WAMU used that financial success to increase staff by 50%, including doubling the number of local journalists. Under his leadership, WAMU also acquired DCist, the local news site, and quadrupled the station’s digital audience. During his tenure, WAMU developed and, in January 2017, launched the national talk show 1A, succeeding the iconic Diane Rehm Show. 1A reaches more than four million listeners a week on almost 400 stations.

“AU thanks JJ for his years of service to WAMU, and we wish him well as he pursues his next endeavor,” said Grossman.

AU announced the following additional personnel and administrative changes at WAMU:

• During the next four to six weeks, an interim general manager will be identified and installed.
• The station will add an HR employee relations consultant who has proven experience in improving organizational culture and creating inclusive workplaces. The consultant will assess past practices within WAMU and between WAMU and AU and provide recommendations on new structures.
• Monna Kashfi, WAMU’s interim chief content officer, is being named the permanent chief content officer. Kashfi will oversee the WAMU and DCist newsrooms and all programs, podcasts, and content-related activities.
• The Leadership Team will undergo diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism training. This training will then be expanded to other managers and staff.
• A task force will be established immediately to review the culture and make recommendations. It will be chaired by the chief content officer, together with two other leaders who will be identified in the coming days. The task force will include staff representatives from across the organization. Following the conclusion of the task force’s work, a search for a permanent general manager will be launched.
• The new AU assistant vice president for equity and Title IX, scheduled to start by the beginning of September, will conduct listening sessions with WAMU staff.
• The existing WAMU working group on social media practices will continue its work and provide recommendations in September.

“We believe these actions will offer support for the entire WAMU team and provide a foundation for the station’s next chapter,” said Grossman.