Oregon Public Broadcasting has announced the appointment of CNN Digital’s SVP/Global News Rachel Smolkin as its new President and CEO.
Smolkin has spent the past decade at CNN rising from Executive Editor of CNN Politics to VP/News for CNN Digital in 2021 and her current SVP title a year later where she oversees breaking news, politics and Washington, U.S. and international teams across the network’s digital platforms worldwide. Prior to joining CNN, Smolkin was White House Editor, Deputy Managing Editor, and Managing News Editor for Politco, News Assignment Editor for USA Today, Managing Editor of American Journalism Review, and a Washington reporter for multiple newspapers including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
She will start in her new position in September succeeding the retiring Steve Bass, who departs after 18 years leading OPB. Smolkin stated, “I am honored to lead OPB in its next chapter serving Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. I am energized by the commitment the board has shown for building news and public affairs programming for all Oregonians and Southwest Washingtonians, for leading conversations about solving our most urgent challenges and for innovating new ways to connect with communities.”
OPB Board Chair Rukaiyah Adams said, “As we celebrated our first 100 years, we were looking for a dynamic leader to chart the way forward during this time of transformational change in media. Rachel will advance our work with deep experience in journalism, wide professional networks and adaptive leadership skills.”
