The NCPR News Team

Martha Foley
News and Public Affairs Director

Martha Foley joined the staff of WSLU as morning host in 1981, after a stint at The St. Lawrence Plaindealer. She helped found the news department in 1982, and has seen it grow, and shrink, and grow again. "I especially liked the 'grow again' part," she says, "it means working with really talented reporters, telling more and more stories from around the North Country."

Martha has won state and national awards for her reporting and editing. She has encouraged local news at public radio stations across the country as a member and director of Public Radio News Directors, Inc., an organization of over 100 local newsrooms. As a director of PRNDI for six years, she was responsible for The PRNDI Project, an annual training program for young reporters, and NewsWorks, training for station news departments.

Martha grew up on an Adirondack foothill in northeastern Saratoga County. She lives just south of Canton with her husband, boatbuilder Everett Smith, and her teenaged son, Emmett. Favorite pastimes: sitting, looking, and listening. E-mail

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Brian Mann
Adirondack Bureau Chief

Brian Mann grew up in Alaska, where he fell in love with public radio. In 1999, Brian moved to the Adirondacks and helped launch NCPR's news bureau at Paul Smiths College. "I love the chemistry of water and mountains," Brian says. "But I'm also pretty crazy about village life in the north country. It's the kind of place where you know your neighbors." Brian lives in Saranac Lake with wife Susan and son Nicholas. He's a frequent contributor to NPR and also writes regularly for regional magazines, including Adirondack Life and the Adirondack Explorer. E-mail

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David Sommerstein
Reporter/ Producer

David Sommerstein, NCPR's roving St. Lawrence Valley/Fort Drum/Tug Hill reporter, began his career in radio, strangely enough, as a high school Spanish teacher in Buffalo. While drilling verb conjugations and teaching a love for Latino culture during the day, he sat in as a late night jazz and Latin DJ at Buffalo's NPR affiliate, WBFO. The radio bug bit, and David found his way to southern Colorado/northern New Mexico (the Taos/Santa Fe area) where he was Program Director, Music Director, Volunteer Coordinator, and "Just About Anything Else You Can Think Of" Director at NPR affiliate KRZA.

Since joining NCPR's news department, David has reported from the chilly deck of a St. Lawrence icebreaker, the power-chord filled stage of the High School Rock Band Festival, and the tense Albanian street market of post-war Kosovo with soldiers from Fort Drum. David also gets to fulfill his passion for music of all kinds when he spins world dance and groove music on editions of The Beat Authority. E-mail

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Todd Moe
Morning Host and Producer

A native of rural Minnesota, Todd Moe grew up on a farm not far from mythical Lake Wobegon. He attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN; studied Speech/Theatre and Norwegian, and began his radio career as a student announcer at WCAL (2002 marks its 80th anniversary!).

Moe sings in the Potsdam Community Chorus, and hobbies include food, gardening, history and tango! He was a newscaster and reporter for Minnesota Public Radio for eight years. A favorite memory from that job was interviewing Norwegian actress Liv Ullmann. Moe and his partner, Paul Siskind, moved to the North Country in 1998. Siskind teaches at the Crane School of Music. Todd is also the host of NCPR's monthly roundup on the arts of the region Open Studio. E-mail

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Jonathan Brown
Reporter/All Before Five Host

Jonathan Brown: Originally from Ohio, Jonathan has lived and worked in California and Colorado. Before moving to the North Country, he worked in print and broadcast journalism, in advertising, and most recently in public radio in Salt Lake City. His work has received several awards from the Utah Society of Professional Journalists and the Utah Broadcasters Association. Jonathan is host of our weekday afternoon news program All Before Five. E-mail

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Karen DeWitt
NYS Capitol Correspondent

Karen DeWitt has covered state government and politics at the New York State Capitol for public radio for ten years. Before that she worked at WINS, New York. She has also written for numerous publications, including Adirondack Life, Empire State Report, and Metroland. E-mail

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Chris Knight
Adirondack Correspondent

Chris Knight is news director at Mountain Communications. He's responsible for overseeing the news operations on Y106.3 and several sister stations including WNBZ AM 1240 in Saranac Lake. Chris works for North Country Public Radio as an occasional contributing reporter.

Away from work, Chris enjoys hiking, skiing, kayaking and just about anything else in the outdoors. He and his wife Kate-Lyn live in Saranac Lake. E-mail

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Jacob Resneck
Adirondack Correspondent

Jacob Resneck is a freelance journalist based in Saranac Lake. A part-time reporter at Mountain Communications, his stories also regularly appear in the Plattsburgh Press-Republican, Adirondack Explorer, Adirondack Life and others. Jacob works for North Country Public Radio as a contributing reporter.

Raised in rural Northern California, Jacob was lured to the Adirondacks by a job at a local newspaper in 2006. He continues to enjoy living in downtown Saranac Lake where every amenity is only "two or three doors away." When not on deadline, he enjoys getting lost in the outdoors and exploring foreign lands a mere hour's drive to the north.

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Lucy MartinLucy Martin
Ottawa Correspondent

Lucy Martin covers regional news and events from her home in rural Ottawa. Her radio roots go back to the early years of Hawaii Public Radio, where she had many roles, including news anchor and station announcer. A family move traded ordinary Honolulu for exotic Canada in 1999. Lucy enjoys village life with her husband, Craig Miller, and their teenaged son, Wili. When not editing sound or text on her laptop, she likes to garden, read, travel and play outdoors. E-mail

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Adirondack News Fund Founding Supporters:
Paul Smith's College, The College of the Adirondacks • Wildlife Conservation Society • Adirondack Medical Center Foundation • Adirondack Museum • Niagara Mohawk Foundation • Schumann Foundation • John A. Sellon Charitable Trust • several anonymous individual donors

Award-Winning News

The 2007-08 Steve Flanders Award, The grand prize given by the New York State Associated Press for the best radio news operation in New York State.

2007-2008 award-winning features and series

Immigration, NCPR News
2008 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Continuing Coverage
Radio and Television News Directors Association
Best Continuing News Coverage
New York State Associated Press

Hydropower comes at a cost for the Cree, Brian Mann
2008 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Hard News Feature
Radio and Television News Directors Association
Special Mention: Enterprise Reporting
New York State Associated Press

All Before Five, Jonathan Brown
2008 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Newscast
Radio and Television News Directors Association
Best regularly scheduled local news program, 5/23/07, 10/25/07 program,
New York State Associated Press

Farm to Farm, David Sommerstein
2008 National Edward R. Murrow Award, News Series
Radio and Television News Directors Association
2008 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, News Series
Radio and Television News Directors Association
Best News Series
New York State Associated Press
Best Enterprise Reporting
New York State Associated Press
Harold L. “Cap” Creal Journalism Award
New York State Agricultural Society
Second Place: Series
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

The Endless Cycle of Migration, David Sommerstein
Best news special/documentary
New York State Associated Press
Best News Feature
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Winter Dash to Avalanche Lake, Brian Mann
2008 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Use of Sound
Radio and Television News Directors Association

A Tale of Two Zamboni Drivers, David Sommerstein
Best Feature & Best Sports Coverage
New York State Associated Press

Bittersweet reunions at Fort Drum, David Sommerstein
First Place: Writing
Second Place: News Feature
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Ft. Drum awaits word on captive soldiers, David Sommerstein
Special Mention: Spot News Coverage
New York State Associated Press

Colo’s Eulogy, Jonathan Brown
Second Place: Commentary
Public Radio News Directors Inc.


2006-2007:

Rugby Brings Elegant Violence to the Adirondacks, Brian Mann
2007 National Edward R. Murrow Award, Sports Reporting
2007 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Sports Reporting
Radio and Television News Directors Association

Forestport Poker Run, Gregory Warner
2007 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Feature Reporting
Radio and Television News Directors Association

Latinos on the Farm, David Sommerstein
2007 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Investigative Reporting
Radio and Television News Directors Association

Farmers on the wrong side of the law, David Sommerstein
2007 First Place, Best News Feature
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Faith Across Barriers, Brian Mann and Gregory Warner
2007 First Place, Continuing Coverage
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Creationism vs. Evolution in the Classroom, Brian Mann
2006-07 First Place, Best News Special/Documentary
New York State Associated Press

A Year on the Farm, David Sommerstein
2006-07 First Place, Best News Series
New York State Associated Press
2007 First Place, Best News Series
Public Radio News Directors Inc.
2006-07 Harold L. "Cap" Creal Journalism Award
New York State Agricultural Society

The sound of corn growing, David Sommerstein
2007 Second Place, Writing
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

The Biofuel Economy, Gregory Warner
2006-07 Special Mention, Best News Series
New York State Associated Press

Wind Power, David Sommerstein, NCPR News Department
2006-07 Special Mention, Best Continuing News Coverage
New York State Associated Press
2007 Second Place, Continuing Coverage
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Faith Healing, Under the Tent, Gregory Warner
2006-07 Special Mention, Best Feature
New York State Associated Press

Food for the Stomach, and Spirit, David Sommerstein
2006-07 Special Mention, Best Feature
New York State Associated Press

Star Trek's Bold New Frontier, Brian Mann
2006-07 Special Mention, General Excellence in Use of Medium
New York State Associated Press

2005-2006:

Disability Matters, NCPR News Department
2006 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, News Series
Radio and Television News Directors Association

American Tragedy at the Met, Brian Mann
2006 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Feature Reporting
Radio and Television News Directors Association

Alex's Story: Inclusion with Autism, Gregory Warner
2006 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Hard News Feature
Radio and Television News Directors Association

Raise Your Voice, David Sommerstein
2005 First Place, Series
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Michaela's Diary, Brian Mann
2005 First Place, Continuing Coverage
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Soldiers Learn to be Media Savvy, David Sommerstein
2005 First Place, Soft Feature
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

All Before Five, NCPR News Team
2005 Second Place, News/Public Affairs Program
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Disability Matters: Everyday Challenges, NCPR News Team
2005 Second Place, Series
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Face-off in Potsdam, David Sommerstein
2005 Second Place, Use of Sound
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

2006 Harold K. Hochschield Award
Highlighting NCPR's contribution to the region's culture and quality of life
The Adirondack Museum

2005-06 Award for Creative Excellence
Fundraising
Public Radio Program Directors

2005-06 Award for Creative Excellence
News
Public Radio Program Directors

The Iraq War, NCPR News Department
2005 National Edward R. Murrow Award, Continuing Coverage
Radio and Television News Directors Association
2005 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Continuing Coverage
Radio and Television News Directors Association

Breaking the Cycle of Rural Homelessness, David Sommerstein
2005 Silver Reel Award, News and Public Affairs Features
National Federation of Community Broadcasters

Iraq Diary, Part 4: Soldier's Family Waits, Brian Mann and Susan Olsen
2005 Silver Reel Award, Personal Essays
National Federation of Community Broadcasters

Heroin in the North Country: A Long Ride, Brian Mann
2005 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Feature Reporting
Radio and Television News Directors Association
2004-05 First Place, News Feature
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Close to Homeless, NCPR News Team
2005 National Runner-up, Broadcast Excellence
Annie E. Casey Foundation
2005 First Place Award, Continuing Series
NYS Associated Press

The Eight O’Clock Hour, NCPR News Team
2004-05 First Place, Best News/Public Affairs Program
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

A Boy Dies in Iraq, Bill Putnam, produced by David Sommerstein
2004-05 First Place, Commentary
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Iraq Diaries, Eric Olsen, produced by Brian Mann
2004-05 Second Place, Series
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

David Sommerstein
2005 First Place Award, General Excellence of Individual Reporting
NYS Associated Press

NCPR’s support of traditional cultures, arts and artists, NCPR Staff
2005 Evergreen Award
Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (TAUNY)

2004 and earlier