Denver, June 2, 2022
Colorado Public Radio announced today the hiring of award-winning journalist Chandra Thomas Whitfield as a new host and producer of its daily interview show, Colorado Matters.“Adding a journalist as experienced and skilled as Chandra will be a huge benefit for Colorado Matters and its audience,” CPR News executive editor Kevin Dale said. “She has lived here for a number of years and her knowledge of our local communities and issues will enhance our coverage in so many ways.”Whitfield has produced stories for NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Essence, Ebony and a number of other national media outlets. She also hosted and produced the award-winning podcast “In The Gap” from In These Times magazine, which explored how the gender pay gap and pay discrimination affects the lives and livelihoods of Black women who work in America.“After many years covering the nation, I am excited about this amazing new opportunity to hone in on the issues and people that matter most in the Rocky Mountain state,” Whitfield said. “Colorado has been my family’s home for a decade now and I am excited to bring my unique perspective to the Colorado Public Radio audience. I look forward to exploring this amazing state with fresh eyes together!”Whitfield is the recipient of numerous awards for her writing, including “Journalist of the Year” awards from the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Atlanta Press Club, as well as honors from the Association for Women in Communications, the Colorado Association of Black Journalists and Mental Health America. A New Orleans native by way of Atlanta and Clark Atlanta University graduate, she is also an alumna of a diverse mix of journalism fellowship programs, including the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism at the Ohio University and Ted Scripps Fellowship in Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder. Most recently she completed the Medill and The Garage Media Entrepreneur Fellowship with Northwestern University’s esteemed Medill School of Journalism.Colorado Matters is CPR News’ daily interview show focused on the state’s people, issues and ideas. Whitfield will host along with Ryan Warner. The show airs on CPR News and KRCC every weekday at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. MT and is also available at cpr.org. Colorado Matters recently celebrated its twentieth year on the air.###About Colorado Public RadioColorado Public Radio is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization delivering meaningful news, music, and cultural experiences to everyone in Colorado using the power of the human voice in all its forms. Roughly 95 percent of CPR’s funds come from the private support of listeners, businesses and foundations. For more information, visit www.cpr.org.