Christine Dempsey- Sr. VP of Radio Christine Dempsey currently oversees the programming and recent launch of WLVR 91.3, the first full-service, NPR news and information radio station serving the Greater Lehigh Valley. She has more than 30 years of professional radio experience, most recently from WABE-Atlanta. She has worked for WHYY, Philadelphia, WDIY in Bethlehem, WNYC in New York City and a variety of other public radio stations while she was an on-air fundraising consultant. Dempsey has been recognized with industry awards from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Academy of Television Arts and Science, as well as the Philadelphia Society of Professional Journalists and the Pennsylvania Associated Press. Most recently, she was awarded the prestigious Peabody and RFK Journalism and Edward R. Murrow awards for the podcast, Buried Truths. In addition, the Hip-Hop podcast Bottom of the Map, which she developed, was accepted as part of PRX’s national Project Catapult series. Christine can be contacted at cdempsey@wlvrnews.org
Jen Rehill- Radio News Director Jen Rehill brings fifteen years of media experience to WLVR at stations such as WHYY, WITF, WHP, WVIA, WQLN and WDUQ. She has worked as a program producer, reporter, podcast producer, host and Pennsylvania State Capitol Bureau Chief, where she helped craft a new bureau and news service with coverage on state politics and national elections. Rehill has garnered journalism awards from the Radio and Television News Directors Association, Pennsylvania AP Broadcasters Association, The Society of Professional Journalists and Public Radio News Directors, Inc. She once scored a regional Edward R. Murrow award for a feature report on women’s roller derby. Jen can be contacted at jrehill@wlvrnews.org
Jonas Bowen- Director of Radio Operations Jonas Bowen currently serves as WLVR’s Operations Director. He began his career in Broadcasting in Shenandoah Valley at WINC FM, a heritage FM signal expanding into the greater Washington DC area. Jonas’ voice has been heard over the last two decades, on a dozen AM and FM stations in Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland and eventually Pennsylvania, where Bowen started working as the Audio Engineer for PBS39-WLVT, assisting with live election coverage, live debates and live community conversations. Jonas can be contacted at jbowen@wlvrnews.org
Devan Kortan- Audio and Radio Operations Producer A Sacramento, California native, Devan comes from Capital Public Radio where he held numerous different positions including jazz host, technical director of the podcast California State of Mind, and All Things Considered host. Before that he worked in fundraising for Sacramento public television station KVIE. Devan is also a professional musician and recently completed a year traveling the world playing guitar on cruise ships. Devan can be contacted at dkorton@wlvrnews.org
Brad Klein- Host/ Reporter Brad Klein comes to the WLVR News team with more than 25 years of professional experience in radio, podcast and video production. His first job in public radio was on late-night show, Heat with John Hockenberry, which led to production roles in a number of start-ups at NPR, MSNBC and WNYC. Klein also assisted in the creation of NPR’s Talk of the Nation: Science Friday. He played similar start-up roles for NPR’s Weekly Edition, MSNBC’s Edgewise, Public Radio International’s Satellite Sisters and even as a writer on one of the early pilot episodes of the comedic news show, Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me. Klein has also worked as a reporter, producer, and director for National Public Radio News programs including Weekend Edition and All Things Considered. Brad can be contacted at bklein@wlvrnews.org
Tyler Pratt- Host/ Reporter Tyler Pratt is WLVR News’ reporter and afternoon news host. He hails from West Texas and joined the WLVR News team from the West Coast, having served as a host, reporter and producer at Central California Coast Public Radio, KCBX. Tyler also had stints as producer and host at WNYC in New York, KUT/KUTX in Austin, Texas and worked on the Southern Foodways Alliance podcast, Gravy, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tyler received his undergraduate degree from Southwestern University and his graduate degree from the Columbia School of Journalism. Tyler’s passions include Saints football, Southern literature, crawfish, barbecue and he loves a dance floor. Tyler can be contacted at tpratt@wlvrnews.org
Genesis Ortega- Community Correspondent Genesis Ortega has a passion for community outreach, especially as it pertains to the Hispanic community. She serves as Lehigh Valley Public Media’s first Community Correspondent, covering important issues and news for the Latino community, on WLVR-FM. When she is not on the air, she is in front of the camera, serving as a co-host for Spanish talk show Es Tiempo, on PBS39. In 2019 she was named Hispanic Businessperson of the Year during the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Awards. She also serves as a Board member of the Fé Foundation program, which brings together students, university faculties, and local businesses and organizations in order to introduce comprehensive life skills and entrepreneurial training to high school students of the Lehigh Valley. Prior to joining the team at Lehigh Valley Public Media, she worked in Congressman Charlie Dent’s office. There, she had the opportunity to interact with constituents and community leaders from across the 15th Congressional District in Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Lebanon, and Dauphin counties. Genesis can be contacted at genesiso@wlvt.org.
Juliana Wall- Digital Content Producer Juliana Wall is WLVR’s Digital Content Producer. She is an alumna of Cedar Crest College, with a BA in Communication New Media and Writing and a minor in English. She served on Cedar Crest’s student-run newspaper and eventually earned a position as Editor-in-Chief and Photo Editor. Wall runs her own photography business, specializing in elopements and adventure weddings along with portrait photography. Most recently, Wall worked with the marketing team at the Community Action Development Corporation in Bethlehem to further public awareness of the #SouthsideProud social media campaign. Juliana can be contacted at jwall@wlvrnews.org.
Brittany Sweeney Brittany Sweeney is passionate about telling compelling stories in her home state of Pennsylvania. Prior to her role with WLVR News and PBS39, Sweeney was the anchor of Eyewitness News at 7 p.m. on WYOU and a general assignment reporter for Eyewitness News at 11 p.m. She also became the host and producer of the area's only lifestyle show, PA Live at 4 p.m. daily. Her most memorable and intense experience in northeast Pennsylvania was covering the Eric Frein manhunt after an ambush-style attack on a state police barracks. Sweeney is a proud Temple University graduate who is always looking for intriguing story ideas in Berks County.
Chloe Nouvelle Prior to joining PBS39 and the WLVR News team, Chloe Nouvelle worked at NBC News producing segments on worldwide events for NBC Nightly News, TODAY, Dateline and MSNBC. As a member of the network’s foreign unit, she contributed to NBC News’ chronicling of the war in Syria, the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and the refugee crisis across Europe. Today, she resides in Lehigh County.
Hayden Mitman Hayden Mitman comes to PBS39 and WLVR News with more than 10 years of reporting experience in the Philadelphia area, specifically covering breaking news, social justice crime and courts as well as any issues facing the community. Mitman’s work has appeared in the Philadelphia's Metro newspaper, Philly.com, Philly Weekly, PhillyVoice.com, The Intelligencer and The Bucks County Courier Times. Mitman grew up in Allentown and is a graduate of Moravian College in Bethlehem.
