Jenn White

Jenn White
Born
Jennifer White

(1974-10-29) October 29, 1974 (age 49)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BA)
OccupationJournalist
Years active1999-present
Employers
Notable workMaking Oprah

Jennifer White (born October 29, 1974)[1][2] is an American journalist and radio personality. She is the host of the radio program 1A.

She has worked in public radio since 1999, and began her broadcast journalism career as host of Michigan Radio's All Things Considered. She later moved to Chicago's WBEZ where she hosted Reset with Jenn White, as well as the podcasts Making Oprah, Making Beyoncé, and 16 Shots. White became host of 1A in July 2020, produced by WAMU in Washington, DC.[3][4]

Career

White was born in Detroit and raised on the city's west side, one of seven children.[5][6] At age 16, her sister introduced her to the NPR show Car Talk.[5] She became further interested in the radio through performing arts classes at Cass Technical High School.[5] White received her bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.[5]

In 1999, she took a job in fundraising at Michigan Radio WUOM-FM in Ann Arbor and also completed some sporadic on-air work.[5] Her first official radio broadcasting job was in 2010 when she took a job on Michigan Radio's All Things Considered.[5]

In 2016, White was hired at WBEZ in Chicago as part of the program Morning Shift.[5] She later hosted a program focused on local news, Reset with Jenn White.[7][8] In January 2019, she was named host of Morning Shift.[9]

While at WBEZ, White developed and hosted the podcasts Making Oprah and Making Beyoncé.[6] Making Oprah was the station's most popular podcast and received positive critical reception.[10] In 2018, she co-produced 16 Shots, a podcast about the murder of Laquan McDonald, with the Chicago Tribune.[11]

White was selected as a permanent host of national radio program 1A to replace inaugural host Joshua Johnson.[1] The show covers a range of topics including politics and pop culture, and White began in July 2020.[6]

Personal life

White is married.[6] She and her husband reside in Washington, D.C.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Izadi, Elahe (May 7, 2020). "Another newcomer to fill Diane Rehm's shoes, Jenn White will take up the mic at NPR's '1A'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  2. ^ White, Jennifer (October 29, 2019). "You know me..." Twitter. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  3. ^ Staff, Stateside (August 17, 2020). "How Detroit native and 1A host Jenn White brings a Midwestern perspective to a national audience". www.michiganradio.org. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  4. ^ "WAMU And NPR Announce Jenn White As New Host Of 1A". WAMU. May 7, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Hinds, Julie. "Detroit's Jenn White is new host of NPR's weekday show '1A'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d Lefrak, Mikaela (May 7, 2020). "Chicago Radio Veteran Jenn White Is The New Host Of '1A'". WAMU. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  7. ^ Johnson, Steve (May 7, 2020). "WBEZ's Jenn White leaving to host national '1A' for NPR". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  8. ^ Bieri, Jeff (May 11, 2020). "Jenn White Selected As Host of 1A". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  9. ^ Silets, Alexandra (January 24, 2019). "Meet New WBEZ 'Morning Shift' Host Jenn White". WTTW News. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  10. ^ Morell, Ricki (April 4, 2017). "The making of binge-worthy serial narratives, from "S-Town" to "Framed"". Nieman Foundation. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  11. ^ Camp, Devlyn (September 19, 2018). "Following the Van Dyke trial through the WBEZ podcast 16 Shots". Chicago Reader. Retrieved September 9, 2020.