Isabella Headed Home To WHYY/Philly
• We are sending our best wishes to public radio pro Joan Cherry Isabella, who has been named as the new Audio Program General Manager of NPR affiliate WHYY/Philadelphia, with a start date of Aug. 22.
The announcement was made by Terri J. Murray, Chief Content Officer, VP of Programming & Production, who said, “[Joan] has been a leader in media programming and promotion for more than 35 years and has a passion for cultivating diverse voices and opinions that move conversations toward solutions.”
Indeed, Isabella has programmed Detroit NPR affiliate WDET/Detroit since 2014. Prior to joining WDET in 2011 as Executive Producer of The Craig Fahle Show, Isabella was the Founder & President of YoRadio. She was also the founding Executive Producer of The Mitch Albom Show on WJR/Detroit and led it to national syndication via ABC Radio. She also served as EP of WJBK Television’s Dayna Show and Program Manager at WXYT/Detroit. Isabella started her career at WCAU/Philadelphia.
Murray added, “John Mussoni, wearer of many hats at WHYY, who had been serving as both interim Vice President for News & Civic Dialogue (prior to Sarah Glover‘s arrival), and as Audio Program Manager has again graciously agreed to postpone his retirement to continue through mid-October, providing Joan with transitional support.”
RAMP chatted with Isabella, who noted, “Philadelphia is my hometown, and I am beyond honored to have the opportunity to work at WHYY. I’m excited to join this team committed to moving public media to a new level — with the intersection of digital, print, TV and audio, it really is like the future has arrived, and WHYY is determined to figure it out.”
Isabella’s husband, Michael Isabella, left radio about ten years ago and launched MI Marketing with three associates. Michael told RAMP, “I’ve watched Joan deliver ratings success everywhere she’s worked. She’s an expert in understanding how to create compelling talk radio and build an audience. She’s successfully worked with and got the most out of top talent because she has zero ego and only cares about the work. And no one, outside of maybe Drew Lane, works harder than Joan. I’m so happy that she is taking her talents to the hometown team so she can continue her path of creating radio excellence at WHYY!” Michael has graciously agreed to make the regular commute back and forth from Detroit to Philly, accompanied by the couple’s adorable black Lab, Parker.
