Blue Ridge Public Radio is pleased to welcome Eddie Garcia as its next permanent, full-time News Director. Starting in mid-April, he will lead BPR's team of four full-time reporters and two host/reporters.
Ahead of his arrival, we sat down with Eddie to learn more about his background.
Tell us a little bit about your professional experience.
My career in public radio started with an audio engineering internship at WFDD in Winston-Salem, N.C., in May of 2007. I was then hired to continue doing audio and operations work for the station until I was made editor of the hour-long weekly program Triad Arts Weekend.
Later I became co-host of the show, and when it wrapped, I was moved into the news department, where I focused on housing, law enforcement and culture stories.
After winning PMJA and RTDNA Murrow awards for investigative work, I became the station’s managing editor, helping to craft my colleague’s stories to be their very best, also leading to multiple award wins, including “overall excellence” for the WFDD news team. I was then named news director where I shaped daily coverage to serve the station’s 32-county listening area.
What attracted you to BPR?
I had the opportunity to work with BPR on the Sold on a Promise series, where I got to see firsthand the curiosity, depth and professionalism that the team brings to their stories, and I knew I wanted to work with the team again when possible. BPR centers people, and amplifies voices that too often go unheard.
The news team’s coverage of Helene’s devastation and recovery has been nothing short of inspiring and heroic, and through such tragedy and loss, shined a light on the power of public radio to keep people safe, connected and informed.
Also, BPR has real personality, and I love how the team uses social media to share that with the world in a way that’s fun and uplifting.
What are you looking forward to about this new role?
I’m looking forward to getting to know the people and culture of Asheville, Buncombe County, and all 14 of the counties the station serves. I feel privileged to have been granted the opportunity to lead such a talented news team, and I’m excited to start building working relationships with all of the reporters.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Music is a big part of my life — not only as a ravenous listener and concert-goer, but also as a musician. I’ve been playing guitar since I was a teenager, and I currently have an experimental solo project called 1970s Film Stock, and an alternative jazz trio named MEG.
My family and I are all movie buffs, too, and we like everything from arthouse/Criterion Collection deep cinema to superhero silliness. We also are animal people, hosting a home zoo featuring two dogs, two cats and three fish.
