Boise State Public Radio hires Texas journalist as new GM

Tom Michael, who leads much-lauded radio stations in rural western Texas, will take the helm of Boise State Public Radio starting July 6.

The hire was announced Monday by Boise State University.

Michael is the founder and general manager of Marfa Public Radio and West Texas Public Radio. He founded Marfa Public Radio in 2005, after working in Chicago as an editor for Encyclopedia Britannica, a public radio consultant and a freelance writer.

“Tom is an innovator in radio and storytelling who took a small rural radio station in West Texas and grew it into a million-dollar network of four stations covering issues important to that region’s citizens,” said Boise State University President Bob Kustra in the school’s announcement.

Peter Morrill will step down May 27 from his role as interim general manager but offered help after Michael arrives in July. Morrill, the longtime leader of Idaho Public Television, came out of retirement in December to help lead Boise State Public Radio after the radio station’s longtime general manager John Hess resigned.

Michael’s radio stations in Texas have been featured by media outlets covering the news industry, including Columbia Journalism Review, the Poynter Institute and Current.org.

This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Boise State Public Radio hires Texas journalist as new GM."