Chris Bolt
Senior Reporter/Professional in ResidenceChris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards. Recent reporting has focused on health and medicine, environment, elderly, substance abuse and culture reporting.
Chris has a doctor of education in executive leadership from St. John Fisher College and a master’s in broadcast journalism from the Newhouse School.
In addition to coverage of our community, equally satisfying has been the success of so many WAER alumni, students who have won and succeeded in jobs in news, sports and elsewhere in media, many of whom won awards at local, state and national levels as students. He has also taught classes at Newhouse and at OCC. Chris also enjoys connecting WAER with the community through moderating debates, facilitating and hosting public meetings, giving media training workshops and other events.
Chris and his wife Anne live in downtown Syracuse. They have two grown sons, Carter and Donovan, who both remain in the area. Their family enjoys all things Upstate New York, including myriad outdoor activities in the Adirondacks, Finger Lakes, music and other cultural events, and just about anything on a trail or on the water.
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The Fenner Wind Farm was groundbreaking when built in 2001, and has educated about renewable energy since. A new wind power and a solar project are not getting the same welcome from residents. -
Syracuse gas prices surged almost 50-cents in the past week. Analyst GasBuddy reports the rise due to the war in Iran has spiked crude oil and could press prices a the pump higher in coming weeks. -
Natasha Alford, journalist, author and media exec, returns to Syracuse March 10 for a Friends of Central Library lecture. She spoke to us on ethnicity, resilience, opportunity and state of journalism. -
The GOP caucus in the Onondaga County Legislature is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers to put affordability first in upcoming legislation. -
Syracuse University named Dr. Michael Haynie as Chancellor and president, succeeding Kent Syverud who's retiring June 2026. Haynie was Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives and Dean of Management. -
Reactions are split among New York congressmembers on the US-Israeli air strikes on Iran. Claudia Tenney supports President Trump's decision, while John Mannion worries about wider conflict. -
Beyond Plastics raises awareness about environmental & public health impacts of plastic materials and chemicals to make them. They're among groups behind a law to reduce plastic packaging. -
Newhouse School Professor Nina Brown investigates copyright, liability, first amendment, ethics and other concerns as AI is increasingly being used to create writing, art, music and other content. -
Current Onondaga County Legislator Maurice Brown questions Magnarelli’s effectiveness. -
Several Upstate NY Congressmembers are pushing for Defense Department funding for Gallium extraction and refining. John Mannion says local companies have valuable expertise, with economic benefits.
