Chris Bolt
General ManagerChris 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. He has been the news director for WAER since 1995. 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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Syracuse would put money into housing in challenged areas as well as middle-income areas in plan being developed by Mayor Ben Walsh. Public input is now being sought.
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President Joe Biden makes official an incentive package for Micron from CHIPs act of as much as $6 Billion to help build a massive microchip manufacturing plant in Clay.
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The Syracuse Common Council voted to take over the hiring of the head of the Citizen Review Board. Opponents say it will make the board less independent on police issues
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Deputy Michael Hoosock was remembered as a "superhero" by his wife during the ceremony. He was killed along with Syracuse officer Michael Jensen in April 14th shooting.
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Newhouse School grad student links loneliness due to pandemic, political divisions with health problems, suggests how findings could shape PR public health campaigns.
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The Mavericks, Kenny G, and The O’Jays headline June music festival, with additional performances by Syracuse locals.
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A Syracuse University researcher found social media led to change in how the Army responds to the public. The case study involved a missing female soldier's tragedy.
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Syracuse University professors studying AI in media share surprising thoughts about threats & benefits of the technology. Tools on the way can also help seek the truth.
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Syracuse University students work with World War II found on documentaries of untold personal stories from the great war. They get invaluable real-world experience.
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Holiday time means important business challenges for small retailers, events and activities for people and families, and challenging times for some in Central New York.