Aspen Public Radio has welcomed Josie Taris to its team this week as part of a new 2024 collaboration with the Aspen Daily News, aimed at enhancing local government coverage for their listeners.
Taris, currently a staff writer for the Aspen Daily News, covers Pitkin County government, the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, public lands, and midvalley communities. She brings valuable experience to this role, having previously reported for The Aspen Times. Before moving to Colorado, Taris worked with North Carolina Public Radio, where she contributed to the daily live news talk show “The State of Things” and handled general assignment reporting. Additionally, she was part of the original production team for the award-winning podcast “Embodied,” which focuses on sex, relationships, and health.
Aspen Public Radio News Director Kelsey Brunner expressed enthusiasm about Taris joining their newsroom. “Josie is joining our team to cover key community issues, including matters related to the Town of Basalt, Pitkin County, and the local airport. She is an exceptional reporter, and we’re thrilled to strengthen our collaboration with the Aspen Daily News,” Brunner said.
Andre Salvail, Editor of the Aspen Daily News, shared his optimism about the partnership between the two media outlets. “We are always looking for ways to enhance our mission of delivering accurate and relevant news to Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley. I’m confident that Josie will thrive in her expanded role,” Salvail commented.
The Aspen Daily News, founded in 1978 by Dave Danforth, is celebrating nearly 50 years of journalism this week. As one of the first free print news sources in the county, it has a rich history. In 2017, the newspaper was acquired by general manager David Cook and his partner Spencer McKnight, continuing its legacy of independent journalism.
“As I stated eight years ago, investigative and enterprise journalism remain as vital as ever,” said Cook, who is now co-owner and publisher of the Aspen Daily News. “This collaboration with Aspen Public Radio is an exciting opportunity to deliver high-quality reporting to our community in new ways, deepening our commitment to providing credible and compelling information.”
Aspen Public Radio offers local newscasts and features from 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. on weekdays, alongside national programming. They also produce a daily local news podcast each weekday morning and publish regularly on aspenpublicradio.org.
Josie Taris will be joining a talented team under the leadership of Kelsey Brunner, including All Things Considered host and reporter Halle Zander, Edlis Neeson Arts & Culture reporter Kaya Williams, reporter Caroline Llanes, and Morning Edition host Megan Tackett.
To learn more about the Aspen Public Radio team, visit their website.
