The Austin-based station has tapped award-winning journalist Ben Philpott after Jennifer Stayton announced she would hang up her morning hat after more than two decades on the job to move to a later slot.
He was KUT News’ first political reporter, covering eight Texas legislative sessions during his tenure, and followed former Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on the presidential campaign trail.
Before joining the station, he worked in television news and at another public radio station, WBHM, in Birmingham, Ala.
Philpott has received numerous awards for his reporting, including the Journalist of the Year from the Houston Press Club.
Stayton is stepping away from the program when Philpott begins the new role in September after 22 years as morning host. She is leading a new KUT News reporting initiative focused on aging in Central Texas.
She had teased the project in her May announcement, adding that shifting to the 9 a.m. to noon slot will also allow her to stand in as host for Jerry Quijano on “Austin Signal,” fill any vacancies on “All Things Considered,” and hop in where needed on the broadcast schedule.