NSPR’s new leader reshapes Chico public radio

Chico State said on May 13 that North State Public Radio, the NPR affiliate serving Chico and surrounding Northern California communities, hired Helen Barrington as its new executive director. Barrington officially started on May 4, according to Chico State, taking over as the station settles into a new structure after returning to local control through Chico State Enterprises in fall 2025. Barrington arrives with 30 years of public media experience, Chico State said. Her résumé includes work at Radio Netherlands, GBH in Boston, Virginia Public Media and CapRadio in Sacramento, where she served as managing editor for news and worked with some current NSPR staff members. The hire matters because NSPR is not just filling a vacancy. (actionnewsnow.com) Chico State Enterprises posted the executive director role with responsibility for station leadership, operations, programming, financial management, fundraising, technical compliance and community engagement, with an advertised salary range of $130,000 to $150,000. ### Who is Helen Barrington, and why did Chico State pick her now? (actionnewsnow.com) Barrington most recently worked as major gifts officer at From the Top, a National Public Radio and youth leadership program for young classical musicians, according to Chico State. She also previously served as general manager at the public radio station at Cal State Monterey Bay and has managed newsrooms of different sizes over her career. (csuchico.edu) Leslie Cornick, Chico State’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, said Barrington’s experience would be important as NSPR plans for its long-term future. Cornick said the station had been “a trusted voice for our community for decades” and called Barrington a partner in Chico State’s public-service work. (actionnewsnow.com) ### Why does this job carry so much authority over the station? The Chico State Enterprises job posting describes the executive director as NSPR’s chief executive. The posting says the position oversees operations, programming, budgeting, fundraising, regulatory compliance and external relationships, while also serving as the primary liaison to the board and supervising staff, volunteers and interns. (actionnewsnow.com) That scope makes the role central to what listeners hear and what the station can afford to produce. The same posting says the executive director would collaborate with the program director on mission-aligned programming and focus on long-term strategy, partnerships and expanding NSPR’s regional impact. ### What changed at NSPR before Barrington arrived? (csuchico.edu) NSPR’s governance changed on Dec. 1, 2025, when Chico State Enterprises fully took over operations from CapRadio, according to NSPR reporting. The transition followed layoffs at CapRadio and a rehiring process under Chico State, which said at the time that the change would not alter the station’s commitment to independent news and storytelling. (csuchico.edu) The restructuring also created new leadership roles. Chico State Enterprises said in 2025 that it had added a general manager position as part of the transition, and by early 2026 it was recruiting an executive director to lead the station under the new arrangement. ### What has Barrington said she plans to do first? Barrington said her initial priorities include making sure NSPR has the financial resources to keep providing “reliable, fact-based information and cultural programming” across Northern California. (mynspr.org) She also said she plans to meet people across the region, engage more deeply with Chico State and create training and mentorship opportunities for students. In a statement reported by Chico State, Barrington called the job “the honor of my career” and said she wanted to work with staff and communities as NSPR builds its next phase. She separately said nonprofit media has a responsibility to train the next generation. ### What should listeners watch for next? (actionnewsnow.com) NSPR’s current lineup includes national programs such as *Morning Edition*, *Fresh Air* and BBC World News alongside locally produced shows and daily headlines, according to the station schedule. Any programming, fundraising or staffing changes under Barrington would emerge from that existing mix rather than from a blank slate. Weekday listeners can track those developments through NSPR’s daily “Headlines” podcast, which the station says is published by 8:30 a.m. each weekday, and through future announcements from Chico State and Chico State Enterprises about station operations and staffing. (actionnewsnow.com) (mynspr.org) (mynspr.org)