WNYC and Gothamist Relaunch 'NYC Now' Podcast

The shift for "NYC Now" drops its episode count from over 15 a week to just three, but significantly increases the runtime of each to between 15 and 25 minutes. This new schedule includes releases every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, a departure from the previous model of three short-form episodes per day. The original format, launched in 2023, was designed to make WNYC's daily broadcast headlines available on demand in brief, 3- to 10-minute segments. The revamped podcast is now more host-driven, with award-winning journalist Janae Pierre at the helm. Before joining WNYC, Pierre was a host for NPR's *All Things Considered* at WBHM in Birmingham, Alabama, and at WWNO in her native New Orleans. Her work has earned her a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for hard news and recognition as a top large-market radio reporter from the Alabama Broadcasters Association. According to WNYC and Gothamist's interim editor-in-chief, Stephanie Clary, the new structure allows Pierre to act as an "anchor for the listener," building a stronger relationship with the audience. Senior Producer Jared Marcelle stated the podcast's core mission is "making sense of the city for New Yorkers," which he believes is better achieved through deeper dives into complex subjects. The new format still includes a one- to two-minute segment of top local news headlines at the beginning of each episode before transitioning to the main investigative story. Recent in-depth topics have included a look into the city's largely unregulated tow truck industry, an analysis of who is most at risk during extreme cold snaps, and the debate around AI tools in public schools. The team is also exploring the possibility of adding a video component in the future.