Award-winning journalist & public media vet Tonya Mosley named co-host of ’Fresh Air’

Award-winning public media journalist Tonya Mosley has been named co-host of Fresh Air with Terry Gross, the radio program and podcast devoted to contemporary arts and issues, produced by WHYY in Philadelphia and distributed by NPR. Terry Gross will continue as Co-Executive Producer and Host.

Mosley is a correspondent and former host of Here & Now, the midday radio show from NPR and WBUR Boston, and the creator and host of the podcast Truth Be Told. She has been a regular contributing interviewer for Fresh Air since 2021.

“Fresh Air listeners will be pleased to learn that Terry Gross’ role remains unchanged,” notes WHYY CEO and President Bill Marrazzo. “At the same time, we are adding another top-notch interviewer and host who brings her own distinctive voice and expertise to the program.”

“Tonya’s wide range of knowledge and experience, her warm inviting presence, and her ability to make a deep connection with guests, make her a perfect fit for our show,” said Gross. “I’m thrilled that she is our new co-host, and I know our listeners will be, too.”

Adds Mosley, “It is a tremendous honor to join Terry in this mission-driven work to inform, inspire and delight listeners through long-form conversation. Terry’s ’driveway moments’ have been like a beacon throughout my career. She has inspired me to use my deep curiosity to help us make sense of ourselves and each other. Fresh Air is unmatched in its ability to remind us of our humanity, and this opportunity to continue the work alongside Terry and the Fresh Air team is a dream come true.”

Mosley’s past interviews for Fresh Air include actors Brooke Shields, Halle Berry, Michelle Yeoh, comedian Robin Thede and several fiction and non-fiction authors.

Mosley has also served as a television anchor, producer and correspondent in several markets, including Boston, Detroit, Louisville, Kentucky and Seattle. She has won several awards for her groundbreaking journalism, including a 2016 Emmy Award for her PBS series Beyond Ferguson, NABJ and RTDNA awards for the public radio series Black in Seattle and a Washington State Association for Justice award for her reporting on conflicting reports from Seattle police about a murder investigation. In 2015, she was awarded the John S. Knight Fellowship at Stanford University, where she co-created a curriculum for journalists on the implications of implicit bias. She also co-wrote a Belgian/American experimental study on the effects of protest coverage.

About Fresh Air

Fresh Air is one of public media’s most popular programs, with nearly 5 million people tuning in each week on some 665 NPR stations, in addition to 4 million weekly podcast downloads. In a media world filled with 60-second video clips and combative talking-head commentators, Fresh Air’s 45-minute interview segments allow time for reflective in-depth conversations with leading writers, musicians, actors, journalists, historians and others exploring the arts, pop culture and issues of the day. Fresh Air received the Peabody Institutional Award in 2022. Terry Gross was awarded a National Humanities Medal from President Obama in 2016 and has been selected as the 2023 PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion.

About WHYY

WHYY is the leading public media organization in the Philadelphia Region, including Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and beyond. We engage audiences, expand perspectives and empower communities through continuous learning, truthful reporting, healthy dialogue and amplification of diverse voices. You can access us on television, radio, in the community and online. More than 200 reporters, editors, producers, educators and skilled support personnel connect 1.3 million diverse audience members each week through common interests in lifelong learning. We’re supported by 129,000 members who expect the best media experience delivered on multiple media outlets.

About NPR

NPR’s rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling that connects with millions of Americans every day — on the air, online, and in-person. NPR strives to create a more informed public — one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures. With a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and 17 international bureaus, NPR and its Member Stations are never far from where a story is unfolding. Listeners can find NPR by tuning in to their local Member Stations (npr.org/stations), and now it’s easy to listen to our stories on smart speaker devices. Ask your smart speaker to, “Play NPR,” and you’ll be tuned into your local Member Station’s live stream. Your speaker can also access NPR podcasts, NPR One, NPR News Now, and the Visual Newscast is available for screened speakers. Get more information at npr.org/about and by following NPR Extra on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.