Rocky Mountain Public Media Hires Brandi Grissom Swicegood

Swicegood joins the public media network's senior leadership team to oversee editorial strategy across its broadcast and digital platforms.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in People

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a tall broadcast mast with satellite dishes against a red and cream horizon, evoking public media broadcasting across Colorado. — Rocky Mountain Public Media named veteran editor Brandi Grissom Swicegood vice president of Engaged Journalism to oversee editorial strategy across KUNC and Rocky Mountain PBS. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Rocky Mountain Public Media has named Brandi Grissom Swicegood as its vice president of Engaged Journalism, a senior leadership role overseeing editorial strategy across KUNC and Rocky Mountain PBS. The role spans broadcast, streaming, digital, social, and live events.

Why it matters

The appointment places a veteran editor with experience in investigative and digital-first journalism in charge of coordinating coverage across the network's radio, television, and online outlets serving Colorado audiences. It signals a push to unify how KUNC and Rocky Mountain PBS engage their audiences.

The announcement cites no financial or operational metrics, with the appointment covering a single senior role within the leadership team. Specifics on budget, staffing, or audience reach were not included in the release.

The players

Brandi Grissom Swicegood

A veteran journalism leader who has held editorial roles at The Texas Tribune, The Dallas Morning News, the USA Today Network, and nonprofit investigative outlets including the Sunlight Research Center and MuckRock.

Rocky Mountain Public Media

The Colorado-based public media organization that operates KUNC radio and Rocky Mountain PBS television, serving audiences across the state.

The details

Swicegood previously served as Chief Editorial and Programs Officer at the MuckRock Foundation and as Executive Director of the Sunlight Research Center, which she co-founded and later merged with MuckRock. Her earlier career includes rising from reporter to managing editor at The Texas Tribune and directing an investigation at the USA Today Network that led to indictments of law enforcement officials.

November 5, 2026: Rocky Mountain Public Media announces Swicegood's hiring as VP of Engaged Journalism.

Market Landscape

Public media organizations across the country have been consolidating separate radio, television, and digital editorial operations into unified newsrooms to serve audiences on multiple platforms. Rocky Mountain Public Media's appointment follows that pattern by placing one leader over its broadcast and online journalism in Colorado.

For Colorado audiences who rely on KUNC and Rocky Mountain PBS, the appointment is expected to shape how editorial content is coordinated across radio, television, and online platforms. The announcement did not specify any immediate changes to programming schedules or content access.

The takeaway

Leadership changes at public media organizations can signal shifts in how newsrooms plan coverage across platforms, which can affect how audiences encounter local reporting. Readers who follow KUNC or Rocky Mountain PBS may notice these changes over time as the unified engagement strategy takes shape.