The LIGHTer Side: Q&A with St. Louis Public Radio’s Shula Neuman
Shula Neuman
Published April 25, 2022
Shula Neuman was named executive editor of St. Louis Public Radio 90.7 KWMU in 2016. She manages the newsrooms’ reporters, producers, and editors.
Can you describe your job in three sentences or less?
I manage a newsroom of 28 journalists. This means I set the vision for our journalism, work with the editors to determine coverage and do a lot of bureaucratic stuff to keep the newsroom humming. Occasionally, I get to edit or report stories, too.
I understand you started your career as a print journalist. Why the switch to radio?
Originally, I think I was attracted by the mystique of NPR-style journalism. But I stayed because it upped the ante for how creative I could be while still doing the work of journalism, which is my first love.
What’s the best part of your job?
I get so much satisfaction from hearing and reading the great stories the St. Louis Public Radio newsroom puts out. We may be a radio station, but I’m especially proud of our website. Our strategy has been to invest heavily in making our digital stories robust and engaging and it’s really paid off.
How do you like to relax when you’re not working?
I think I’m a pretty simple person. I love sharing meals with friends, going on an occasional hike and reading great books … usually while snuggling with my dog. I also love baseball and can happily spend a Sunday with my dad (Sanford Neuman) watching the Cardinals on TV, or going to the ballpark. And of course, there’s cycling. I’m a bit of a cycling nut.
I heard you’re a cycling enthusiast and have taken several cycling vacations. Is there one that stands out and why?
My brother and I did a 10-day cycling trip across the Pyrenees a few years ago. It started by the Atlantic Ocean in France and ended by the Mediterranean in Spain. It was by far the hardest cycling I’ve ever done because it’s rather hard to train for mountains when you live in Missouri. But it was so gratifying. Plus the food was fantastic.
Now that we are getting back to in-person events, is there anything this summer that you are looking forward to attending that you missed during the pandemic?
I’m still pretty careful about large indoor events because I have to look out for my dad’s well-being. But, I really missed the Whitaker Music Festival at the Botanical Gardens, so I’m glad that’s come back.
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