Deepa Fernandes joins NPR and WBUR's 'Here & Now' as co-host

Award-winning journalist Deepa Fernandes is joining NPR and WBUR’s "Here & Now," the live midday news program distributed nationwide, as the show's third host. On Monday, Oct. 10 she will make her debut alongside Robin Young and Scott Tong.

Fernandes has extensive experience as a public radio host; over the last two decades, her reporting has spanned several continents, taking her to more than a half dozen countries. She joins "Here & Now" from the San Francisco Chronicle, where she was an immigration correspondent and senior newsroom advisor on race and equity. Prior to that, she was a freelance correspondent for KCET-TV, BBC, PRI, NPR and Marketplace. Fernandes also spent time at Southern California Public Radio, WBAI Radio in New York and the Pacifica Network News in New York City. She's also worked with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Public Radio International.

"After a rewarding year at the San Francisco Chronicle, I'm looking forward to bringing my diverse background and passion for audio storytelling to the 'Here & Now' team," said Fernandes. "Public radio is the most easily accessed daily news source for audiences across the country, and I believe we can continue to reach new listeners and enrich the public conversation by including voices, stories and news from communities often excluded."

Fernandes was born in India, raised in Australia and has lived in New York, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. She's also spent time in Ecuador, Cuba, Mexico and various countries in Latin America and Asia. Fernandes is focused on making sure there is diversity in reporting and helped lead the San Francisco Chronicle's race and equity initiatives.

I believe we can continue to reach new listeners and enrich the public conversation by including voices, stories and news from communities often excluded

Deepa Fernandes

"Deepa's zeal and commitment for not only telling compelling and deeply reported stories – but to support improving access and diversity in journalism – is directly aligned with our mission at WBUR and NPR," said WBUR Chief Content Officer Victor Hernandez. "Her global-local perspective and experience are going to add tremendous value to our strong team at 'Here & Now.'"

A live production of NPR and WBUR, in collaboration with public radio stations across the country, "Here & Now" reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day. The show's daily lineup includes interviews with newsmakers, NPR reporters, editors, innovators and artists from across the U.S. and around the globe. "Here & Now" began at WBUR in 1997, and expanded to two hours in partnership with NPR in 2013. Today, the show reaches 4.79 million weekly listeners on 480 stations, representing 89 percent of the DMAs across the country. "Here & Now" airs weekdays 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. ET with live updates until 4 p.m. ET. With signature shows like "Here & Now," "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered," public radio is the most easily accessed daily news source across the U.S.