Skip to Main Content
Boston University
  • Bostonia
  • BU Today
  • The Brink
  • University Publications

    • Bostonia
    • BU Today
    • The Brink
  • School & College Publications

    • The Record
Other Publications
BU Today
  • Sections
News, Opinion, Community

New WBUR chief Paul LaCamera on jumping from TV to radio, covering Boston

Broadcast news vet aims to shore up station's resources

January 5, 2006
  • Brian Fitzgerald
Twitter Facebook
Paul La Camera

This story was published on BU Today on October 4, 2005.

Paul La Camera, a 33-year veteran of Boston’s WCVB-TV, began a new job on October 3: general manager of WBUR-FM, the award-winning National Public Radio station owned and operated by BU. Selected after a five-month search, the native of Winthrop, Mass., took over from Peter Fiedler, a BU vice president, who has served as interim GM since last October.

La Camera (COM’66, MET’74) had been with WCVB since the station went on the air in 1972 and was station manager from 1988 to 1994, when he was appointed vice president and general manager. He was named president of WCVB in 1997, and had planned to retire at the end of the year.

Prior to joining WCVB, La Camera was director of communications for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. He had also been a reporter for the Boston Record American and Sunday Advertiser newspaper. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross and master’s degrees from BU (journalism and urban affairs) and Boston College (business administration).

He spoke with BU Today recently about his new position.

You recently stepped down as general manager of WCVB-TV, but initially you had planned to stay on as a consultant and retain the title of president until the end of the year. What drew you to WBUR-FM?

I had the privilege of being associated with one of the preeminent local commercial television stations in the country for more than three decades, and the opportunity to make the transition from that rarified arena to WBUR was irresistible. At this point in my career, I saw this position as a chance to make a contribution to another outstanding organization in broadcast journalism.

How do you think your experience at WCVB-TV will serve you at your new job?

National Public Radio and local commercial television news are different, but they’re still rooted, particularly for an institution such as WCVB, in quality broadcast journalism. So I certainly have that comfort level in this role. I’m a lifelong Bostonian, with deep roots in — and knowledge of — this community, and I hope in turn that will prove to be of value to WBUR. I know that I must have a steep learning curve here, and that’s part of the excitement.

You must be pleased that WBUR’s Here and Now, which was broadcast nationally over 40 stations, was recently picked up by Public Radio International and is now available to 734 stations.

I’m a tremendous fan of the show’s host, Robin Young. I remember when she hosted Evening Magazine at WBZ-TV, which was a longtime competitor with Chronicle at WCVB-TV. I think she brings an intelligence to her subject matter that is unequalled. She’s so comfortable in that interview format. She’s a quintessential pro at it.

What’s your first order of business at the station?

I’m hoping to be able to make some contributions on the development side, shoring up the resources of the station, and hopefully grow them so we can begin some new initiatives. Peter Fiedler has done a masterful job of stabilizing the station over the past year, and I want to continue that work. Initially, there’s no need for me to get heavily involved in the product. It’s an excellent product to begin with, with coverage that is local, national, and international in scope.

Explore Related Topics:

  • Alumni
  • Boston
  • Local
  • Television
  • Share this story

Share

New WBUR chief Paul LaCamera on jumping from TV to radio, covering Boston

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Brian Fitzgerald

    Brian Fitzgerald Profile

Latest from BU Today

  • Things-to-do

    See a Concert Under the Stars with the Longwood Symphony Orchestra, Featuring BU Faculty

  • Watch Now

    BU, but Make It Emoji

  • NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY

    How to Celebrate National Ice Cream Day

  • Health & Medicine

    Why Is Everyone So Obsessed with Protein? BU Nutrition Expert Has Some Answers

  • Sports

    BU Table Tennis Player Headed to World Championships in Germany

  • Health & Medicine

    Americans Are Buying More European Sunscreens. Are They Better Than Domestic Ones?

  • Film & TV

    Did You Win Starbucks Gift Cards in Our Superman Trivia Quiz?

  • Social Media

    A Viral Marriage Proposal Raises Privacy Questions in the Social Media Age

  • Things-to-do

    Our List of Outdoor Concerts to Enjoy This Summer

  • Arts & Culture

    This CFA Student Is Using Art to Help Medical Patients

  • Film & TV

    Why Do We Keep Watching Reality Dating Shows?

  • University News

    Boston University Announces Budget Cuts, Layoffs Amid Financial Pressures

  • Social Media

    COM Class Teaches Students How to Promote Their Content Online

  • Things-to-do

    How to Spend the July Fourth Weekend in Boston

  • Things-to-do

    Best Places to Watch Fireworks in Boston This Fourth of July

  • 25 Charles River Campus Faculty Receive Promotions

  • Books

    With Summer Officially Here, 10 Great Beach Reads

  • Things-to-do

    Want to Beat the Summer Heat? Check Out One of the Boston Area’s Many Public Pools

  • Business & Law

    BU Legal Scholars Assess Supreme Court Ruling Limiting Nationwide Injunctions

  • Film & TV

    Learning Through Screen Time

Section navigation

  • Sections
  • Must Reads
  • Videos
  • Series
  • Close-ups
  • Archives
  • About + Contact
Get Our Email

Explore Our Publications

Bostonia

Boston University’s Alumni Magazine

BU Today

News, Opinion, Community

The Brink

Pioneering Research from Boston University

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Weibo
  • TikTok
© Boston University. All rights reserved. www.bu.edu
© 2025 Trustees of Boston UniversityPrivacy StatementAccessibility
Boston University
Notice of Non-Discrimination: Boston University prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex or gender, age, national origin, ethnicity, shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, military service, marital, parental, veteran status, or any other legally protected status in any and all educational programs or activities operated by Boston University. Retaliation is also prohibited. Please refer questions or concerns about Title IX, discrimination based on any other status protected by law or BU policy, or retaliation to Boston University’s Executive Director of Equal Opportunity/Title IX Coordinator, at titleix@bu.edu or (617) 358-1796. Read Boston University’s full Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Search
Boston University Masterplate
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
New WBUR chief Paul LaCamera on jumping from TV to radio, covering Boston
0
share this