Baltimore County resident and Towson University graduate among 22 young professionals honored from across the nation
Current, the leading source for public media news, announced this week its first cohort of early and mid-career employees to be recognized as Rising Stars in Public Media. Among the 22 honorees is Maryland Public Television’s (MPT) Jessica Ray, MotorWeek associate producer and online content creator.
The Rising Stars, all age 35 and under, work in a variety of audience-facing and behind-the-scenes roles at public TV and radio stations and national organizations in 14 states and the District of Columbia. The selections were made from among 238 nominations.
Following an internship at MPT while a student at Towson University, Ray joined the statewide public television network in 2017 as an assistant producer for arts and culture content. She contributed her talents on MPT’s mainstay series Artworks and Chesapeake Collectibles.
Her 2019 promotion to associate producer and online content creator for MPT’s national series MotorWeek recognized her talents in blending on-air content with digital communications.
Ray manages the program’s popular website, motorweek.com and recently led a team in completing a refresh of the popular site, which offers fans of the show digital-exclusive content as well as on-air segments that span the series’ 43 seasons on public TV. She also produces MotorWeek podcasts and cultivates content for the series’ YouTube channel, which has more than 420,000 subscribers. In 2022 she expanded her duties by moving in front of the camera, making on-air appearances on MotorWeek in “First Drive” and “Quick Spin” segments for both online and broadcast.
MotorWeek series creator, host, and executive producer John Davis had to say: “Jessica tackles her duties with infectious enthusiasm. She came on board eager to use her considerable social media skills to broaden the reach of our long-running TV series. But beyond that, she’s rapidly established herself as an automotive journalist of note – no small feat in a still-male-dominated field. Her photo journalism skills and on-camera appearances have made her vehicle insights impactful beyond MotorWeek.”
Julie Drizin, executive director at Current, noted that the publication’s Rising Star initiative is timely and important for several reasons. “Elevating younger talent in the system is good for public media. People need to feel appreciated, acknowledged, and celebrated for devoting their creative energies to this public service field,” she said.
More information about the 2023 Rising Stars is available at current.org/risingstars.
Ray earned a bachelor’s degree in electronic media and film from Towson University in 2017. A native of Huntingtown in Calvert County, Maryland, Ray now resides in Baltimore County.
About Maryland Public Television
Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. MPT creates and distributes local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards. MPT’s commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through instructional events and Thinkport.org. MPT’s year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources on a wide range of topics. For more information visit mpt.org.
