Chris Bolt
Senior Reporter/Professional in ResidenceChris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards. Recent reporting has focused on health and medicine, environment, elderly, substance abuse and culture reporting.
Chris has a doctor of education in executive leadership from St. John Fisher College and a master’s in broadcast journalism from the Newhouse School.
In addition to coverage of our community, equally satisfying has been the success of so many WAER alumni, students who have won and succeeded in jobs in news, sports and elsewhere in media, many of whom won awards at local, state and national levels as students. He has also taught classes at Newhouse and at OCC. Chris also enjoys connecting WAER with the community through moderating debates, facilitating and hosting public meetings, giving media training workshops and other events.
Chris and his wife Anne live in downtown Syracuse. They have two grown sons, Carter and Donovan, who both remain in the area. Their family enjoys all things Upstate New York, including myriad outdoor activities in the Adirondacks, Finger Lakes, music and other cultural events, and just about anything on a trail or on the water.
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Clean water policies and climate change prevention have suffered regulatory rollbacks & funding streams cut in Washington. Environmental Advocates of New York lobbies for state policies that can help. -
New York State Police will be able to take up to 20 days off for trauma after a deadly-violence incident. Passed by the legislature, it's codified in Governor Kathy Hochul's budget proposal. -
The teaching of public relations is changing as the field itself evolves. Assistant Teaching Newhouse Professor Arien Rozelle takes students through real client cases, AI and PR's role in activism. -
New York farmers suffering impacts of tariffs in exports, costs and labor, says Comptroller’s reportA report out from New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says tariffs hurt the state’s farmers. He finds dairy exports down, while costs of equipment & supplies are up. Immigration policies also limit immigrant workforce. -
Centerstate CEO released its 2026 Economic Forecast, with a survey of local businesses' attitudes toward hiring, investment and the overall economy. Majority have a positive outlook & intend to grow. -
Governor Kathy Hochul included funding in her state budget proposal for a NYC program for free childcare for all 2-year-olds. The Fiscal Policy Institute says it could help the economy and parents. -
NY State Police, investigating a stolen motorcycle complaint, found more than 40 illegal and stolen guns, along with drugs and cash. Two Homer men face numerous weapons, theft and drug charges. -
The report Trash in America describes the amount of US trash, where it goes & better ways to deal with it. Environment America's Celeste Meiffren-Swango & MASSPIRG's Janet Domenitz join us.
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The election victories by Zohran Mamdani in New York City and Hanah Ehrenreich in Syracuse might change how people feel about socialism. Syracuse Democratic Socialists chapter reacts to the shift. -
The New York State Traffic Safety Committee's holiday 'Drive Sobber or Get Pulled Over' enforcement effort led to 134,000 tickets, including 24,000 speeding and 4,600 for impaired driving.
