Madeleine Brand leaving KPCC; Alex Cohen new co-host of program with A Martinez

89.3 KPCC and Southern California Public Radio announced today that Alex Cohen has been named co-host of its 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. weekday news magazine show, joining current co-host A Martínez at the microphone beginning Monday.

Cohen replaces Madeleine Brand, who said Friday that she is leaving KPCC's morning line-up in order to pursue other career opportunities.

Cohen is a familiar voice to KPCC listeners as the station's anchor for "All Things Considered," NPR's afternoon news magazine, and "Marketplace," a half-hour business program that, like Southern California Public Radio, is owned by Minnesota-based American Public Media. Before joining Southern California Public Radio in 20009, Cohen was a host and reporter for NPR's "Day to Day" weekday news magazine. She also has reported for NPR's "Morning Edition," "All Things Considered" and "Marketplace."

"We are very fortunate to have in Alex a co-host with the combination of news judgment, experience and a lively, energetic on-air presence," Stanton said. "She has a range of experience in public broadcasting and journalism that few can match; she is smart, tenacious and insightful. "

Born in New York, Cohen moved to Los Angeles with her family at age 2. She earned her undergraduate degree at Brown University and a master's in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley.

Cohen began her professional career as a producer and director at NPR in Washington and returned to California as Los Angeles bureau chief for KQED FM, the leading public radio station in San Francisco. She has won several journalism awards including the LA Press Club's Best Radio Anchor prize.

Away from the mike, she developed an interest in roller derby, playing under guise of Axles of Evil. She made a cameo appearance and served as the trainer and choreographer for the Drew Barrymore derby film "Whip It" and co-authored the book "Down and Derby: The Insider's Guide to Roller Derby."

"I'm thrilled to be joining this incredibly talented team," Cohen said. "I look forward to continuing the tradition of excellent original programming on KPCC each morning."

Stanton said that in her two years at KPCC, Brand made "significant contributions to our programming, our listeners and our ratings, first with The Madeleine Brand Show and more recently with the new Brand & Martinez program. We wish her the very best in her professional endeavors."