Jennifer Rooks
Host and Executive Producer, Maine CallingJennifer walked into her college radio station as a 17-year-old freshman and never looked back. Even though she was terrified of the microphone back then — and spoke into it as little as possible — she loved the studio, the atmosphere and, most of all, the people who work in broadcasting. She was hooked. Decades later, she’s back behind the radio microphone hosting Maine Public Radio’s flagship talk program, Maine Calling. She’s not afraid of the mic anymore, but still loves the bright, eclectic people she gets to work with every day.
Jennifer joined MPBN in June 2007 after spending more than 13 years at WCSH-TV in Portland as a general assignment reporter and weekend news anchor. She has twice won a regional Edward R. Murrow award: in 1998, for coverage of Maine National Guard and Reserve soldiers deployed in Bosnia and Hungary, and in 2003, for the documentary Citizen King, about then-governor and former Maine Watch host Angus King.
For six years, Jennifer served as host, reporter and executive producer of Maine Watch with Jennifer Rooks. She has moderated more than 20 broadcast debates for Maine Public Television and has produced three television documentaries: Broken Trust: Elder Abuse in Maine and Winds of Change, both Maine Watch Special Reports, and A Matter of Duty: The Continuing War Against PTSD. Co-produced with Charlie Stuart, A Matter of Duty has been shown on PBS television stations throughout the U.S. and in multiple screenings, including at the National Sheriff’s Association national conference.
Jennifer grew up outside Atlanta, Georgia. She earned her BA from the University of Virginia and her master’s in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. She worked at television stations in San Francisco and Monterey, California, before coming to Maine. She and her husband Mike have two teenagers.
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What to know about the flurry of activity at the close of Maine legislative session, and the latest on the lead up to the gubernatorial race -
How comedians learn to be funny, where to go to see the new generation of comic talent in Maine, and whether there's a Maine brand of humor -
What options do rural students have after high school, and how can they overcome obstacles to meeting their goals? -
What is needed for people in Maine to have better access to public transit—especially for those without a vehicle or living in rural areas? -
Summer is nesting season—learn what species to look for and where to view them, as well as what to know about bird conservation -
Buildling and maintaining trails for a variety of uses in Maine, and what's in store for trails systems across the state -
For Juneteenth, we rebroadcast our earlier program about the complicated history of abolition in Maine -
We learn about the life and work of artist Joseph Fiore, whose paintings were influenced by his time in Maine—and about a film and exhibit honoring his legacy -
Former state and federal CDC leader Dr. Shah addresses the question: "Are we ready for the next pandemic?" -
Maine authors part of statewide reading program discuss their work and offer good book suggestions
