OPB Digital Video Producer and Reporter Prakruti Bhatt has been named a 2025 “Rising Star” in public media by Current, a nonprofit news organization for public media professionals. She is part of a select group of 15 people across the country chosen by the outlet’s staff and judges who work in and around public media.

Rising Stars are nominated by colleagues or supervisors for their exceptional contributions to their workplaces, communities and public media at large. They are selected for their commitment to carry public media’s mission forward in new and innovative ways, expanding service to audiences.

Bhatt is a forward-thinking video creator covering arts, culture, and music and she frequently collaborates with the OPB newsroom on a variety of other stories. She has been a driver of OPB’s expansion to digital video platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, offering OPB audiences new was to experience OPB’s storytelling about the people, places events and news across the Northwest.

“Prakruti has been an inspired and energetic creator and collaborator at OPB, helping us to think in new ways about visual journalism and how to reach the next generation of public media audiences,” said MacGregor Campbell, director of digital video product at OPB. “From ‘Stop Requested’ videos to collaborations with our arts, news and livestream teams, she is helping us chart an exciting new path as OPB expands our journalism and public service.”

One of Bhatt’s recent key accomplishments is her work on “Stop Requested,” a multipart series about the vital role public transportation plays in Oregon in the state’s most remote areas. On a journey over 14 days and more than 30 buses, Bhatt and “OPB Weekend Edition” Host Lillian Karabaic explored the challenges faced by rural communities as they navigate limited transit options while also celebrating the beauty of Oregon’s rural places and people. The project included extensive on-the-ground reporting and allowed OPB to experiment with different media such as social video, radio and web.

Bhatt’s work also includes interviews with Japanese American Artist Jun Kaneko, Grammy-winning Percussionist Zakir Hussain and Musician and Composer Andy Akiho. She has also produced music sessions featuring Portland indie rock bands Glitterfox and The Apricots.

Current launched Rising Stars in 2023 to celebrate employees who are making a difference in public media by producing content, expanding educational services and developing new strategies for engaging audiences.

The Rising Star 2025 cohort is comprised of 15 early- and mid-career public media employees ages 35 and under who work in a variety of roles at public media stations and national organizations. For the full list of recipients and to learn more, visit current.org/risingstars2025.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/pressroom/opbs-prakruti-bhatt-named-one-of-15-rising-stars-in-public-media/