Ian Pickus

News Director

A lifelong resident of the Capital Region, Ian has been with WAMC as a producer since late 2008. He began working on Morning Edition and has produced The Capitol Connection, Congressional Corner, and several other WAMC programs. Ian can also be heard filling in as Morning Edition and Weekend Edition anchor and on The Roundtable, various newscasts, and Any Questions?. An avid fan of sports and music, Ian holds a BA in English and journalism and an MA in English, both from the University at Albany. He became news director in March 2013.

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New England News
7:41 am
Wed July 11, 2012

Activists pushing for younger voting age

Teenage activists from Lowell are lobbying Massachusetts lawmakers to pass legislation that would allow for 17-year-olds to vote in the city's future municipal elections. WAMC's Ian Pickus has more...

Lowell high school students and recent graduates campaigning in favor of the "Vote 17" proposal spoke to state lawmakers and Governor Deval Patrick Tuesday at the Statehouse.

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Sports
5:45 am
Mon July 9, 2012

Morning sports update

WITH WAMC SPORTS NEWS, I’M IAN PICKUS.

FOR THE RECORD-TYING SEVENTH TIME, ROGER FEDERER IS WIMBLEDON CHAMPION. THE THIRD-SEED BEAT BRITTON ANDY MURRAY 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 IN SUNDAY’S FINAL, DENYING MURRAY THE CHANCE TO BECOME THE FIRST HOMEGROWN MEN’S CHAMP SINCE 1936. FEDERER IMPROVES TO 17-7 IN GRAND SLAM FINALS, INCLUDING A 7-1 MARK AT THE ALL-ENGLAND CLUB. MURRAY HAS LOST ALL FOUR MAJOR FINALS HE HAS REACHED.

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Arts & Culture
7:30 am
Fri July 6, 2012

Any Questions? #45

Credit http://www.twinsdigest.com/2010/02/page/2/

WAMC's Ian Pickus and resident quizzer Mike Nothnagel venture to the land of 10,000 trivia questions with a quiz about Minnesota.

Last week's challenge
Think of a 1960s number-one hit song whose title starts with the word LOVE. Rearrange the letters in the other two words in the title to spell something a band might record. What is the song and what is the thing?
Answer: The song is “LOVE ME DO,” and the thing is a DEMO.

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The Roundtable
11:35 am
Mon July 2, 2012

Warren Zevon's road manager strikes up the cam

George Gruel checking out his old photos

WAMC's Ian Pickus sits down with Troy, New York-based photographer and visual artist George Gruel, former road manager for acclaimed musician Warren Zevon and the author of Lawyers, Guns and Photos: Photographs and Tales of My Adventures with Warren Zevon.

WAMC News
6:45 am
Fri June 29, 2012

Morning weather with WNYT's Paul Caiano

Paul Caiano

WNYT's Paul Caiano offers his weekend forecast.

Arts & Culture
6:01 am
Fri June 29, 2012

Any Questions? #44

WAMC's Ian Pickus and resident quizzer Mike Nothnagel offer a serious, sobering look at pop music's famous love songs.

Last week's challenge
Start with the name LIANE HANSEN. Drop one letter, then rearrange the remaining 10 letters to spell two one-word movie titles. What are they? (As a hint, one movie is from the 1950s, and the other is from the 1970s.)
Answer: If you drop an N, you can spell SHANE and ALIEN.

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Sports
5:24 am
Fri June 29, 2012

Morning sports update

WAMC's Ian Pickus reports on the NBA draft and the rest of the world of sports.

As expected, Kentucky sent six players through the NBA draft in Newark last night, including forward Anthony Davis, who was taken first by New Orleans. Last year’s player of the year and Final Four Most Outstanding Player was followed at number two by fellow Wildcat Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Washington took Florida guard Bradley Beal at three, and Syracuse guard Dion Waiters went to Cleveland with the four spot. Kansas’ Thomas Robinson headed to Sacramento with the fifth pick.

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The Roundtable
9:45 am
Wed June 27, 2012

After transition, Chaz Bono finally comfortable in his own skin

Chaz Bono's story about becoming a man

WAMC's Ian Pickus speaks with Chaz Bono about his highly public and sometimes controversial transition from the only daughter of Sonny and Cher to the man he is today. Bono's memoir Transition: Becoming Who I Was Always Meant to Be, is now out in paperback.

New York News
7:04 am
Wed June 27, 2012

Morning headlines with Judy Patrick of the Daily Gazette

Judy Patrick

WAMC's Ian Pickus speaks with Daily Gazette editor Judy Patrick about another New York Racing Association scandal and where the Hudson River herring have gone.

The Roundtable
9:45 am
Tue June 26, 2012

Fleder assembles writers Murderers' Row to tackle Yankees

WAMC's Ian Pickus speaks with former Sports Illustrated executive editor and author Rob Fleder , editor of Damn Yankees: Twenty-Four Major League Writers on the World’s Most Loved (and Hated) Team.

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