URL Recruiting led the search for this dynamic, first-of-its-kind position
NEW YORK, NY – URL Media is proud to announce that after an expansive search led by URL’s Recruitment & Workforce Development Division, Amber Payne will join Rocky Mountain Public Media (RMPM) as its first-ever Chief Experience Officer (CXO). In this pivotal new role on the executive leadership team, Payne will spearhead the organization’s mission to transform public media by creating audience-centered journeys across its content brands.
“We are energized when we have the opportunity to work with an organization like Rocky Mountain Public Media to fill a new executive role, especially to address such a major inflection point for the media industry. We were lucky to have fantastic partners in this work at RMPM, who embrace and mirror our approach to executive recruitment as one of clarity and care, both within the company and toward candidates. Amber Payne brings deep strategic expertise and a values-driven approach that aligns beautifully with RMPM’s mission. It was an honor for URL Media to lead this search and help place a leader who will have a lasting impact on the organization and its communities,” said Leonor Ayala Polley, URL Media’s Chief of Recruitment and Workforce Development.
URL Media led an extensive nationwide search to find highly qualified candidates with the unique blend of experience and innovation needed for this new position, and to support RMPM in identifying the right person for the role. URL Recruiting has led more than 90 searches since the company’s launch in 2021, with the majority of placements at the executive level.
“URL’s reputation as an industry connector and innovator made them a natural partner for RMPM as we set out to create and fill this new role of CXO,” said Amanda Mountain, President and CEO of RMPM. ”Throughout the collaborative process, we met many exceptional leaders and learned more about ourselves and what we were truly seeking. This type of true partnership is hard to find and we loved every minute of it.”
Payne is a visionary in the media industry with a distinguished career built on creating impactful, community-centered content. Most recently, she served as Publisher and Founding Co-Editor of The Emancipator, a multimedia digital magazine exploring solutions to racial inequity. Payne is a 2021 Nieman Fellow at Harvard and previously served as Managing Editor of BET.com and Executive Producer of Teen Vogue and Them. Back in 2015, she created and launched NBCBLK, an NBC News digital initiative dedicated to elevating discourse on Black culture and identity.
“From the outset, URL Media approached me with care, clarity, and a genuine commitment to fit. They were responsive and encouraging, while also pushing me to think deeply about the responsibilities and impact of a first-of-its-kind role at Rocky Mountain PBS,” Payne said. “Their partnership helped me show up prepared, grounded, and confident throughout the process.”
Payne will join RMPM’s executive leadership team in February 2026.
About URL Media’s Recruitment & Workforce Development Division:
URL Media is transforming the media landscape by building a scalable, sustainable ecosystem that empowers trusted publishers and creators serving Black and Brown communities. The company’s recruitment and talent development division offers services that connect leaders with mission-aligned employers and build partner capacity through training and HR services. These job placements range across various sectors, including media and journalism, nonprofits, and finance. Founded in 2021 by media trailblazers Sara Lomax and S. Mitra Kalita, URL Media delivers authentic reach and lasting impact for brands, institutions, and audiences ready to engage meaningfully with these communities. For more information, visit url-media.com.
About Rocky Mountain Public Media:
Rocky Mountain Public Media (RMPM) is Colorado’s largest statewide, member-supported multimedia network, home to Rocky Mountain PBS, KUVO JAZZ, and THE DROP 104.7. RMPM is a nonprofit committed to enhancing Colorado through meaningful media. It fosters learning, creativity, compassion, and curiosity, making these accessible to all. RMPM aims to initiate conversations, support everyone, honor Colorado’s diverse history, and work with local communities to build a better future.
