Gary Covino has been a public radio producer, reporter, editor and program creator for 30 years. He has concentrated on the production of in-depth stories and documentaries, often focusing on contentious political and social issues, international news, and profiles of unusual and controversial public figures.

During the 1980s he worked in the news department at NPR. Starting out as a producer on All Things Considered, he was also a director, editor, reporter and show producer. For several years he was a producer of special series and projects that often involved reporting from Central America and Asia.

During the 1990s he lived in Chicago and worked as an independent producer and editor, as well as a free-form radio personality. He now lives in Massachusetts, working on a select list of radio projects.

Throughout his career, Covino has helped many reporters and independent radio producers get their early work onto NPR programs. His own programs have received numerous awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Journalism Award, the World Hunger Media Award and the Overseas Press Club Award. His favorite honor is the People Power Medal he was awarded by the new government of the Philippines in 1987, to mark his role in the press coverage of the 1986 “snap election” and subsequent revolt in that country, which resulted in the overthrow of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and the creation of a reformist government under Cory Aquino.