Independent, nonprofit news media organization Futuro Media announced Maria Garcia as the new Executive Editor of Futuro Studios, the organization’s creative division focusing on original podcasts and programming.

“Maria Garcia joining Futuro is an absolute dream come true,” said Maria Hinojosa, President and Founder of Futuro Media. “She is precisely the kind of journalist and visionary we want on our team so that we can give her deep roots and even bigger wings.”

“In Anything for Selina, Maria Garcia proved she’s one of the most original and talented voices in the medium,” said Marlon Bishop, VP of Podcasts at Futuro Studios. “Bringing in Maria is a major moment for our studio that will push us even farther into creating the groundbreaking podcasts of the future.”

Garcia brings over 15 years of journalism experience, most recently serving as WBUR’s Managing Editor, and is the creator and host of Anything for Selena, the critically acclaimed podcast by Futuro Studios and WBUR that examines the life and legacy of Selena Quintanilla. As Executive Editor for Futuro Studios, Garcia will be responsible for conceptualizing and overseeing new podcast and television projects. Working closely with Marlon Bishop, VP of Podcasts at Futuro Studios, she will focus on helping to steer the editorial and creative vision for the department.

“Futuro is rigorous in its journalism, collaborative in it spirit, and creative in its storytelling. I know that we are going to create beautiful, impactful, form-breaking work together. I’m grateful to be joining a studio that I believe is challenging the podcasting world,” Garcia said.

Garcia’s addition to Futuro Studios builds on the impressive growth and momentum it continues to have this year, following national recognition in The Atlantic’s “50 Best Podcasts of 2021.”

Four of the division’s podcasts were featured on the list, including Garcia’s Anything for Selena, as well as Suave, La Brega, and LOUD: The History of Reggaeton. Anything For Selena has been recognized by several outlets – including Apple Podcasts, Vulture and CNN – as one of the best podcasts in 2021. Other Futuro podcasts made it to the 2021 best-of-lists of outlets like The New Yorker, the New York Times, Vulture, Esquire, Vogue, along with an IDA Documentary Award nomination for Suave an a Third Coast Award Director’s Choice nomination for La Brega.

Prior to joining Futuro Studios, Garcia served as WBUR’s managing editor, where she oversaw strategy for the station’s investigative, arts/culture, environmental, and education teams. Garcia has also been an arts director and reporter, covering overlooked corners of creativity. Early in her career, she covers politics and policy along the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, for over a decade before earning her master’s in arts and culture reporting from the Columbia Journalism School.

Futuro Studio is led by Peabody Award-winning journalist Marlon Bishop on the editorial end. Julio Ricardo Varela heads up the division’s business development team. So far, Futuro Studios projects include Suave, La Brega, Anything for Selina, LOUD: The History of Reggaeton, Norco 80, Con Todo: Brown Love, The Battle for 187, Radical Imagination, and the Translash Podcast with Imara Jones. Futuro Studios is currently developing an exciting 2022 slate of shows.