Cantillo recently left as program director of Cumulus Media's talk WABC, New York (770), and the rumors were that she might be going to WTOP. Today's confirmation comes as WTOP parent Hubbard Radio says it has signed VP of News & Programming Jim Farley to a new contract that keeps him on the job through 2014. Hubbard Senior Regional VP Joel Oxley, based at WTOP, says "the addition of Laurie Cantillo to Jim's team will help us grow the WTOP brand across all our platforms: FM Radio, streaming audio, WTOP.com, Facebook, Twitter, our mobile platform and email and text updates." Cantillo will report to Jim Farley. Before WABC, she was the program director for Harpo Radio's "Oprah & Friends" radio services on satellite radio, and she's worked in Madison and Denver (at KOA/850). The Washington-Baltimore Board of Radio-Info.com is talking about Cantillo's hiring, here.

- At the same time, WTOP says it is "reorganizing and expanding its newsroom to emphasize its growing digital efforts and to unify the digital and broadcast staff to become a true multi-platform news operation." Laurie Cantillo, as PD, is just one of the changes in the structure. Current Director of Digital Operations John Meyer "moves into the newsroom as the architect of the social and digital strategy as it comes together with the current broadcast operation", says Hubbard. Jim Farley says "we will now have both a Digital Editor and a Radio Editor working together 24/7. No other station in America does this." Current News Director Mike McMearty becomes Senior News Director. Assistant ND Mitchell Miller is now News Director. Mike Gartell is now Managing Editor. Gary Emerling becomes Senior Digital Editor. Darci Marchese is now Executive Producer. The newsroom changes will become "operational by the end of January", and Hubbard is also enlarging the Traffic Center. There are postings for jobs at WTOP.com.