Current is marking the 50th anniversary of the Public Broadcasting Act by illuminating the experiences that inspired people to choose to work in public media. Every week, we are sharing their stories using the hashtag #IAmPublicMedia. During the 2017 PBS Annual Meeting in San Diego, Current collected these expressions of support for public media.
Leif Brostrom
Assistant Director, Station Products and Innovation, PBS Digital
I work in public media because I’ve always liked to help the little guy whose voices aren’t quite as loud, kind of like me.
Jennifer Cook
Director of Communications, WUCF-TV, Orlando, Fla.
I am the number one fan of Mr. Rogers and he raised me. I hope to help raise other children in the public media world.
.@KSPSPublicTV @GaryStokesKSPS No one else provides variety, education & value like #pubmedia #iampublicmedia #PBSam pic.twitter.com/f5frFW7Atu
— Current (@currentpubmedia) May 18, 2017
Linda Wei
Director of Digital Strategies, Nashville Public Television
I love public media. I’ve been in the system since I was 16, so I’ve been in the system for 21 years. I started out at Louisiana Public Broadcasting, so I do consider them my home station. I went there because PBS raised me and I wanted to be a part of that.
Fortunately, the public media that I knew and loved growing up is actually true. They are the loving family that I was hoping that they would be. They were there with me when I was going to start a family. They were great about that, and they continue to be great about that. I’m able to strike a really great work and life balance through that and I get to continue to do the work that I love and think has meaning to our local community.
Sally Jo Fifer
President, Independent Television Service, San Francisco
I am public media because I believe in equal voice and shared knowledge for everyone.
Cheryl Hirasa @PICpacific #IamPublicMedia because we need diversity behind + on camera + in dec-making roles #PBSam pic.twitter.com/bxNutBywAR
— Current (@currentpubmedia) May 17, 2017
Erika Howard
Director of Audience Engagement, POV
I always had a heart to use media to engage the public, to take subject matter and drive it home to individuals and communities. Stories are so inspiring and public media has proven it can engage audiences like no other space.
MaluhiaKaimikaua @picpacific#iampublicmedia I love diverse content-#pubmedia helps world know my culture #PBSam pic.twitter.com/xvOy4jaVT8
— Current (@currentpubmedia) May 16, 2017
Wonya Lucas
CEO, Public Broadcasting Atlanta
I work in public media because we enrich people’s lives throughout their lifespan.
@monicastangled #iampublicmedia to have impact. People in my community learned English from @sesamestreet #PBSam pic.twitter.com/5dKaFaNHPJ
— Current (@currentpubmedia) May 16, 2017
Alex Kim
Director of Development, KPBS, San Diego
I am public media because I love the values we stand for. We are a window to the world. We educate everybody. So much potential to make a difference.
MichalHeiplik @wgbh #iampublicmedia because it opens my daughter's world~she thinks I work w/Curious George! #PBSam pic.twitter.com/U2m3v68iPQ
— Current (@currentpubmedia) May 17, 2017
Christina Melton
Director of Special Projects, Louisiana Public Broadcasting
I am public media because I love storytelling. Commercial news doesn’t give long enough to tell a story. Public media does.
Photos: Julie Drizin/Current
Current is also collecting longer contributions. If you’d like us to feature your story, submit it here.