Lonna Thompson, EVP and COO for America’s Public Television Stations, is retiring Sept. 1.
Thompson will become a consultant to the organization and focus on helping member stations convert to the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard and explore “spectrum-based service and revenue opportunities.” She also will manage a grant program with the California Office of Emergency Services and 11 public television stations serving the state, according to a news release.
Thompson joined APTS in 1994 after working as a communications lawyer. Her jobs at APTS have included general counsel for APTS and interim CEO.
“Lonna has helped our stations navigate the transition from analog to digital broadcasting, the first-ever auction of broadcast spectrum, the conversion to an exciting new broadcast standard, and countless proceedings before the Federal Communications Commission and other regulatory agencies,” said APTS President Pat Butler in a news release. “Everyone in public television owes Lonna a debt of gratitude we will never be able to fully repay.”
“It has been a true privilege to work in public media and to stand with public television stations as they educate, enlighten and help save lives in their communities throughout our country,” said Thompson in a news release.
Classical Music Indy announced staff changes.
John Clare will host Anytime Classical, a nationally syndicated program block that also airs on WICR in Indianapolis and WBAA in West Lafayette, Ind. He will also launch a new weekly radio show, Classical Beat, in September on WICR.
Clare most recently worked as artistic director of Gretna Music, a live music venue in Mount Gretna, Pa. His previous jobs in radio include music director for WGUC in Cincinnati and CEO for Classic 107.3 in St. Louis. He also has prior experience with WBAA; Texas Public Radio in San Antonio and WITF in Harrisburg, Pa.
Clare succeeds Michael Toulouse, who is retiring as host and PD. Toulouse joined the organization in 2008 after working as classical music director for WFYI in Indianapolis. A news release said Toulouse “is looking forward to an extended period of semi-retirement, balancing family time with part-time work in the IT sector.”
Development
Christina Shockley was hired as a consultant for Paragon Media Strategies. She previously hosted All Things Considered for Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor but left the station in 2022 to become an independent fundraising consultant and vocal coach. While working for Paragon, she will continue to operate Shockley Consulting. “Several Paragon clients raved about Christina’s work for them and once we started talking, I realized why,” said CEO Mike Henry in a news release. “She is a dynamic thought leader who excels at everything she does.”
Education
Tadrianna McCalister joined Basin PBS in Midland, Texas, as education director. McCalister most recently worked as a high school science teacher at the Texas Leadership Charter Academy in Midland. She has also been a middle school teacher for the academy.
Content
Carol Yancho was hired as senior director of content for Arizona PBS. She most recently worked as senior producer and director for WKAR in East Lansing, Mich., a station she joined in 2016. Previously, she worked as a producer for HGTV, Animal Planet, Lifetime, A&E and TLC. “As I move on to a more senior position at Arizona PBS, I carry with me invaluable experiences, cherished memories, and profound gratitude for the opportunity to grow and innovate at WKAR,” Yancho said in a news release.
Jody Denberg, a radio host for KUTX in Austin, Texas, retired. Denberg had been a part-time host for sister station KUT before joining KUTX in 2012. Denberg’s first job in media was working as a music critic for the student newspaper at the University of Texas at Austin. He was also a host and music director for commercial station KLBJ and PD for KGSR. “My wife retired in March. I want to be with her,” Denberg said in a news release. “I’m going to be 65 the day I retire. I want to get some time in a cooler climate and not have to work. I’ve been on the air five to six times a week for 40 years. I just feel like it’s a good time to bow out at the top.”
Luis Antonio Perez announced on LinkedIn that he’s leaving his role as podcast editor and producer for Colorado Public Radio. Perez joined the station in 2020 as a podcast producer and has also been a community audio producer and host of the podcast My Story So Far. Perez was laid off by the station but quickly brought back on for his most recent role. “Despite an awkward layoff/renege into my current role as Editor-Producer a few months ago, I am also grateful that CPR saw enough potential in me to keep me around and grant me a job promotion,” he said on LinkedIn. “It’s been a great experience working with a new team in the CPR newsroom, but all signs have been pointing me toward a different path. More soon. For now, just gratitude.”
Governance
The Independent Television Service appointed two new board members: Peter Bratt, a screenwriter and independent filmmaker whose credits include Follow Me Home, La Mission and the documentary Dolores, which premiered on ITVS’ Independent Lens in 2018; Linda Wei, the CCO for Alaska Public Media, who has also been chair of the PBS Digital Media Advisory Council and is vice chair for the PBS Programming Advisory Council. Wei also led digital strategies for Nashville Public Television and worked in production for Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
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