Karen Feagins rejoins WJCT Public Media as CEO

Karen Feagins is returning to WJCT Public Media in Jacksonville, Fla., as the station’s next president and CEO, the station announced Friday.

Feagins will start in the role Aug. 31. She previously worked for WJCT from 2005–18, starting as a reporter and Morning Edition host. She later oversaw content and operations, then served as COO before joining PNC Bank as its first client and community relations director for the North Florida market.

While working for PNC, Feagins served for seven years on WJCT’s board of trustees and volunteered on-air during pledge drives, according to a station press release.

At PNC, Feagins helped shape the company’s local strategy for sponsorships and philanthropy, including the deployment of grant funding from the PNC Foundation to support Jacksonville Symphony concerts and early-learning programs at the Museum of Science and History.

Before joining WJCT, Feagins held journalism roles at KOMU-TV in Missouri, WZVN-TV in Florida’s Gulf Coast and WJXT News4Jax in Jacksonville. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

“Karen represents exactly what we were looking for as the next leader for WJCT Public Media. She is a talented executive who has a passion for public media and serving the community in which she lives,” said Bill Hendrich, chair of WJCT’s board and of the station’s executive search committee. “Her career path provides great insight into the needs of all the communities that make up WJCT’s service area. I am excited to welcome her back as our new President and CEO.”

“Public media provides a vital service to this community, and my goal is to build on WJCT’s incredible momentum so more people can experience the value of public media in their daily lives,” Feagins said in the release. “I have always been inspired by the passion and dedication of the people at WJCT and their commitment to serving our community. The perspective I’ve gained from the private sector will help us continue to innovate to best serve our audiences, while remaining rooted in the principles of public media. I’m overjoyed to return to WJCT, an organization that shaped my personal and professional life in countless ways.”

“A seasoned journalist with a lifelong passion for public media, Karen brings a wealth of experience, deeply respected relationships throughout North Florida and an unwavering commitment to serving our community,” said Anne Madsen, vice chair of WJCT’s board. “Having previously served as a WJCT employee and member of the Board of Trustees, Karen combines a deep appreciation for our legacy with a forward-looking vision for the future.”

Upon Feagins’ return, Geri Cirillo, who has served as WJCT’s interim president and CEO since April, will resume her previous responsibilities as senior VP and COO. Former CEO David McGowan announced his retirement in October 2025.