People
Oregon Public Broadcasting taps CNN’s Rachel Smolkin as CEO
|
Smolkin will succeed longtime leader Steve Bass, who announced plans to step down last year.
System/Policy
House subcommittee recommends more funding for Next Generation Warning System
|
If approved, it would be the third large infusion of funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency–backed program.
System/Policy
CPB’s first post-pandemic analysis of stations finds stagnating radio revenue, drop in TV income
|
The latest State of the System report was shared during the Public Media Business Association’s annual conference.
Obituaries
Jac Venza, founder of public TV’s ‘Great Performances,’ dies at 97
|
Venza founded the series in 1972 and retired from public media in 2004.
People
Comings and goings: Dan Lothian named editor of GBH newsroom, NPR appoints deputy managing editor of digital …
|
Dan Lothian became editor-in-chief of GBH’s newsroom and “The World.”
System/Policy
Kwame Alexander created a poem about public media with help from ‘Viewers Like You’
|
“A human network / A community / coming together in unity / generations engaged / together.”
Tech
Stations in Alabama, Texas and Alaska receive $1.3 million from Next Gen Warning System
|
Alabama Public Television, KLRN in San Antonio and KYUK in Bethel will use the funds to upgrade their technology for transmitting emergency alerts.
People
Comings and goings: WFIT appoints PD, Nine PBS adds senior directors to development team …
|
Steven Keller became PD for WFIT in Melbourne, Fla.
People
Marcia Smith, president of Firelight Media, plans to step down
|
Smith co-founded Firelight Media with filmmaker Stanley Nelson.
People
Comings and goings: GBH News GM Pam Johnston to step down, Radio Bilingüe announces staff changes …
|
Pam Johnston has worked as GBH’s GM of news since 2020 after years of working for “Frontline.”
Tech
Four more public media stations receive Next Generation Warning System funding
|
Two of the stations serve Indigenous audiences.
People
Comings and goings: Brad Turner named EP at KUNC, Aspen Public Radio announces new morning host …
|
Turner will lead KUNC’s daily news podcast and contribute to other newsroom projects.
People
Jeff Aiello will step down as CEO of Valley PBS
|
The production executive who ascended to CEO in 2021 cited a need to “ease back on work load” in announcing his departure.
Programs/Content
Black Public Media awards $610,000 to filmmakers, honors Sam Pollard with Trailblazer Award
|
The grants were announced at the 2024 PitchBLACK Forum in New York.
Featured in Category
Comings and goings: CPB hires director of radio investments, WEDU appoints COO …
|
Chad Lampe left PRX to become director of radio investments for CPB.
People
Comings and goings: VP leaves Chicago Public Media, Cincinnati Public Radio hires music director …
|
Amy Wielunski, who joined Chicago Public Media in 2017, is leaving her VP role to become executive director of VocalEssence, a nonprofit choral music organization in Minneapolis.
System/Policy
Sesame Workshop reaches tentative collective bargaining agreement with writers’ union
|
The writers, who are represented by the Writers Guild of America, East, were threatening to picket outside of Sesame Workshop’s New York headquarters if a deal wasn’t reached.
System/Policy
N.Y. Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney proposes bill to defund NPR
|
Tenney’s proposal follows recent criticism of the network spurred by former editor Uri Berliner’s essay for The Free Press.
System/Policy
Sesame Workshop writers’ union votes to authorize strike
|
The writers, who are represented by the Writers Guild of America, East, seek new benefits and payment standards for residuals from streaming, among other protections.
People
Comings and goings: NPR hires Western bureau chief, Rocky Mountain Public Media adds two executives …
|
Ravenna Koenig, who first joined NPR in 2014 as an intern, became Western bureau chief for the National Desk.