Development

APTS restructures to support strategic goals for state-level advocacy, public service

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The Association of Public Television Stations has restructured its staff to align with recently adopted strategic goals, including efforts to promote best practices, increase state and federal funding and support advocacy for the system at large. Two key staffers are stepping up to manage the expanding workload. Kate Riley, director of government relations, has been promoted to v.p., government and public affairs; she will focus on advocacy and state and federal funding. Emil Mara, v.p. for finance and administration, will direct member services. The reorganization follows through on a strategic plan adopted by the APTS board of trustees in November, according to Pat Butler, president.

People

Last Days lands Oscar nom; CPI, ProPublica recognized for data projects

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Last Days in Vietnam scored PBS’s American Experience its ninth Academy Award nomination. Rory Kennedy produced and directed the film for AmEx, a documentary series that has run since 1995. CPB provided support for the film. Last Days in Vietnam was nominated in the Best Documentary category, marking Kennedy’s first nomination. “When we conceived of this film three years ago, we knew it was a powerful story of individual acts of courage set against a background of chaos,” said American Experience Executive Producer Mark Samels on the show’s blog.

People

New fellowships pair independent producers with coaches for entrepreneurial training

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A new fellowship program from the Association of Independents in Radio pairs a dozen content creators with coaches in an incubator-style approach to training. The program, an extension of AIR’s long-running mentorship program, aims to boost the participants’ entrepreneurial skills, said Sue Schardt, executive director of AIR. “What we were looking for is people who have very clear goals for what they’re trying to achieve,” she said. “These are people with their chops in place and [who] are ready to launch in a new direction in their career or take on a new venture.”

AIR received about 36 applications and selected 12 from those. The certified professional coaches are Tom Livingston, Jackie Bsharah, Richard Gibson and Mark Sachs.