System/Policy
Stanley Nelson, John Oliver among WGA members petitioning stations for fair freelancer contracts
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The petition accuses GBH, WNET Group and PBS SoCal of delaying their response to the union’s demands.
The potential of AI voices: transforming news delivery and engagement
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With advancements from OpenAI and Meta, newsrooms may adapt and build new features to enhance the reader and listener experience.
People
Feingold moves from Nebraska to N.C., Miskowski takes helm at WPT and more comings and goings in public media
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Also, Chicago’s WTTW marks its 60th anniversary May 5 with a gala salute to Newton Minow.
Tech
Pubcasters seek relief in carriage standoff with satellite companies
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Some satellite TV subscribers lack access to news, public affairs and other programming from their state networks.
People
NPR programmer Nuzum moving to Audible to oversee original content
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Nuzum said Audible is looking to create a “third space” in the audio world.
System/Policy
Detroit journalism project gets additional boost from Knight Foundation
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The Detroit Journalism Cooperative has “much more work to do,” says its convener.
PBS Annual Meeting
‘New age of digital learning’ prompts PBS to rethink education space
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The public broadcaster is “reimagining the very core” of its “educational value proposition.”
Quick Takes
University of Louisville, Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting settle public-records lawsuit
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The lawsuit was filed in October as part of the investigative center’s research on a story about a spate of high-dollar embezzlements at the school.
"The Pub" Podcast
The Pub #18: How to broaden public TV’s audience, live from the PBS Annual Meeting in Austin
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We contemplate the challenges and the opportunities involved in expanding public television to new audiences.
Podcasting
As podcast revenues climb, NPR board questions effect on radio sales
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With podcast revenues and downloads climbing, the NPR board discussed underwriting standards and the impact on broadcast underwriting.
Quick Takes
Awl author calls for a critical eye on podcast advertising
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A public radio producer lays out an argument for how unfettered advertising on podcasts compromises public media’s mission.
Quick Takes
Former KCTS reporter argues that station should sell spectrum
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Writing for The Seattle Times, a communications professor and former reporter and producer for the city’s KCTS-TV argues that the station should sell its broadcast spectrum and cede local public TV service to Tacoma’s KBTC. “Our region deserves better,” writes Barry Mitzman, now a teacher of strategic communications at Seattle University. Stations duplicating PBS programming are “inefficient,” he argues. “Regional consolidation might save money that could be invested in programs,” Mitzman continues. “Many states, including Oregon and Idaho, have unified public-TV systems that produce more original content — often much more — than KCTS does.”
With KBTC airing much the same programming as KCTS, the Tacoma station could take over a KCTS transmitter.