Current (https://current.org/series/exit-interviews/)
Our series of interviews with longtime public media leaders retiring in 2019.
“There needs to be a change of mindset about how we collectively serve the public,” says the outgoing CEO of Northern California Public Media.
“I give a lot of credit to those around me who have helped make WFYI and me successful,” says Wright, who recently retired as president of the Indianapolis stations.
“We need to stop worrying about things we can’t control,” says the retired GM of WUWM in Milwaukee. “Let’s continue to build from our strengths.”
Regardless of the role you play in a public media organization, “always remember that it is all about serving the needs of the people in your community,” says the retired CEO of San Francisco’s KQED.
Develop relationships with local supporters to improve your station’s community service, says the retired Nashville Public Radio GM, because advice from public radio colleagues can take you only so far.
Reflecting on her 23 years as CEO of WYNC and NYPR, Laura Walker says success in public media comes from reaching for both ideals.
The outgoing president of Connecticut Public looks back on his career at the station: “I had a terrific board of directors, and we kept reinventing ourselves.”
“It took me a while to figure out that the real job is to find resources for talented staff and innovative ideas — and to fight to protect independent journalism,” says Rocco, who retires from North Country Public Radio next month.
After building the Los Angeles station into a regional news powerhouse, Davis says it’s easy to forget how “almost everyone in public media” predicted that his efforts to revive the station would fail.