Paula Kerger, President and CEO, PBS

Episode 040 – Paula Kerger, President and CEO, PBS

Today’s episode of the Executives’ Exchange features PBS’ President and CEO, Paula Kerger. Paula is joined by guest host, Bill Kurtis, acclaimed television documentary producer and host. Paula talks about the vital role of public broadcasting and what it means to her to be the first woman leading PBS. Listen in to hear the challenges she’s faced, the values PBS lives by, and the future of public media. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience.

00:00 – Intro
01:40 – Kerger details her childhood and her relationship to public broadcasting
04:00 – Kerger discusses her early career
08:32 – The role of mentor relationships
09:30 – Kerger details meeting hero and mentor Newt Minnow
13:40 – How public broadcasting is local, yet national
16:55 – How PBS lives its values and evolves
19:00 – How PBS will help solve climate change
21:58 – Message from our sponsor, Shure
22:26 – Importance of diversity in media
25:10 – How COVID-19 was the biggest challenge Kerger has faced
34:15 – Distribution of funding for public broadcast
39:05 – Kerger’s favorite PBS program
40:55 – What PBS will look like in the next three years
43:30 – Outro

Episode Link: PBS | NPR

Guest Host: Bill Kurtis, Acclaimed Television Documentary Producer and Host
Producer: Eva Penar, Chief Content & Communications Officer, The Executives’ Club of Chicago

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