PBS Board Election Results Announced
SAN DIEGO – Tom Karlo, general manager for KPBS, was reelected by PBS member stations to another three year term on the PBS Board as a professional director.
He was seated at the board’s October meeting marking the beginning of his second term. The PBS Board is comprised of 27 individuals that include professional directors (who are station leaders), general directors, and the PBS president. The PBS Board of Directors governs and sets policy for PBS and is comprised of a mix of for-profit and public media professionals.
“I am honored to be reelected to the board this year,” Karlo said. “I am excited to continue shaping the future of PBS and member stations throughout the country.”
Karlo joins Mississippi Public Broadcasting Executive Director Ronnie Agnew, WUCF/Orlando General Manager Polly Anderson, KCPT/Kansas City President and Chief Executive Officer Kliff Kuehl, South Carolina ETV President and Chief Executive Officer Linda O’Bryon, and WSKG/Binghamton General Manager Brian Sickora as professional directors on the PBS Board of Directors.
“PBS is tremendously fortunate to have such a dedicated and talented group of professionals to guide our enterprise,” PBS President and Chief Executive Officer, Paula Kerger said. “As the PBS system builds on the outstanding success we’ve achieved collectively by promoting innovation, expanding community impact and making content of consequence available to all Americans, the PBS Board and its officers play a vital role in setting our course and working at both the local and national level to move public media forward.”
Tom Karlo’s career began at KPBS in 1973 when he worked as a part time assistant while attending San Diego State University. Years later and after fulfilling multiple other roles, Karlo was promoted to associate general manager, a position he held for over a decade, before becoming general manager in February 2009.
Karlo is only the fifth general manager in KPBS history. Under his leadership the station created KPBS Evening Edition, changed the focus of KPBS’ online content to news, and expanded the station’s radio schedule to feature news and information 24 hours a day.
During Karlo’s time as general manager of KPBS, the station has won numerous prestigious awards. Most notably, the station won the 2015 USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Political Journalism for the station’s coverage of the scandal surrounding San Diego Mayor Bob Filner. This was the second time in five years the station was honored by the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
About KPBS: KPBS serves the San Diego region with news and entertainment programming that respects our audience with inspiring, intelligent and enlightening content. KPBS will deliver this content via multiple outlets, including television, radio, and digital media and will adapt and remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.
KPBS values integrity, truth, transparency and lifelong learning. We strive to engage with our citizens and showcase the unique neighborhoods and people that make our community thrive. As a public service of San Diego State University, education is a core value – from our children’s programming to our local news coverage.
About PBS: PBS, with over 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches more than 103 million people through television and over 33 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.