Current
@current.org
News and opinion about public and nonprofit media in the U.S. https://current.org
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“The next steps are trying to get it in the hands of as many educators as possible,” said Deb Tschirhart, senior director of education for Public Media Connect, of the station's new curriculum based on a @ricksteves.bsky.social special. current.org/2026/09/rick...
Rick Steves curriculum brings European history, music to classrooms
"Symphony in a Suitcase" stemmed from a partnership among Steves, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and Public Media Connect.
current.org
September 16, 2026 at 7:11 PM
“The next steps are trying to get it in the hands of as many educators as possible,” said Deb Tschirhart, senior director of education for Public Media Connect, of the station's new curriculum based on a @ricksteves.bsky.social special. current.org/2026/09/rick...
"In this pivotal moment for all of us—public media and the communities we reach—we’re committed to difference-making content, technology innovation to grow our service, and shared purpose with extraordinary partners," Saldanha said. current.org/2026/09/prx-...
PRX names Jason Saldanha CEO
Saldanha is “the ideal leader for public media both today and tomorrow,” said CEO Kerri Hoffman.
current.org
September 14, 2026 at 4:06 PM
"In this pivotal moment for all of us—public media and the communities we reach—we’re committed to difference-making content, technology innovation to grow our service, and shared purpose with extraordinary partners," Saldanha said. current.org/2026/09/prx-...
“We’re really organizing this around one central question: What does public media need to become to serve the needs of communities in our society over the next 50 years?” said Public Media Co. CEO Tim Isgitt. current.org/2026/09/publ...
Public Media Co., Poynter partner to reimagine public media
The partners plan to release recommendations early next year.
current.org
September 11, 2026 at 6:06 PM
“We’re really organizing this around one central question: What does public media need to become to serve the needs of communities in our society over the next 50 years?” said Public Media Co. CEO Tim Isgitt. current.org/2026/09/publ...
Arkansas TV gained half as many new donors in fiscal year 2026 compared to the previous fiscal year, the foundation’s interim CEO said. (Via @arkansasadvocate.com) current.org/2026/09/arka...
Arkansas public television hopes to regain donors lost after attempt to cut PBS ties
Arkansas TV gained half as many new donors in fiscal year 2026 compared to the previous fiscal year, the foundation’s interim CEO said.
current.org
September 11, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Arkansas TV gained half as many new donors in fiscal year 2026 compared to the previous fiscal year, the foundation’s interim CEO said. (Via @arkansasadvocate.com) current.org/2026/09/arka...
Reposted by Current
“There’s just increasing pressure on time deadlines … on not wanting to step into something that is getting a lot of pushback from segments of your audience.”
CIRES Fellow @maxboykoff.bsky.social spoke with Current about climate change reporting
current.org/2026/08/how-...
CIRES Fellow @maxboykoff.bsky.social spoke with Current about climate change reporting
current.org/2026/08/how-...
How editorial partnerships bolster local climate reporting - Current
Public media journalists collaborate with each other and independent newsrooms to deliver coverage that resonates with local audiences.
current.org
September 10, 2026 at 8:02 PM
“There’s just increasing pressure on time deadlines … on not wanting to step into something that is getting a lot of pushback from segments of your audience.”
CIRES Fellow @maxboykoff.bsky.social spoke with Current about climate change reporting
current.org/2026/08/how-...
CIRES Fellow @maxboykoff.bsky.social spoke with Current about climate change reporting
current.org/2026/08/how-...
"We need to tell our story constantly," says @wnyc.org CEO Christy Tanner. "We need to be refining how we do that, too, so that people know why they were supporting us in the first place and why they should continue to do so." current.org/2026/08/how-...
How Christy Tanner is growing New York Public Radio
In an interview, Tanner discusses how the New York station has adjusted to the loss of CPB funding and her plans for what's ahead.
current.org
August 27, 2026 at 1:07 PM
"We need to tell our story constantly," says @wnyc.org CEO Christy Tanner. "We need to be refining how we do that, too, so that people know why they were supporting us in the first place and why they should continue to do so." current.org/2026/08/how-...
The board of directors listed the meeting as postponed on its website Friday morning but did not include a reason. (Via @alabamareflector.com) current.org/2026/08/alab...
Alabama Public Television board postpones meeting for controversial survey funding
The board was slated to approve spending for a survey of Alabamians' opinions about PBS programming.
current.org
August 21, 2026 at 8:17 PM
The board of directors listed the meeting as postponed on its website Friday morning but did not include a reason. (Via @alabamareflector.com) current.org/2026/08/alab...
Under the agreement, the foundation would provide programming and daily operational services to the station for five years. current.org/2026/08/univ...
University moves forward with plan for sharing management of KTEP
The University of Texas at El Paso and the El Paso Community Foundation “hope to execute an agreement reasonably soon.”
current.org
August 19, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Under the agreement, the foundation would provide programming and daily operational services to the station for five years. current.org/2026/08/univ...
Reposted by Current
2026 MN State Fair Crop Art entry "Witness" based on pStar Tribune photograph by Leila Navi with MPR reporter Sam Stroiza.
August 17, 2026 at 1:06 AM
2026 MN State Fair Crop Art entry "Witness" based on pStar Tribune photograph by Leila Navi with MPR reporter Sam Stroiza.
Reposted by Current
If your station is curious about how you can take the nontraditional voices of youth and put them in public radio drive time, we at KQED have got you. Here's how we took an audacious idea and made it reality. current.org/2026/07/how-kqe...
current.org
August 6, 2026 at 12:49 PM
If your station is curious about how you can take the nontraditional voices of youth and put them in public radio drive time, we at KQED have got you. Here's how we took an audacious idea and made it reality. current.org/2026/07/how-kqe...
“We wanted to do something that was a little quieter than the punch-you-in-your-face celebrations of America250,” says StoryCorps Founder and President Dave Isay. current.org/2026/07/stor...
StoryCorps, NPR pair strangers to build time capsule for America’s 250th
The partners describe Connect250 as a “large-scale experiment in human connection.”
current.org
July 28, 2026 at 6:29 PM
“We wanted to do something that was a little quieter than the punch-you-in-your-face celebrations of America250,” says StoryCorps Founder and President Dave Isay. current.org/2026/07/stor...
“It’s the rainy-day fund,” said Alabama Public Television CFO Melissa Austin. “We didn’t use the rainy-day fund nine months ago when we unfortunately had to lay off 11 people because of the defunding.” (Via @alabamareflector.com) current.org/2026/07/alab...
Alabama Public Television board votes to pay for public survey using emergency fund
The method of funding drew criticism from members of the authority and APT staff.
current.org
July 22, 2026 at 2:34 PM
“It’s the rainy-day fund,” said Alabama Public Television CFO Melissa Austin. “We didn’t use the rainy-day fund nine months ago when we unfortunately had to lay off 11 people because of the defunding.” (Via @alabamareflector.com) current.org/2026/07/alab...
The public notice said the university anticipates that the transfer will occur before the end of the year but that it could be completed next year. current.org/2026/07/wash...
Washington State University plans to sell broadcast license for KWSU-TV
The university announced last year that it was cutting jobs at Northwest Public Broadcasting and shutting down the TV station.
current.org
July 21, 2026 at 4:20 PM
The public notice said the university anticipates that the transfer will occur before the end of the year but that it could be completed next year. current.org/2026/07/wash...
A limited liability corporation operated by Rocky Mountain Public Media will acquire the six full-power FM licenses of Community Radio for Northern Colorado. current.org/2026/07/rock...
Rocky Mountain Public Media to purchase Colorado stations
RMPM will acquire six full-power FM licenses owned by Community Radio for Northern Colorado.
current.org
July 15, 2026 at 6:38 PM
A limited liability corporation operated by Rocky Mountain Public Media will acquire the six full-power FM licenses of Community Radio for Northern Colorado. current.org/2026/07/rock...
“This is our best source of televised OBJECTIVE news — I’m sorry that you deem it harmful because it tells the often disastrous truth that is the Trump administration,” one viewer wrote about “PBS News Hour.” (Via @arkansasadvocate.com) current.org/2026/07/emai...
Emails show viewer backlash over PBS program’s removal from Arkansas TV
Many viewers said they will not keep donating to the network or restore donations they already canceled.
current.org
July 13, 2026 at 1:01 PM
“This is our best source of televised OBJECTIVE news — I’m sorry that you deem it harmful because it tells the often disastrous truth that is the Trump administration,” one viewer wrote about “PBS News Hour.” (Via @arkansasadvocate.com) current.org/2026/07/emai...
Peter Dominowski, executive director of the University Station Alliance, called the law “a clear victory for the First Amendment and Freedom of the Press for university-licensed stations in the state of Illinois.” current.org/2026/07/new-...
New Illinois law creates firewall between public media, state university licensees
The law is “first-of-its-kind legislation to safeguard the editorial independence of public media.”
current.org
July 1, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Peter Dominowski, executive director of the University Station Alliance, called the law “a clear victory for the First Amendment and Freedom of the Press for university-licensed stations in the state of Illinois.” current.org/2026/07/new-...
“The launch of the Black Public Radio Network represents a transformative moment for public media and for the communities our stations serve,” said Ernest Walker, GM of KTSU in Houston. current.org/2026/06/blac...
Black Public Radio Network launches to grow revenue, increase sustainability
Among the network's goals is building national underwriting and sponsorship opportunities.
current.org
June 30, 2026 at 2:31 PM
“The launch of the Black Public Radio Network represents a transformative moment for public media and for the communities our stations serve,” said Ernest Walker, GM of KTSU in Houston. current.org/2026/06/blac...
The commercial July 4 broadcasts “are wonderful shows,” said Carly Fiorina, national honorary chair of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission. “But you don’t learn what we’re celebrating, why we’re celebrating, the story behind all of it.” current.org/2026/06/two-...
Two marquee PBS specials will celebrate America at 250
"A Capitol Fourth" and "America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together" feature star-studded lineups and, of course, fireworks.
current.org
June 29, 2026 at 5:38 PM
The commercial July 4 broadcasts “are wonderful shows,” said Carly Fiorina, national honorary chair of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission. “But you don’t learn what we’re celebrating, why we’re celebrating, the story behind all of it.” current.org/2026/06/two-...
The lawsuit claims that Shepherd was fired as a “result of [his] complaints regarding FCC violations.” current.org/2026/06/form...
Former news director sues KPBS for alleged retaliation over potential FCC violation
Terence Shepherd claims he was terminated for raising concerns about profanity on a sign in a station news report.
current.org
June 29, 2026 at 5:18 PM
The lawsuit claims that Shepherd was fired as a “result of [his] complaints regarding FCC violations.” current.org/2026/06/form...
“If people lose hope, bad things happen, especially with young men,” says David McCourt, producer of the PBS documentary “Amerigo: The Search for the American Dream.” “That’s not the situation America should be in.” current.org/2026/06/is-t...
Is the American dream a farce? A new documentary from David McCourt aims to find out
Airing on PBS stations next month, "Amerigo: The Search For The American Dream"> attempts to take the temperature of the nation.
current.org
June 29, 2026 at 1:12 PM
“If people lose hope, bad things happen, especially with young men,” says David McCourt, producer of the PBS documentary “Amerigo: The Search for the American Dream.” “That’s not the situation America should be in.” current.org/2026/06/is-t...
“I want to make everyone feel included, not just the local artists or not just artists that we love, that get their songs played, but the people that listen in,” said Nudia Hernandez, music director of @vocalo-chicago.bsky.social. current.org/2026/06/chic...
Chicago Public Media seeks to revamp Vocalo after nearly ending broadcasts
A three-year grant from the MacArthur Foundation is giving the music station a new opportunity to connect with Chicago audiences.
current.org
June 26, 2026 at 6:55 PM
“I want to make everyone feel included, not just the local artists or not just artists that we love, that get their songs played, but the people that listen in,” said Nudia Hernandez, music director of @vocalo-chicago.bsky.social. current.org/2026/06/chic...
The program will adapt the podcast for public radio and “will make trustworthy, practical guidance more accessible to listeners seeking clear, independent advice in their daily lives,” an American Public Media press release said. current.org/2026/06/new-...
New York Times to bring Wirecutter podcast to public radio
The program debuts July 9.
current.org
June 25, 2026 at 5:04 PM
The program will adapt the podcast for public radio and “will make trustworthy, practical guidance more accessible to listeners seeking clear, independent advice in their daily lives,” an American Public Media press release said. current.org/2026/06/new-...
"We're trying to give people tools that they can use to start to plan not just financial literacy, but also their careers,” says Lee Hawkins, host of the new @marketplace.org podcast "Must Be the Money." current.org/2026/06/new-...
New ‘Marketplace’ podcast aims to bring financial advice to younger, diverse audience
The new video podcast "Must Be the Money" is leaning hard into authenticity and algorithms, and for good reason.
current.org
June 23, 2026 at 6:41 PM
"We're trying to give people tools that they can use to start to plan not just financial literacy, but also their careers,” says Lee Hawkins, host of the new @marketplace.org podcast "Must Be the Money." current.org/2026/06/new-...
Creating the Austin City Limits Trust became “absolutely a key strategy once the rescission or elimination of federal funds was a reality,” said @austinpbs.bsky.social CDO Lori Bolding. current.org/2026/06/aust...
Austin PBS seeks $6M to help secure future of ‘Austin City Limits’
To bolster its new Austin City Limits Trust, the station is pulling out all the stops and may even take the show on the road.
current.org
June 18, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Creating the Austin City Limits Trust became “absolutely a key strategy once the rescission or elimination of federal funds was a reality,” said @austinpbs.bsky.social CDO Lori Bolding. current.org/2026/06/aust...