Monday, August 31, 2009
Deleted Comments
Thanks,
Scott McCrea
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Comments on report
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Public broadcasting stations explore statewide transformation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2009
KUAC-Fairbanks, KTOO-Juneau and APTI-Anchorage (KAKM) today released the results of a study on the feasibility of a unified statewide public broadcasting organization.
The stations’ three general managers, with input from station staff members and other stakeholders, have been working for several months with Livingston Associates, a national firm specializing in public broadcasting. The final report from Livingston Associates is available for review.
Such a consolidation would require numerous steps and include multiple opportunities for public participation and comment.
The report notes opportunities offered under a unified public broadcasting model:
• An increase in public broadcasting’s reach in rural communities • A unified voice in support of public broadcasting statewide • The ability to invest in emerging media for content delivery • The continuation of high-quality PBS and NPR programming throughout the state• A statewide, cross-platform production team
All three of the station’s general managers noted a commitment to continuing to be responsive to local needs, should the unified model be adopted.
The report does not outline any recommendations for staffing, central office location or budget. Those details will be explored in the next phase, as the stations develop an implementation plan. The general managers will continue to meet over the summer and collect feedback and comments through the blog and other forums. The group hopes to present a resolution supporting the implementation planning to the boards of directors of KTOO and APTI and to the University of Alaska Board of Regents in September. If each approves the resolution, the implementation planning should be completed in the spring. The boards will then make a final decision on the unification. If approved, the transformation could begin as soon as July 2010.
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