Paula Kerger

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Paula Kerger
Paula Kerger in 2012.png
Kerger in 2012
Born (1957-12-20) December 20, 1957 (age 67)
Education University of Baltimore (BS)
Occupation Media executive
TitlePresident and CEO of PBS

Paula Kerger (born December 20, 1957) [1] [2] is an American media executive who has served as president and chief executive officer of PBS since 2006.

Contents

Early life and education

Kerger grew up outside Baltimore, Maryland, where her grandfather, a college physics professor, helped found the city's public radio station. [3] She attended the University of Baltimore as a pre-med student before switching to business, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1979. [3] [4]

Career

After graduating, Kerger was hired as a program development officer for UNICEF. She continued working in the nonprofit sector, becoming director of principal gifts for the Metropolitan Opera in 1989. [3] [2] Her first job in public media was as development director for the New York area public television station WNET, where she began working in 1993. [2] She became WNET's station manager in 2000, then chief operating officer of its parent company in 2004. [5]

Kerger became PBS' president and CEO in March 2006. [6] In 2011, she initiated distribution deals with British channels Sky UK and Virgin Media. [5] Kerger has sought to expand PBS' digital presence, launching the streaming service PBS Passport and brokering a distribution deal with YouTube TV. [2] During the COVID-19 pandemic, she partnered with public school systems to offer programming that complemented distance learning programs. [7]

In 2024, PBS' board of directors extended Kerger's contract for five years. She is the network's longest-serving chief executive and the second woman to serve in the role. [8] [9]

References

  1. ↑ "BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS". POLITICO. 2020-12-20. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mullin, Benjamin (2025-03-26). "Who Are the CEOs of NPR and PBS, Katherine Maher and Paula Kerger?". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  3. 1 2 3 Bryant, Adam (2016-07-29). "Paula Kerger of PBS: Find the Courage to Take a Terrifying Leap". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  4. ↑ "UB Alumna Named Head of PBS". University of Baltimore. 2006-01-24. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  5. 1 2 Sabbagh, Dan (2011-10-16). "Interview: PBS boss Paula Kerger on launching a UK channel". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  6. ↑ Morad, Renee (2021-04-02). "Leading in the pandemic: How Paula Kerger's focus on education steered PBS through uncertain times". MSNBC. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  7. ↑ Holloway, Daniel (2020-06-24). "PBS CEO Paula Kerger Talks Maintaining Public Trust in Troubled Times". Variety. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  8. ↑ Kerger, Paula (2016-03-14). "How television shaped Paula Kerger's American dream". Current. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  9. ↑ Wyllie, Julian (2024-06-18). "PBS board approves $373M budget, applauds contract extension for CEO Paula Kerger". Current. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
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