Paula Kerger
Paula Kerger | |
|---|---|
Kerger in 2012 | |
| Born | December 20, 1957 |
| Education | University of Baltimore (BS) |
| Occupation | Media executive |
| Title | President 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.
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
- ^ "BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS". POLITICO. 2020-12-20. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ "UB Alumna Named Head of PBS". University of Baltimore. 2006-01-24. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
- ^ a b Sabbagh, Dan (2011-10-16). "Interview: PBS boss Paula Kerger on launching a UK channel". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Holloway, Daniel (2020-06-24). "PBS CEO Paula Kerger Talks Maintaining Public Trust in Troubled Times". Variety. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
- ^ Kerger, Paula (2016-03-14). "How television shaped Paula Kerger's American dream". Current. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
- ^ Wyllie, Julian (2024-06-18). "PBS board approves $373M budget, applauds contract extension for CEO Paula Kerger". Current. Retrieved 2025-03-26.