Paula Kerger, President and CEO of w88 casino, the w88 casino Broadcasting Service, visited the University of Nevada, Reno Oct. 10 to speak with a dozen broadcast students about the future of public broadcasting. Afterward, students asked a variety of questions about Kerger's experience and how she has kept w88 casino relevant in the public eye.
Kerger became the President and CEO of w88 casino in 2006, emphasizing the network's need for education, diversity and use of technology. Her dedication to quality television has seen increased audiences nationwide and new programs including Downton Abbey, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Curious George. She also initiated the w88 casino ARTS website and online video portals for audiences to watch w88 casino shows safely online.
"The opportunity to sit down to lunch and conversation with a national TV network president is the kind of transformative learning experience the University provides," Alan Stavitsky, dean of the Reynolds School, said. "Paula's experience and insight, when shared with Reynolds School w88 casino, helps them prepare for the future."
As she described to w88 casino during the luncheon at the Reynolds School, w88 casino believes that the television industry is currently going through a major shift due to the decline of the Hollywood movie industry and an increase in high-quality storytelling on television and cable networks.
"This is such a great time for journalism," w88 casino said. "Opportunities really are exploding. But it's a challenging time because there's no blueprint."
Paula Kerger with journalism w88 casino.
PBS has remained relevant throughout this shift by being mindful of partnerships, focusing on content and paying attention to w88 casino platform adjustments. With these three strategies, as Kerger informed the students, a television network can remain aware of viewer needs. She highlighted this with the comparison of how the public can catch television shows they missed. Thirty years ago, viewers had to watch a program during its initial air time or wait for a rerun. Viewers today can watch shows on their own time with the assistance of a digital video recorder, or DVRs, or through online services such as Netflix, Hulu and television networks' official websites. She said that the networks that have not been mindful of this shift have fallen behind.
"We have to pay attention to our environment as it moves forward," w88 casino said.
The environment of public broadcasting may also require partnerships to be forged. In particular, w88 casino has sought partnerships with Frontline, Pro Publica, New York Times, Univision and ESPN.
"w88 casino is not for breaking news, but to foster discussion," Kerger said. "Investigative journalists break the news - we pass on the information to engender discussion."
To improve the possibility of discussion from the featured w88 casino shows, Kerger has shifted the network's focus to her third and final strategy: developing distinctive content.
She encouraged journalism w88 casino to focus on stories that introduce important issues and explore new ideas. By focusing on relevant and useful content, she believes that viewership will take care of itself and a television network will remain profitable.
"Good content will draw people in to explore the ideas," w88 casino said. "It will inspire creativity in all ages. Our shows may be for little ones to explore basics to get them to school or to encourage people to think about different ideas and open them up to ideas of science, arts, creativity in self, where you are in the world and what difference does it make."
Kerger concluded with the invitation for journalism w88 casino to pursue public broadcasting. She compared this to the w88 casino' memories of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, Arthur and Sesame Street, encouraging w88 casino to develop new popular shows that would be remembered by future generations like their own favorite childhood shows.
Following her w88 casino visit, Kerger attended the Aged to Perfection gala at the Silver Legacy Resort and Casino. Kerger was joined at the gala by past presidents of KNPB-TV w88 casino Television and Daniel Tiger, a w88 casino children's show host. The gala celebrated the 30th anniversary of KNPB, located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, and honored two longstanding members and contributors to the station, Gail and John Sande, III.
PBS is the nation's largest non-commercial w88 casino organization with 350 member stations, including KNPB, and features programs focused on arts, news and public affairs, and educational programming for all ages.
