The 2023 Public Media Summit Presentations


The APTS Public Media Summit is the largest annual gathering of public broadcasting general managers and community leaders who come together to explore issues that are vital to the future and mission of public service media. The 2023 Public Media Summit is being held Monday, February 27 - Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Enjoy the videos of the Summit presentations below.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27

11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.                

Lunch Session and Presidential Address

Welcome to the 2023 Public Media Summit
Andrew Russell, President and CEO, PBS SoCal and KCET, Los Angeles, California; Board Chair, America’s Public Television Stations

President’s Annual Address
Patrick Butler, President and CEO, America’s Public Television Stations

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.                  
General Session

Frederick W. Smith, Founder and Executive Chairman, FedEx Corporation, in conversation with Geoff Bennett, Co-Anchor, PBS NewsHour

Inventing The Future: The Changing Media Landscape

  • Jeffrey Cole, Director, Center for the Digital Future, University of Southern California
  • Andrew Russell, President and CEO, PBS SoCal and KCET, Los Angeles, California; Board Chair, America’s Public Television Stations
  • Madeleine Noland, President, Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC)
  • Moderated by John Zeglis, retired Chairman and CEO, AT&T Wireless; Board Member, WNIT Public TV of South Bend, Indiana; Board Member America's Public Television Stations 

Watch a recording of this session.

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.                  
Legislative Session – (APTS members only)

Presentation of the 2023 Champion of Public Broadcasting Award

Presented by Patrick Butler, President and CEO, America's Public Television Stations

To Domenic Ruscio, Former APTS Consultant

The New Congress and the Impact on Public Media

  • Jennifer La Tourette, President and Chief Operating Officer, Van Scoyoc Associates
  • Danica Petroshius, Managing Principal, Penn Hill Group
  • Kate Riley, Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, America's Public Television Stations

Watch a recording of this session.

Advocacy Strategies for Success in the New Congress

  • Kate Riley, Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, America's Public Television Stations
  • Jennifer Kieley, Director Government Relations, America's Public Television Stations
  • Cait Beroza, Lead Digital Advocacy Strategist, America's Public Television Stations
  • Colleen McGowan Florio, Congressional Liaison, America's Public Television Stations
  • Moderated by Garrett King, Board Member, Friends of Oklahoma Educational Television Authority; Board Member, America's Public Television Stations

Watch a recording of this session.

State Funding: Challenges and Opportunities

  • Colm O'Comartun, Founding Partner, 50 State
  • Larissa Martin, Partner, 50 State
  • Kate Riley, Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, America's Public Television Stations
  • Will Glasscock, Legislative and Policy Consultant, America's Public Television Stations

Watch a recording of this session.

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.                  
Dinner Session

Please join us at dinner where Ms. Junko Tanaka, Managing Director of NHK WORLD-JAPAN, will discuss how NHK is serving its mission as a public broadcaster in a rapidly changing media world.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28

7:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.                  

Breakfast Session

APTS/APTS Action, Inc. Annual Membership Meetings

Tribute to Cynthia Fenneman, Retiring President and CEO, American Public Television

Presented by Larry Unger, President and CEO, Maryland Public Television; Board Member, America's Public Television Stations

Grant Center for Public Media Presentation
Meegan White, Director, The Grant Center for Public Media

Presentation of the 2023 Pillar of Public Service Award

Presented by Patrick Butler, President and CEO, America's Public Television Stations

To Jonathan Abbott, President Emeritus, GBH, Boston, Massachusetts

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.     
General Session

Presentation of the 2023 Excellence in Innovation Award

Presented by Sean Plater, General Manager and CEO, WHUT-TV, Washington, D.C.

To Dolores Fernandez Alonso, President and CEO, South Florida PBS; Board Professional Vice Chair, America's Public Television Stations

Best Practices in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

  • Drew Goldstein, Partner, Founder and Leader of McKinsey DEI Solutions Group
  • Lahaja Furaha, Director, Diversity & Inclusion, The Washington Post
  • Ed Ulman, President and CEO, Alaska Public Media; Board Member, America's Public Television Stations
  • Moderated by DeAnne Hamilton, Executive Director and General Manager, KBTC Public Television, Tacoma, Washington; Chair, APTS Board Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force

Watch a recording of this session.

11:00 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.           
General Session

Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, Federal Communications Commission

Inventing The Future of Public Service

  • Rich Homberg, President and CEO, Detroit Public Television
  • Dr. Niki Bates, Director of Education Services and Business Development, Vegas PBS
  • Adrian Velarde, General Manager, KRWG Public Media
  • Moderated by Dolores Fernandez Alonso, President and CEO, South Florida PBS, Board Professional Vice Chair, America's Public Television Stations

Watch a recording of this session.

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.              
Lunch Session

Public Media's Role in Strengthening Our Democracy
Join CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison and special guest former Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) and PBS NewsHour Senior Correspondent Judy Woodruff for a conversation focused on public media's role in connecting communities with fact-based information and education resources that strengthen our civil society and democratic foundation.

2:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.              
General Session

Presentation of the 2023 David J. Brugger Lay Leadership Award

Presented by Patrick Butler, President and CEO, America's Public Television Stations

To Diana Enzi, Board Member, WyomingPBS Foundation

Inventing The Future of Your Station: Station Management and Boards Making Process Together Panel

  • Amy Shaw, President and CEO, Nine PBS, St. Louis, Missouri
  • David Steward II, Former Board Chair, Nine PBS; Board Lay Vice Chair, America's Public Television Stations
  • Linda O'Bryon, NETA Executive Search Consultant, Former President and CEO, SCETV
  • Moderated by Franz Joachim, General Manager and CEO, New Mexico PBS; Board Chair, America's Public Television Stations 

Watch a recording of this session.

Presentation of the 2023 National Advocacy Award

Presented by Patrick Butler, President and CEO, America's Public Television Stations

To Jack Williams, Government Affairs Manager, Alabama Public Television

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.                  
Dinner Session

Join us for dinner and a conversation with PBS NewsHour senior executive producer Sara Just and co-anchors Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawaz, hosted by PBS and featuring PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.             
Breakfast Program

Welcome by Patrick Butler, President and CEO, America's Public Television Stations

Remarks by Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President and CEO, WETA

Remarks by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Co-Chair Public Broadcasting Caucus

Presentation of the 2023 Champion of Public Broadcasting Awards

Presented by Patrick Butler, President and CEO, America's Public Television Stations

To Congressman Mike Amodei (R-NV), Co-Chair Public Broadcasting Caucus

Presented by Patrick Butler, President and CEO, America's Public Television Stations

To U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)