WASHINGTON – February 23, 2021 – America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) today presented the 2021 National Advocacy Award to Ron Pisaneschi, General Manager of Idaho Public Television, for his work in building relationships and support for public broadcasting within the Idaho congressional delegation and State Legislature.
The APTS National Advocacy Award is presented to station leaders who excel in telling the story of their local station’s work in education, public safety and civic leadership, and how federal and State funding make that work possible.
“Ron Pisaneschi is a tireless advocate for public broadcasting, helping to strengthen our ever-growing bipartisan support both in Congress and at the State level,” said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of APTS. “Ron has been a particularly effective champion of our cause with the Idaho congressional delegation, investing considerable time and energy in educating these leaders about our public service missions of education, public safety and civic leadership, and about the indispensable nature of the federal investment in our work. Ron has also continued to expand Idaho in Session, Idaho Public Television’s gavel-to-gavel service that includes live on-air and online coverage of the Idaho Legislature including the state House and Senate and committee meetings. We are extremely grateful for Ron’s work and are honored to present him with this most well-deserved National Advocacy Award.”
“I am honored to have been selected for this prestigious award,” said Ron Pisaneschi. “I accept it on behalf of our entire staff and board who are the real champions – providing high quality programming and services day in and day out. Our work in education, such as Classroom Idaho: Learn at Home, Workforce Development with American Graduate, Ready To Learn, Preschool Development, Science Trek and Teacher Technology Training, is making a real difference in the lives of Idahoans. As is our work in civic engagement and public safety. None of this work would be possible without the support of our Congressional delegation and the Idaho Legislature and Governor Brad Little. I thank them for all they do to make us successful!”
Ron Pisaneschi became General Manager of Idaho Public Television (Idaho PTV) in August 2013. This statewide public television system comprises five studios in four staffed locations. He is responsible for a staff of 70 full-time and more than 40 part-time employees and a $9+ million budget. Under his leadership, Idaho Public Television is one of the most-watched, and best supported PBS stations, per capita in the nation. The station broadcasts five digital channels of content. It also provides a robust on-line service featuring both national and local content. The organization produces a wide variety of content for local and national distribution including Outdoor Idaho, Idaho Experience, Dialogue, Science Trek, Idaho Reports, Idaho in Session, Idaho Science Journal, and documentary and performance specials. In 2019 those programs won more than 70 regional and national awards of excellence.
Pisaneschi has served Idaho PTV since 1985. During his more than 35 years at Idaho Public Television, he has served as Director of Content, Director of Programming, Director of Public Information, and Director of Marketing and Development, before taking on his current duties.
Pisaneschi currently serves as the current Chair of the NETA Board of Directors, past-Chair of the Idaho State Broadcasters Association, and is on the Board of Directors of American Public Television. He is also a member of the Public Broadcasting Affinity Group Coalition, CPB’s Rural Initiative Advisory Group, and recent served on CPB’s CSG Review Panel, CARES Act Funding Advisory Committee, PBS’ Live Linear Streaming Working Group.
The National Advocacy Award was presented to Ron Pisaneschi during the APTS Public Media Summit on Tuesday, February 23, 2021.
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About APTS
America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
Contact:
Stacey Karp
202-654-4222
skarp@apts.org