Public Media Company Insights

Our Summer 2025 newsletter is out now! Whether you're a station leader, community advocate, or public media funder, this issue has something for you. Inside, you’ll find a thoughtful and inspiring message from CEO Tim Isgitt on the urgent threats facing public media—and how we can rise to meet them. We also share our recent webinar with The Bridgespan Group, which focused on scenario...

This week, members of the Public Media Company board unanimously approved the addition of the Honorable Robert “Bob” Wise to the board of directors. “We are excited to welcome Bob Wise to the board of Public Media Company,” said Susan Harmon, cofounder and board chair. “Bob brings a breadth of leadership and experience in education, governance, and public service that will help this organization...

Our May 19, 2025 newsletter is out now! Inside, you'll find an inspiring message from CEO Tim Isgitt on how public media can rise to meet today’s challenges—plus a link to his recent op-ed on why increased public media funding is more essential than ever. We also share updates from our latest survey of 60+ public and community music stations, highlights from recent and...

As public media faces potential federal funding cuts and other unpredictable disruptions, the need for clear, forward-thinking local leadership has never been greater. This webinar from Public Media Company and The Bridgespan Group offers practical guidance on scenario and contingency planning tailored to the unique challenges facing public media in this current moment....

We should invest in public media, not defund it By Tim Isgitt – A version of this article was originally published on May 7, 2025 by the Marin Independent Journal. The time for public media is now. Say the words, “public media,” and you are likely to conjure nostalgic images of NPR or Ken Burns, Gwen Ifill or Big Bird, Reading Rainbow and Mr....

Is now the right time to invest in radio? While it may seem like an unconventional moment, strategic investments—through signal acquisitions and other opportunities—can be powerful tools for expanding your reach and strengthening your station’s sustainability....

Noncommercial music stations play an essential role serving local communities across the country. Locally operated and governed radio stations not only connect artists with audiences and help listeners discover new music, but many serve as vital anchor institutions, cultivating local arts communities and contributing to local economies. Over 200 million Americans across the country are served by local noncommercial music stations. Yet these stations’...

Real Impact, Real Results. Apply Today! Impact for All is a grant-funded initiative that provides small and unique public radio and television organizations with customized insight into their organization and an actionable plan for increased growth and local impact. We have worked with 20 organizations all across the country so far and are continuing to accept applications on a rolling basis. To apply, complete...

Local public media organizations are essential civic institutions in America. Rooted in locations around the country, local public media organizations have a shared mission to serve the informational, educational, public safety, and cultural needs of their communities. These organizations are often some of the last locally-owned-and operated media dedicated to serving local needs in communities that need them more than ever. They complement and...

At Public Media Company, our mission - to cultivate vibrant local media that informs, connects, and inspires communities - is more vital than ever. Why? Because local media can play a crucial role in healing our fractured society. Numerous studies have documented the power of local media to build community by connecting people to their neighbors. Local media preserves culture, shares stories, and elevates...