FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Calle Andrus, Communications Manager
216.916.6434 | calle.andrus@ideastream.org
Wendy Turner, Previously WKSU’s General Manager, Joins Ideastream Public Media as General Manager of Ohio Public Media Services
CLEVELAND, Ohio (October 20, 2021) — Effective immediately, Ideastream Public Media has named Wendy Turner as the first general manager of Ohio public media services. In this newly created role, Turner will lead the services that Ideastream Public Media manages on behalf of all Ohio public television and radio stations, which includes The Ohio Channel, the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau and the recently formed statewide news collaborative. Turner will be a part of Ideastream Public Media’s executive leadership team.
The new position plays a critical role in Ideastream Public Media’s strategy to strengthen its executive, fiscal and administrative oversight of the mission-critical services Ohio public media stations have entrusted to it for many years. The position is also aligned with Ideastream Public Media’s efforts to sustain and expand local journalism.
Over the past year, the organization has solidified plans to implement its statewide news collaborative, which will coordinate with 10 public radio stations across the state to develop Ohio’s only daily statewide radio and digital news service. The project initially started in July 2019 with a $70,000 grant from The George Gund Foundation. In October 2020, Ideastream Public Media, Cincinnati Public Radio and WOSU Public Media announced that they had been awarded a $56,500 grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) in support of developing and implementing the statewide news collaborative to fill the growing gaps in local journalism.
“We take our responsibility of overseeing several integral components of Ohio’s public media system very seriously,” said Kevin Martin, Ideastream Public Media president and CEO. “Wendy’s experience in the community, her executive management experience and her credibility with journalists makes her an ideal candidate to lead our statewide news efforts.”
“Ohio's public media organizations have a history of working together successfully to serve all Ohioans,” Turner said. “By resourcing the coordination and administration of these investments, we have the opportunity to greatly expand the reach and impact of our shared services.”
Turner previously led WKSU and its staff as the station’s executive director and general manager. At WKSU, she directed activities related to a public radio network operation, and oversaw personnel administration and professional development of the staff. Turner fostered the station’s position in the marketplace, and grew station operations and development efforts. During her tenure, WKSU launched four recurring features on “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” including “Mark’s Almanac” and “Shuffle.” In the past 18 months, WKSU led five multi-platform collaborative journalism initiatives, more than the previous six years combined. As of October 1, 2021, Ideastream Public Media began operating WKSU public radio.
Prior to serving at WKSU, Turner led the technology and infrastructure teams at Chicago Public Media, including facilities, information technology, engineering, web and mobile development, and business development activities. She first joined the staff of Chicago Public Media in February 2000 as assistant membership manager and rose the ranks, becoming director of on-air and online fundraising, director of membership and general manager of Vocalo.org, public media’s first broadcast and digital initiative to showcase and cultivate user generated content, before serving as a vice president.
She started her public media career at Minnesota Public Radio in 1994 as a telemarketing associate. Turner also served as member/listener service associate and associate producer of on-air fundraising. In 2008, Turner was named a “Woman to Watch” by Crain’s Chicago Business, and in 2009, she received a Power Up Award from Street-Level Youth Media.
About Ideastream Public Media
Ideastream Public Media is Northeast Ohio’s multimedia source for trusted local journalism, inspiring stories and quality entertainment. We are the home of Northeast Ohio’s PBS, NPR and classical music public broadcasting stations: WVIZ, WCPN and WCLV. In addition, Ideastream Public Media operates NPR member station WKSU, manages The Ohio Channel and the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau on behalf of all Ohio’s public broadcasting stations and produces the award-winning children’s series “NewsDepth.” Ideastream Public Media is indispensable and highly valued for its unique ability to strengthen our community. For more information about Ideastream Public Media’s rich legacy of innovation and credible content, visit ideastream.org.
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