ARLINGTON, VA; June 25, 2019— PBS today named Jim Dunford as Senior Vice President, Station Services. This new position will centralize Development Services, Station Services and the Digital Station Products & Innovation team into a single organization to better serve PBS’s member stations. Dunford will report directly to Jonathan Barzilay, Chief Operating Officer of PBS.
As head of Station Services, Dunford will develop system-wide strategic initiatives around fundraising, station leadership and digital competence, create a central communication point for stations, and strengthen PBS’s ability to address member station needs. Dunford will start his new position on July 1, 2019.
“As a membership organization we are always looking for ways to better serve our stations,” said Jonathan Barzilay. “Jim has the exact skill set to build an integrated approach to Station Services. Having worked at both PBS and a large member station, he is uniquely knowledgeable on programming and operations within the public media system.”
Dunford is currently Vice President of Programming and Operations at PBS, where he is responsible for PBS content services and operations in support of PBS’s award-winning programming. Prior to joining PBS, Dunford spent 27 years at PBS member station WGBH in Boston. Most recently, he served as Managing Director for AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, television’s most-watched history series, where he directed operations including strategic planning for content distribution and presentation, audience development, promotion, communications, post production and digital production. Prior to assuming that role in 2015, Dunford served as Director of Board Relations and Development Operations, managing all activities of the WGBH Board of Trustees. Previously, he spent 12 years as Series Manager and Post Production Manager for AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.
Dunford is a graduate of Boston College, where he also served a member of the adjunct faculty and was responsible for course design and delivery of communications related courses in the College of Arts and Sciences including Broadcast Writing and Broadcast Programming.
About PBS
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’s premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV— including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.
Media Contact:
Eleanor May
PBS
703-739-8603
eemay@pbs.org
