ARLINGTON, VA; NOVEMBER 8, 2018 – PBS today announced that Maria Bruno Ruiz will join the organization in the position of Vice President, Program Scheduling. In the role, Ruiz will oversee strategic planning and implementation of the PBS master schedule. She will also provide thought leadership on tent-pole programming and special programming events, as well as create seasonal and monthly primetime schedules for National Program Service and PBS Plus syndicated programming. Working closely with the PBS programming team, Ruiz will be responsible for evaluating proposals and participating in content acquisition decisions to ensure PBS’ lineup meets member station scheduling needs and includes a diverse mix of subject matter.
“We are excited to have Maria join PBS in a role that’s critical to presenting a consistent offering of world-class programming to audiences and to help evolve PBS’ content strategy in our rapidly changing media landscape,” said Perry Simon, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming, PBS. “Maria brings an extensive background in public media and station relations that make her an ideal candidate to help the PBS team continue to deliver on its mission to educate, inform and inspire.”
Ruiz joins PBS from Boston’s WGBH, where she began her tenure in 1997 as an intern for the long-running series ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. She joined the team full-time shortly thereafter as a Fundraising Coordinator and subsequently rose to the role of Director of Programming, Broadcast Editorial. In this position, Ruiz was responsible for the leadership and management of schedules for both WGBH 2 and WGBX 44, and produced the master broadcast schedules for NHPBS, NHExplore and WGBY Springfield in coordination with their programming teams. In addition, Ruiz evaluated potential content for acquisition and advised on the program development for internal productions and external independent producers.
Ruiz is currently a member of the Programming Advisory Committee (PAC) for PBS General Audience Programming and the PBS Children’s Advisory Committee. She has also served as Vice President and, later, President of the Public Television Programming Association (PTPA) working collaboratively with PBS stations across the system. She holds a M.A. from Emerson College and a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts.
About PBS
PBS, with nearly 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 90 million people through television and 30 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’ 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.
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CONTACTS:
Jennifer Byrne, PBS, 703-739-5487, jrbyrne@pbs.org
