WTCI Selected For Public Media Digital Transformation Program

CPB-funded Training To Foster Digital Innovation

  • Monday, December 6, 2021

WTCI is among 75 public media stations selected to participate in the Digital Transformation Program, a virtual program developed by the Poynter Institute to educate, assist, and coach public media senior leaders and their staff on the best strategies and tactics to transform their organization’s digital operations and culture. The training is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The program includes online coaching and training to WTCI President/CEO, Bob Culkeen, and staff members, to accelerate their digital transformation efforts.

“CPB’s commitment to advancing innovation and diversity continues to be reflected through our strategic investments helping system leaders advance a digital-first, audience-centric approach,” said Patricia Harrison, CPB president and CEO. “The program will provide coaching and resources to help stations become more agile and leverage digital content, platforms, and data to grow and engage new and existing public media audiences.” 

In addition to one-on-one and peer group coaching sessions, the program will include a series of educational webinars, work exercises, and resource materials that span the program curriculum. The program will be delivered to four groups of up to 20 public media leaders and their station’s personnel at a time. The groups will have staggered start and end dates over the course of two years, with a new group starting every three months.

“The selected participants are some of the nation’s most trusted sources citizens turn to for local news and information,” said Poynter President Neil Brown. “Our partnership with CPB will help public media outlets build digital-first strategies that inspire an even greater — and more sustainable — connection to grow with their communities.” 

Mr. Culkeen said, “It is an honor to be selected for this CPB program which focuses on the future of public media. The WTCI team will benefit greatly from this program as we expand our digital platform to better serve our community.” 

The stations selected, from Alaska to Florida, Southern California to Maine, include 40 public radio stations, 16 public television stations and 19 joint licensees. They will join the five National Multicultural Alliance Organizations – Black Public Media, the Center for Asian American Media, Latino Public Broadcasting, Pacific Islanders in Communications, and Vision Maker Media – to form four cohorts of 20 public media leaders, who will participate in the nine-month program. The first cohort will begin training in January. 

Entertainment
Listen To These Chattanooga Podcasts
  • 7/31/2025

The What Podcast is hosted by Barry Courter, Brian Stone and Russ Jackson. They talk about music festivals in general but emphasize all things Bonaroo. * * * 148 Films will launch its brand-new ... more

Local Ally Thomas Set As Opener For James Slater, Tom Douglas At McLemore's Songwriter Series July 17
  • 7/10/2025

McLemore Resort’s signature Songwriter’s Series returns on July 17 with music from James Slater + Tom Douglas. The series is made possible by First Bank and Land Rover Chattanooga. Local singer/songwriter ... more

East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra Names 2025 True North Advisors Scholarship Recipient
East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra Names 2025 True North Advisors Scholarship Recipient
  • 7/8/2025

The East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra (ETSO) named its newest recipient of the True North Advisors-Raymond James scholarship. Every year, the Collegedale-based nonprofit organization ... more