WASHINGTON – February 28, 2024 – America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) today presented the 2024 National Advocacy Award to Kurt Mische, President and CEO of PBS Reno, for his legislative work in Nevada and California.
The APTS National Advocacy Award is presented to station leaders who excel in telling the story of their local station’s service in education, public safety and civic leadership and the essential role of federal and State funding in make that service possible.
“Because Reno sits on the Nevada-California border, Kurt Mische has been unusually influential in his advocacy for public television in both States,” said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of America’s Public Television Stations. “He has been an effective liaison with Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei (R-NV), the vice chair of the Congressional Public Broadcasting Caucus and a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, as well as with other members of the Nevada delegation in Washington. And as chairman of the California Public Broadcasters Association, Kurt has helped advance our partnership with the State in early earthquake warnings and remote learning.
“As PBS Reno celebrates its 40th anniversary, there is no more appropriate time for us to honor its long-time leader, who has done so much for the mission of public broadcasting in America,” Butler said.
PBS Reno is among the stations being highlighted at the 2024 Public Media Summit for its partnership with Nevada school districts to provide enriched learning services for thousands of students.
“I am honored and grateful to accept this award, on behalf of our team at PBS Reno, our NV Congressional Delegation and our community who are so supportive of our work,” said Kurt Mische. “We have set as a priority regular, meaningful communication, tours and outreach to supporters locally, regionally and nationally. It is vitally important and is one of the reasons PBS Reno enjoys the level of support that is has for its 40 years of service.”
Mische joined PBS Reno, the PBS affiliate serving the communities of northern and central Nevada and northeastern California, in September 2009 and leads a staff of 41. He is the second-longest serving CEO in PBS Reno’s 40-year history.
Mische’s career spans 49 years in the broadcasting industry. A 1978 graduate of Southern Illinois University’s Department of Radio-TV, he has held sales and management positions at broadcast stations around the country, including perennial market leader Sunny 106.5fm in Las Vegas, 11 years at Vegas PBS as well as PBS SoCal.
Mische is a member of the Downtown Reno Rotary Club, NNEC, and serves on the board of trustees for Reno+Sparks Chamber of Commerce, the Vice Chair of California Public Television and a member of the board of directors for the Nevada Broadcasters Association.
The 2024 National Advocacy Award was presented to Kurt Mische during the APTS Public Media Summit on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.
###
About APTS
America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
Contact:
Stacey Karp
202-654-4222
skarp@apts.org