WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 21, 2023 — America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) president and CEO Patrick Butler issued the following statement today:
“America’s Public Television Stations join the entire public broadcasting family in mourning the passing of Frank Blythe, the founding and long-time executive director of Vision Maker Media and its predecessor organizations.
“Mr. Blythe and a few of his colleagues created a programming service dedicated to telling the stories of Native Americans more than half a century ago, and that essential work now continues under the leadership of his daughter, Francene Blythe-Lewis.
“One of the most important missions of public television is to tell the whole story of America, and no one told the story of the First Americans better than Frank Blythe.
“His contributions to our culture and our understanding of our nation’s history will live forever.”
Dr. Laura Hunter, Vision Maker Media Board Member, memorializes Blythe by saying, “I think of the powerful stories that would not have been told if Vision Maker Media weren’t around. Mr. Blythe’s legacy for Native filmmakers and storytellers, as well as public media viewers across the country, is quite remarkable. We’re lucky to have benefited from his work to establish Vision Maker Media over 45 years ago, and knowing it continues with his daughter Francene Blythe-Lewis at the helm, should be assuring to all of us in the public media family.”
###
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:
Cait Beroza
202-654-4221
cberoza@apts.org