PBS Honors Ed Ulman, Alaska Public Media President and CEO,
with Dan Miller Station Leadership Award
Today, PBS announced that Ed Ulman was honored with the Dan Miller Station Leadership Award. This award recognizes managers in the public media system whose leadership, vision, courage, and commitment to the mission of public media have inspired their colleagues and created lasting impact in their communities. Ulman received this award in recognition of his extraordinary leadership, service to public media, and unwavering commitment to the communities stations serve.
PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger presented the award to Ulman at the organization’s annual gathering of member stations.
Since 2016, Ulman has served as President and CEO of Alaska Public Media (AKPM), where public broadcasting is not a civic amenity but a lifeline. In a state where many communities have no other source of local news, emergency information, or educational content, AKPM’s work is essential — and Ulman has led that mission with clarity and conviction. Ulman was elected to serve a three-year term as a Professional Director on the PBS Board in 2021 and was elected to serve a second term in 2024.
Over the past two years, Ulman took on some of the most consequential and demanding assignments in the public media system. He chaired the PBS Dues Review Task Force, stepping forward twice as funding conditions grew more challenging. And when PBS appeared before a Congressional subcommittee amid a funding crisis, Ulman sat beside PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger at the witness table — representing every small and rural station in the country with dignity and resolve.
"There are people in this system who show up when it matters — and then there's Ed Ulman," said Kerger. "I asked a great deal of him over the past two years, and every single time, his answer was yes. He never hesitated, never complained, and never once made it about himself. What he did for this system — and for the communities public media exists to serve — reflects the very best of who we are. I am proud to call him a colleague and honored to see him recognized today."
Ulman's career in public media has been defined by a rare ability to see what public broadcasting can do — and then go do it. Early in his career, while leading education initiatives at a Tacoma station, he forged a landmark partnership with the Tacoma Housing Authority that connected families to PBS KIDS resources and produced measurable outcomes for children. It was a signal of the leader he would become.
Since his arrival at AKPM a decade ago, Ulman has led teams that revitalized local television production, expanded statewide enterprise journalism efforts, established AKPM as a CPB-PBS "Ready To Learn" station and redefined community engagement, while increasing TV, radio and online audiences. In addition, membership, major giving and grant funding continue to grow year-over-year. Under his leadership, AKPM earned several NATAS Regional Emmy awards, several Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and a National Edward R. Murrow Award for video journalism.
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 36 million adults on linear primetime television, 16 million users on PBS-owned streaming platforms, 56 million viewers on YouTube, and 10 million followers on social media, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. As the number one educational media brand, PBS KIDS helps children 2-8 build critical skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality content on TV — including a PBS KIDS channel — and streaming free on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video app, games on the PBS KIDS Games app, and in communities across America. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS LearningMedia for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, Facebook, Instagram, 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 Communications on X.
– PBS –