On the passing of former FCC Chairman, Newton Minow, a champion of public media, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger offered the following statement:
“There is no one who had greater influence on the formation of PBS than Newton Minow. Newt was a visionary who recognized the potential of media to change lives, and spent the better part of his life making that vision a reality. He played a key role building our public broadcasting system, steered PBS at a critical moment as Chairman of the PBS Board, and served as a longtime member on the board of WTTW. While he is known for commenting on the ‘vast wasteland’ of commercial television, what stays with me is his call to serve the ‘public interest.’ Newt challenged broadcasters to ‘put the people’s airwaves to the service of the people and the cause of freedom.’ It is now up to all of us, who are proud stewards of PBS, to continue to uphold his work. He will be deeply missed.”
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