Carla McCabe

President & CEO, WVIA Public Media

Carla McCabe has served as the President and CEO of WVIA, the PBS and NPR affiliate serving Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania since July of 2020. Carla hit the ground running upon her arrival and has quickly emerged as a leader in the region. She believes that true leaders surround themselves with smart people, listen to diverse perspectives, and empower every member of the team to make decisions that advance the organization.

Born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Carla quickly rose through the international media landscape with leadership roles at the BBC, as Head of Production at U.K.-based Tern Television Productions Ltd., and following her move to the United States, as the Chief Operating Officer at Kansas City PBS. Carla believes that her start at the BBC helped provide vital insight into the mission and values of PBS and that landing at KC PBS and WVIA has been like coming home. 

Carla has spearheaded a new era of growth at WVIA, a legacy station with over 50 years of service to its 22-county coverage area. As an advocate for high-quality journalism and information, she has led the creation of WVIA News, an initiative designed to bring balanced, critically needed local reporting to the region against the backdrop of shrinking newsrooms and increased polarization in the national media. Carla is currently leading a $10 million capital campaign to strengthen WVIA’s position as an essential media organization in service to the millions of Pennsylvanians who depend on WVIA.

Carla serves on multiple boards for regional and national organizations including the executive committee for the board of the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA), the board of directors for the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, and the advisory board for the Pennsylvania-based Institute for Public Policy & Economic Advancement. She previously served on the board of directors at Misericordia University. Her experience on the board of a broad range of organizations has provided a depth of insight into public media, non-profit organizations and commercial businesses.

Carla credits her upbringing during the challenging times in Belfast as the guiding influence that shaped her into a strong and empathetic leader who is mindful of the constant need for open dialogue and a thoughtful approach to bridging divides. Her early career experiences in the U.K. enforce the concept that the mission and values of PBS and public media are not simply local, regional or national, but are truly global.