ARLINGTON, VA, February 2, 2016 – Thomas Rieland, General Manager of PBS member station WOSU TV in Columbus, Ohio, was elected to fill a vacancy on the PBS Board of Directors during its meeting today. His term begins immediately and will run until October 2018.

“Serving on the PBS Board of Directors is a tremendous commitment and we are so fortunate as an organization to have outstanding leaders from across the nation who are willing to dedicate their time, effort and expertise to guiding our enterprise,” said PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger. “Tom brings to his role as professional director a thorough understanding of our system as well as hands-on experience leading a station that embraces digital innovation and serves as a vital community resource that reaches out to Ohioans with a wide array of content and services.”

Tom Rieland has served as General Manager of WOSU Public Media in Columbus, Ohio for 13 years. WOSU is a licensee of The Ohio State University with two public television stations and a network of six public radio stations reaching over 2.5 million Ohioans.

Mr. Rieland developed a unique digital production center called WOSU@COSI in collaboration with one of the largest science centers in America. The facility includes the largest TV studio in the city; public space for forums and debates; production suites; a media lab for teens; and exhibit space that is visited by over a half million people annually. WOSU is known for its local multimedia efforts, combining public events with digital, radio and television content. For the past five years, the Columbus Neighborhoods project has captured the story of the city through an unprecedented effort that includes a dozen documentaries, digital content, storytelling events and more. Other local television projects focus on the arts, public affairs, education, diversity, health, and aging.

WOSU has strategically placed itself in the middle of the community’s conversation, helping its audience grow an understanding of local neighborhoods many never experience and collaborating to help forge pathways out of poverty and narrow the educational gap. WOSU’s NPR station has been named the best radio news station in Ohio for five consecutive years and features a two-hour daily talk program simulcast on WOSU’s Ohio Channel. From the Facing the Mortgage Crisis initiative to American Graduate to new initiatives around Next Avenue, WOSU is respected as an effective convener and collaborator.

Mr. Rieland led the Center for Public Television & Radio at the University of Alabama before coming to Columbus. He currently serves as Chair of the Affinity Group Coalition; Treasurer of the NETA Board; Chair of the Joint Licensees Association; and serves on the Executive Board of the University Licensees Association; and on the PBS Interconnection Committee. Mr. Rieland assisted with the development and led the Affinity Group Coalition critique of the new PBS Station Management Center website. He has a degree in Communications from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a Masters in Journalism from the University of Mississippi.

Mr. Rieland is passionate about local volunteer service and serves in a leadership role on the governing board of the United Way of Central Ohio.

PBS member stations elect the Professional Directors. The General Directors are elected by the entire Board, as are the PBS President and the Board officers. Directors filling Board vacancies are elected by the Board.

PBS member stations elect the Professional Directors. The General Directors are elected by the entire Board, as are the PBS President and the Board officers. Substitute directors to fill Board vacancies are elected by the Board.

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Contact: Jan McNamara PBS jmcnamara@pbs.org 703-739-5028