American Public Media

American Public Media is a nonprofit public radio organization that operates a network of radio stations, produces and distributes programs, and provides other services to its member stations. It is based in St. Paul, Minnesota, and is owned by Minnesota Public Radio. American Public Media produces and distributes programs such as Marketplace, Performance Today, and The Splendid Table, which are broadcast on stations such as WNYC, KQED, and WGBH. It also provides services to its member stations, including National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and Pacific Northwest Radio.

● History

American Public Media was founded in 2004, as a result of the merger between Minnesota Public Radio and Public Radio International. The organization's history dates back to the 1960s, when Minnesota Public Radio was founded by Bill Kling. Over the years, the organization has grown and expanded its services, producing and distributing programs such as A Prairie Home Companion, The Writer's Almanac, and Composers Datebook, which are hosted by personalities like Garrison Keillor, Robert Siegel, and Fred Child. American Public Media has also partnered with other organizations, such as BBC Radio 4, CBC Radio, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation, to produce and distribute programs like The World and As It Happens.

● Programming

American Public Media produces and distributes a wide range of programs, including news, talk, and entertainment shows. Its flagship program, Marketplace, is a daily business and economics program hosted by Kai Ryssdal and Molly Wood, and is broadcast on stations like WNYC, KQED, and WGBH. Other notable programs include Performance Today, which is hosted by Fred Child and features classical music performances from around the world, and The Splendid Table, which is hosted by Francis Lam and focuses on food and cooking. American Public Media also produces programs like On Being, which is hosted by Krista Tippett and explores topics such as religion, philosophy, and science, and The Dinner Party Download, which is hosted by Rico Gagliano and Brendan Francis Newnam and features conversations about arts, culture, and politics.

● Stations

American Public Media has a network of member stations across the United States, including WNYC, KQED, WGBH, and Minnesota Public Radio. These stations broadcast a wide range of programs, including American Public Media's own productions, as well as programs from other organizations like National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and BBC Radio 4. American Public Media also partners with other stations, such as KPCC, KCRW, and WAMU, to produce and distribute programs like The Takeaway and The Frame. Its member stations are located in cities like New York City, San Francisco, Boston, and Los Angeles, and serve audiences in states like California, New York, Massachusetts, and Minnesota.

● Governance

American Public Media is governed by a board of directors, which includes representatives from its member stations, as well as other public media organizations like National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The organization is also advised by a council of advisors, which includes experts from fields like journalism, education, and philanthropy, such as Nicholas Kristof, Sarah Kendzior, and Glenn Loury. American Public Media's leadership team includes executives like Jon McTaggart, Dave Kansas, and Diane Richard, who have experience working in public media organizations like Minnesota Public Radio, WNYC, and KQED.

● Finances

American Public Media is a nonprofit organization, and relies on funding from a variety of sources, including Corporation for Public Broadcasting, National Endowment for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Humanities. The organization also receives funding from private foundations, such as Ford Foundation, Gates Foundation, and Knight Foundation, as well as from individual donors like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Mark Zuckerberg. American Public Media's annual budget is around $100 million, which is used to support its programming, stations, and other services. The organization also generates revenue from underwriting and sponsorship, working with companies like General Motors, Procter & Gamble, and Microsoft.

● Awards_and_recognition

American Public Media has received numerous awards and recognition for its programming and services, including Peabody Awards, Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, and Edward R. Murrow Awards. Its programs, such as Marketplace and The Splendid Table, have won awards from organizations like National Association of Black Journalists, Asian American Journalists Association, and National Association of Hispanic Journalists. American Public Media has also been recognized for its innovative use of technology, including its work with podcasting and online streaming, and has partnered with organizations like TED (conference), South by Southwest, and Code for America to produce and distribute programs like TED Radio Hour and How I Built This.