Houston Public Media announced Thursday (Nov. 7) it is creating an Arts and Culture
Team to increase and enhance coverage of the city’s vibrant arts community. Creation
of the Arts and Culture Team is the latest in a series of moves by Houston Public
Media to add increased capabilities in local multi-platform content development, and
realign staff to strengthen local news coverage, web initiatives and public affairs
programming.
In keeping with trends in the industry, Houston Public Media will expand its use of
the programming service Classical 24 throughout the broadcast day. Classical 24 is
a nationally syndicated live classical music service produced by American Public Media
and distributed by Public Radio International.
Classical 91.7’s “The Front Row” is being “re-imagined into multi-platform local content
that exposes artists and arts organizations to wider audiences,” said Lisa Shumate,
executive director and general manager of Houston Public Media. “The new Arts and
Culture Team will continue service to the local arts community via multiplatform initiatives
with Arts Insight, Manor of Speaking, and Houston Matters—all local programming that
launched in 2013,” Shumate said.
These changes will result in the elimination of eight full-time positions.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university
recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best colleges for undergraduate
education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing
world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located
in the nation's fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 39,500 students in the most
ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country.
About Houston Public Media
Houston Public Media (www.houstonpublicmedia.org) is comprised of Channel 8, News 88.7 and Classical 91.7. These three public broadcasting
stations, along with their internet presence, live streaming and podcasts, are supported
by financial gifts from the community. Currently, Channel 8 reaches an average of
1.1 million viewers each week, while News 88.7 averages 315,000 weekly listeners and
Classical 91.7 averages 112,000 weekly listeners. Houston Public Media stations are
licensed to the University of Houston.
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