Phil Corriveau
Named Director
of Wisconsin Public Radio
Phil Corriveau
Phil Corriveau is the new director of
Wisconsin Public Radio.
In his new position Phil will oversee
daily management of the statewide network and its national
programming. Phil assumed the position on October 1. A
national search was conducted to fill the director position.
Phil has more than 25 years of senior
management experience in public radio. Most recently he was
deputy director of the Wisconsin Educational Communications
Board (ECB). Before coming to the ECB, he was director of KUT
and the Longhorn Radio Network in Austin, Texas, and president
and general manager of KXPR and KXJZ / Sacramento, California.
He also taught radio and television courses at California State
University in Sacramento.
Phil began his public radio career as a
part-timer at WHA-AM / Madison more than 30 years ago.
"When I left Wisconsin Public Radio
in 1980 to become general manager of a new public radio station
in Sacramento, it was with the hope that someday I would return
to Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio," said Phil.
"That opportunity has finally arrived. I am
pleased and proud to assume the stewardship of Wisconsin Public
Radio and to now serve as its director."
Byron Knight, director of Broadcasting
and Media Innovations for University of Wisconsin-Extension
(UWEX), and Wendy Wink, executive director of the ECB made the
hiring announcement on September 21. Wisconsin Public Radio is
a service of UWEX and ECB.
"Phil has a deep passion for public
radio and a commitment to providing excellent programming to
the people of Wisconsin," said Wendy. "His
innovations will lead Wisconsin Public Radio through the
changes facing us over the coming years. He's a great colleague
and I'm thrilled he's agreed to work with us in this
capacity."
Phil explained that public radio is
facing a time of change. "As digital technologies make
radio available to listeners via satellite, the Internet, MP3s,
Audio On Demand, and other media, listeners will have more
options to hear what they want, when they want to hear
it," he said. "This is good for the consumer,
but it will result in more competition for public broadcasters.
As a producer of high-quality local and national
programs, Wisconsin Public Radio is well-positioned to turn
that challenge into an opportunity for growth."
"Phil has aspired to and
worked toward this position for 25 years," said Byron.
"We are fortunate to hire an individual who respects and
cares for Wisconsin Public Radio and pledges continued success
while guiding it to a future of new public service."
At a general staff meeting in late-September, Byron also
praised interim director Andy Yocom for his adept leadership of
the organization since former director Greg Schnirring departed
in July. "With Andy's great management skills,
Wisconsin Public Radio is even better now than it was a few
months ago," he said.
