The chief operating officer at Nebraska Public Media is ready to trade in his Cornhuskers gear for Hawkeyes paraphernalia … sort of. That’s because he’s the new CEO of Iowa Public Radio, as of September 28.
Peter Clowney will join IPR and is tasked with oversight of the NPR Member network’s $10 million annual budget, along with some 70 employees across the state of Iowa. IPR is comprised of 27 stations.
He will succeed Myrna Johnson, who retired in July from Iowa Public Radio.
“Peter brings a rare combination of editorial excellence, operational discipline and genuine passion for public service,” said Libby Jacobs, IPR’s Board of Directors chair. “He understands that our mission goes well beyond broadcasting; it’s about creating real connection across every corner of Iowa. We are confident he is the right leader to carry IPR into its next chapter.”
Clowney has served as COO of Nebraska Public Radio since November 2023. He is considered to be, in that organization’s words, “a veteran leader of creative teams,” and has held roles at the public radio programs “Marketplace,” “This American Life,” and “Fresh Air.” He’s also worked for the podcasting companies Stitcher and Gimlet, as well as Sirius XM. Before taking the Nebraska role, Clowney supported content creation at the audio production company Pushkin Industries.
