New England’s PBS Giant Selects Its New News GM

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In Boston and across New England, the call letters WGBH are synonymous with public television. For decades, it has been one of the nation’s foremost PBS member stations. Now, following a nationwide search, is has selected its next General Manager for News.


She will succeed Phil Redo, who is retiring at the end of this month after a decade of leading WGBH-TV and WGBH-FM, the NPR Member station serving the Back Bay and much of the metropolitan area.

Taking the job is FRONTLINE Sr. Director of Strategy and Audience Pam Johnston.

“Pam has deep roots in Boston news, and with her public media and multiplatform experience she is ideally suited to lead the WGBH news team into the digital future,” said WGBH President/CEO Jon Abbott. “Her expertise across all forms of media will build on the quality and award-winning local journalism WGBH has become known for under the leadership of Phil Redo. We’re grateful for the strong foundation he established and we’re excited about the innovation Pam will bring to how we serve our community.”

Johnston added, “It’s an honor to be joining the accomplished WGBH News team, particularly at a time when the need for incisive, inclusive and high-quality journalism on the issues facing our communities, our nation, and our world has never been greater. I’m passionate about the vital role of independent local news and look forward to expanding the ways we serve and grow our audience with the range of content they need, where and how they want it, in these changing and challenging times.”

Prior to FRONTLINE, Johnston served as News Director at WLVI-TV in Boston, where she led and managed a 50-person news team with responsibility for content and editorial direction. Her earlier news experience included work as a producer at WRAL-5 in Raleigh, and at WMTW-TV in Portland, Maine.

Johnston will begin her new role on July 1.