Lakeshore Public Media has appointed a familiar face as interim CEO as the broadcaster weighs its future amid staggering state and federal funding cuts.
Nancy Clifford will return to the role she last held in 2021, the Merrillville-based operator of PBS and NPR affiliates said Monday.
“These are challenging times for public media, and I love a good challenge,” Clifford said in a news release. “I look forward to working with Lakeshore again as we explore new business models to cope with the current public media funding environment. We are committed to the long-term mission of public media, and more specifically to public media in Northwest Indiana. While we don’t know just yet what that will look like, we are doing everything possible to remain a community resource.”
Lakeshore Public Media laid off much of its staff earlier this year after state lawmakers eliminated financial support for all 17 public broadcasting stations in the state’s new two-year budget and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting said it would shut down after federal budget cuts.
Lakeshore Public Media board chairman Larry Brechner told Inside INdiana Business news partner The Times of Northwest Indiana that the organization may not need a permanent CEO as the broadcaster moves forward.
The organization is reviewing its options, which could involve merging with another public media broadcaster.
Clifford replaces Chuck Roberts, who was hired in 2023 after leading West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Roberts left to serve as the chief operating officer of Maryland Public Television.
“It’s good for him, but we’re not sure what is going to happen to us and what direction we’ll go in,” Brechner told The Times. “It’s a statewide organization. The state of Maryland has committed to supporting public broadcasting through the state even after the federal government cut funding. We’re committed to staying and servicing Northwest Indiana, but may not even need a CEO-type person at this point.”
Brechner said Lakeshore Public Media was pleased to welcome Clifford back amid such financial challenges.
“Her experience and familiarity with the region make her the right leader to guide us through today’s evolving public media landscape,” Brechner said in the release.