Public Media Content Development Leader Becomes Fourth LPB Executive
LOS ANGELES, CA (March 30, 2011) – The Board of Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB), a non-profit organization funded primarily by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, announced today the appointment of Sandie Viquez Pedlow as LPB’s new Executive Director as of July 6, 2011.
Pedlow will direct the operations of public media’s largest Latino-focused content developer and funder which provides programming to public television’s nearly 360 stations, multicast channels, and other media platforms. She will succeed Patricia Boero, who announced her plan to leave in January and return part time to Uruguay effective March 2011, after more than three years of successful leadership of LPB.
“I am honored and thrilled to become the next Executive Director of Latino Public Broadcasting. I look forward to working with its strong staff and the community’s talented filmmakers in realizing the full potential of LPB. We will continue to grow its visibility, impact and quantity of content reflecting Latino and Latina stories within public media and education, as well as across many platforms”, said Pedlow.
Edward James Olmos, Chair of the Latino Public Broadcasting Board of Directors, remarked, “Sandie is the right leader in these dynamic times for public media, especially as Latinos increase in numbers and influence in the U.S. She is a most passionate, competent, experienced leader who has great savvy and appreciation for content production, community engagement, education and innovation.”
Since 2004, Pedlow has been Director Station Relations for PBS Education in Arlington, VA. She led the training of public television station staff in the promotion and marketing of PBS online and digital media products and services.
Prior to her PBS work, Pedlow was Director Programming Strategies, Associate Director of Cultural, Drama and Arts Programming, and Senior Program Officer with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C for 10 years. She managed the development and funding of national public broadcasting programs which addressed social and diversity issues, history, the arts and many aspects of American culture. Pedlow was a key member of the CPB team that managed the founding of LPB.
From 1989 – 1993, she was Special Assistant to the President for International Affairs at South Carolina Educational Television Network (SCETV). Prior to this work, Pedlow developed and produced documentaries, cultural/arts television programs for SCETV for 12 years. Pedlow was the U.S. National Coordinator for INPUT, an international television conference with more than 35 participating countries.
She has been a Board member for CINE, The American Documentary, American Playhouse Artistic Committee, INPUT and LPB. Pedlow earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina and was also educated at Universidad Centroamericana in Managua, Nicaragua.
With LPB, Pedlow will be the executive producer of the Latino anthology series Voces (www.voces.tv) which is produced by LPB and distributed by American Public Television. Pedlow will serve as LPB’s executive producer for the upcoming six hour series The Latino Americans slated for PBS and produced by WETA/Washington, D.C. in association with LPB.
Luis Ortiz, LPB’s Managing Director, will oversee LPB during the transition period. He will continue to manage the day-to-day operations in Los Angeles and maintain the West Coast presence for LPB.
Upon Boero’s departure announcement, LPB’s Board established a search committee to conduct a nationwide search for her successor. The committee retained the recruiting company WBCP Recruiting. The committee voted unanimously to recommend Pedlow to the full board. The LPB board affirmed that decision in a special March 18 meeting.
About Latino Public Broadcasting:
LPB brings new audiences to public television with a recognizable impact on a broad range of viewers that complement and challenge existing public television offerings. LPB’s mission is to support the development, production, post-production, acquisition and distribution of non-commercial educational and cultural content that is representative of or addresses issues of particular interest to U.S. Latinos. Created in 1998 by Edward James Olmos and Marlene Dermer, LPB has provided more than 100 hours of programming to public television, funded more than 200 projects, and organized approximately 100 workshops, panels & screenings for the advancement of Latino producers to showcase the rich spectrum of Latino-American culture. LPB collaborates with other minority consortia, and works closely with Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), American Public Television (APT), Independent Television Service (ITVS) and POV to maximize its presence on public television. For more information, go to www.lpbp.org.
Contact:
Luis Ortiz, Managing Director
Latino Public Broadcasting
Tel.: 818.847.9656
luis.ortiz@lpbp.org