San Diego’s NPR/PBS affiliate has new leadership at its radio station with Deanna Mackey, who has plenty of experience in public media and is a former KPBS executive, being named the new general manager.
Furthermore, Mackey’s hiring is a historical event considering she’s a Latina and will mark the first time a woman of color when she takes over the position on June 30th. Mackey oversees KPBS-TV and Public News/Talk 89.5 KPBS-FM San Diego/97.7 KQVO Calexico in her new role.
“The future is considering audiences that are more diverse, that are younger,” Mackey said. “So how do we make sure that we’ve creating content and developing content on new platforms that appeal to the swath of audiences that the station has.”
“The station has always been a place, compared to other organizations in public media, that’s very forward-thinking and is very risk positive,” Mackey said. “And I experienced that in my time there, being able to experiment, being able to try new things. KPBS was one of the first stations to have a website. It was one of the first stations to build a digital team.”
One of the goals Mackey wants to hit while working in her new position is attempting to guide the station in a shifting media landscape. She will also become KPBS’ sixth general manager since its founding in 1960 and is replacing Tom Karlo, who retired in December of 2020.
“KPBS demands collaborative, future-driven, and thoughtful leadership, especially given the increasing polarization in journalism,” SDSU President Adela de la Torre said. “We found all of those skills in Deanna Mackey, and more.”
“Mackey’s reputation as an executive strategist is well respected, and she is known for her ability to transform organizations to fulfill the needs of both their teams and the public. She is best positioned to continue advancing KPBS as a pillar of civic engagement and as a community connector.”