Around 15 years ago, I was in a meeting with several Colorado public radio and TV companies and officials from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting about what the future may hold. This was before CPB had created their COS (Collaborative Operating Services) grants and very early in the conceptualization process of what a future public media will look like with overt collaboration. I shared a vision that public media will eventually encounter competitive issues and financial struggles, and like commercial media, the future of public media will be based on what I called public media clusters. A public media cluster would circle the wagons around all public media outlets in a market to survive together as one.

It took almost two decades, but now here we are where conditions have radically changed. Today, collaboration is the name of the game, and it is taking many forms. Many stations are considering or undertaking shared services to reduce redundant expenses. Fractional employees is a new buzz phrase for one person performing the same role for multiple stations. Public Media Company quickly built the Public Media Bridge Fund to raise money from private foundation for at-risk stations, and soon, for new sustainability and innovation. In some states, stations are quietly discussing how they might combine services and operations. Undoubtedly, there will be acquisitions and mergers that will dramatically change the ownership landscape.

While it took a national emergency to motivate operators, these are all positive developments for public media. Public media is not returning to the way it was but is moving into a new era of self-sustainability through collaboration.

In lockstep fashion, Paragon has evolved over the years to serve public media stations. Until a few years ago, I was the only consultant on our roster that was supported by a back-end staff, and all our consulting and research revolved around content. We added a digital consultant, Michelle Conrad, in 2014. In 2017, Jordan Lee was added to consult the new Urban Alternative radio stations we launched in seven markets. We continued to add public media consultants because their services were in demand. Izzi Smith joined as a News Content Consultant. Bob Waugh was added as a Music Content Consultant. Zach Gilltrap became our Audio Imaging Producer/Production Consultant. Seth Resler joined as our Community Building Consultant and Cheri Marquart as Music Scheduling/Air Talent Consultant. Even before defunding, it was clear that sustainability was paramount, which is why we moved into fundraising, sponsorship, and organizational restructuring services. Mikel Ellcessor came on board as Fundraising Consultant, Geary Yonker as Sponsorship Consultant, and Briana O’Higgins as Organizational Insights Consultant. Our research is no longer focused solely on content, but now on sustainability such as Membership Studies, Underwriting Studies, and Digital Audits. Over a few short years, I moved from being the Lone Ranger to one of many Power Rangers at Team Paragon.

Just as public media is in a new phase, so is Paragon.

  • We provided research and consulting to America’s first in-market collaboration of four separately owned music stations in New York City.
  • We’re helping launch a new network of public radio stations that target Black audiences, with a formal announcement coming soon.
  • We’re serving as coaches for at-risk stations in PMC’s Bridge Fund for their stabilization and survival.
  • We’re working behind the scenes to help create new revenue streams from which all stations can benefit.

Today, Paragon forges ahead with a new slogan – “Building a New Public Media” –understanding that the only way that works is if it’s done collaboratively.

Towards that goal, this blog begins a series of blogs from Team Paragon consultants that will break new ground across all disciplines critical to public media’s growth.

I can’t wait to see what we build – together.

Please reach out to me directly with any questions, suggestions, or ideas on what we can do to help you reach your goals in the new frontier.

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