April 17, 2025
Arkansas PBS Executive Director and CEO Courtney Pledger to depart in May
CONWAY, Ark. (Arkansas PBS) — Arkansas PBS today announced that Executive Director and CEO Courtney Pledger will leave her position in May 2025. Pledger, who joined the statewide public media network in 2017, leaves behind a legacy of transformative leadership and innovative growth across content, education, and community engagement.
During her more than eight-year tenure, Pledger led Arkansas PBS through a period of dramatic evolution, positioning the network as a national leader in public media. Drawing on her extensive background in media management, organizational strategy, and storytelling, she brought a bold vision to Arkansas PBS that enabled it to thrive amid a rapidly shifting media environment.
Under Pledger’s leadership, Arkansas PBS expanded its K-12 educational programming, launching “Arkansas AMI” when schools closed during the pandemic. She also developed original curriculum-based children’s programming for national PBS KIDS distribution, including the live-action series “Mystery League” and an upcoming series being developed to celebrate America 250.
Pledger significantly increased the reach and impact of ArkansasIDEAS, the state's most-used online professional development platform for teachers. She has prioritized authentic Arkansas storytelling, leading to critically acclaimed programming that resonated with both local and national audiences.
Pledger introduced live high school sports coverage to Arkansas PBS and spearheaded “ArkansasLIVE,” a platform offering multi-camera, broadcast-quality live arts and cultural programming across the state. She expanded government transparency through AR-CAN – the Arkansas Citizens Access Network – providing accessible coverage of state government proceedings.
Her tenure marked a deepening of Arkansas PBS’s community relevance, with an expanded multi-platform presence, robust social media engagement, and popular in-person events such as Arkansas PBS Family Day and “Arkansas Treasures,” an ongoing program that brings Arkansans together around their family heirlooms and collectibles.
In a statement, Pledger said:
“I have had more than eight extraordinary years at Arkansas PBS, building a phenomenal team eager to take on new challenges and collaborating with some of the very best independent creators and community partners in Arkansas. It has been my great honor to lead Arkansas PBS through a transformative time that points to the limitless potential of our statewide public media network.”
“Courtney was and is the catalyst of our success,” said West Doss, Commission Chair for Arkansas PBS. “Her leadership has elevated Arkansas PBS to unprecedented heights, with 34 of the network’s 47 Mid-America Regional Emmys being awarded during her tenure, a number of Public Media Awards from the National Educational Telecommunications Association and several original programs now broadcast nationwide by PBS. She will be greatly missed.”
The Commission will meet as expeditiously as possible to consider Pledger’s replacement.
For media inquiries, please contact West Doss, Arkansas PBS Commission Chair at west@dosslaw.biz
About Arkansas PBS
Arkansas PBS, Arkansas’s only statewide public media network, empowers learners of all ages by educating, informing, entertaining and inspiring communities. Arkansas PBS serves as a daily and essential resource for Arkansans by creating, sharing, celebrating and driving conversation around Arkansas stories and classic, trusted PBS programs through multiple digital platforms, including livestreaming at myarpbs.org/live, on-demand services and YouTube TV, and the distinct channels Arkansas PBS, Arkansas PBS Create, Arkansas PBS KIDS, Arkansas PBS WORLD and Arkansas PBS AIRS on SAP. Members with Arkansas PBS Passport have extended on-demand access to a rich library of public television programming. Arkansas PBS depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. Additional information is available at myarkansaspbs.org. Arkansas PBS is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro), KETZ (El Dorado), KETS (Lee Mountain), KETS (Forrest City), KETS (Yancy) and KETS (Gaither).
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