Inside OPB
From our President
Thanks to You, We're Off to a Great Start!
As we begin OPB's new fiscal year, it's a good time to highlight how your generous contributions are being used to develop even more programs and services for our community -- on TV, on radio and online.
The passion that people have for OPB throughout our region has made us one of the most-successful public broadcasting institutions in the U.S. Below are just a few of the endeavors you've helped make possible over the last year:
Think Out Loud, our new radio and online program, stimulates daily discussion on a wide variety of topics of interest and importance to our region. Join the conversation >>
OPB's Public Insight Network provides a forum for citizens from around the Northwest to share their knowledge, experience and expertise. To date, more than 2,600 participants have signed up, and their input helps inform the dialogue on Think Out Loud and makes our news coverage stronger and more relevant. Find out more >>
With OPB's Central Oregon news bureau, we've greatly expanded our ability to cover this dynamic, fast-growing region of our state.
KOPB AM 1600, OPB's new radio station in Eugene, broadcasts news and information on a full-time basis, complementing the programming offered by KLCC FM.
OPB's new online music service, opbmusic.org, features new and Northwest music along with online dialogues and playlists, in studio sessions and more.
OPB and its community partners are engaged in a statewide, multiplatform campaign to increase awareness about the impact of invasive species, featuring The Silent Invasion: An Oregon Field Guide Special, an invasive species online hotline and numerous outreach opportunities.
Contributions from OPB members make up about two-thirds of our annual operating budget... so thank you for making all of this happen!
Steven M. Bass
President and CEO
Our Mission
Oregon Public Broadcasting: giving voice to the community, connecting Oregon and its neighbors, illuminating a wider world.
OPB Management
- Steve Bass
- President & CEO —
- Jeff Douglas
- Senior VP & Station Manager —
- Dan Metziga
- Senior VP, Development —
- Lynne Clendenin
- VP, Radio Programming —
- Dave Davis
- VP, National TV Production —
- Tom Doggett
- VP, TV Programming —
- Jan Heskiss
- Chief Financial Officer —
- Morgan Holm
- VP, News and Public Affairs —
- Don McKay
- VP, Engineering —
- Lynne Pollard
- VP, Interactive Services —
- Debbie Rotich
- VP, HR and Administration —
- Tara Taylor
- VP, Marketing & Planning —
OPB Board of Directors
- Chair
- Douglas Tunnell
- Vice Chair
- Sherwin Davidson
- Secretary/Treasurer
- Linda Hoffman
- Board Members
- Tom Bruggere
- Mary Bryant
- Julie Strasser Dixon
- Andrew Franklin
- Leda Garside
- Geoff Guilfoy
- Tinker Hatfield
- Dian Hilliard
- Gene Hong
- Jim Huston
- Jodie Hueske
- Mary Jaffe
- Sydney Joyner
- Henry Lorenzen
- Mary Ann Moore
- Mitchell Moore
- Deborah Saweuyer-Parks
- Peter Schenck
- Elizabeth Schwartz
- Kay Toran
- Tony Van Vliet
- Ex-Officio
- Steven M. Bass
- CAB Chair
- Tom Hampson
- OPB Board Liaison
- Brenda Barton —
Board of Directors Meeting Schedule
All meetings are open to the public and held at OPB unless otherwise noted. The schedule below is subject to change. Please to confirm meeting times and dates or to get more information.
- January 2006
- 9 Monday: Governance Committee (conference call), 3:00-4:00pm
- February 2006:
- 24 Friday: Finance Committee, 12:00-2:00pm
- March 2006
- 7 Tuesday: Board Meeting, 1:30-3:30pm (Appy Room)
- 13 Monday: Governance Committee (conference call), 3:00-4:00pm
- May 2006
- 22 Monday: Finance Committee, 12:00-2:30pm
- 22 Monday: Audit Committee, 10:00am-1:00pm
- 23 Monday: Board Development Committee, 12:00-2:00pm
- June 2006
- 13 Tuesday: Board Meeting, 1:30-3:30pm (Appy Room)
A portion of this meeting was closed to discuss an employee proprietary matter. - 10 Monday: Strategic Planning Committee, 12-2pm (Board Room)
- September 2006
- 14 Thursday: Closed meeting to discuss proprietary matters.
- December 2006
- 5 Tuesday: Board Meeting, 1:30-3:30pm (Appy Room)
- March 2007
- 6 Tuesday: Board Meeting, 1:30-3:30pm (Appy Room)
- June 2007
- 5 Tuesday: Board Meeting, 1:30-3:30pm (Appy Room)
- September 2007
- 11-12 Tuesday-Wednesday: Board Retreat, TBD
- December 2007
- 4 Tuesday: Board Meeting, 1:30-3:30pm (Appy Room)
Milestones in OPB History
- 1922
- KFDJ-AM radio is created as part of a physics experiment at Oregon Agricultural College, now Oregon State University, in Corvallis.
- 1930s
- KFDJ becomes KOAC, with studios in Covell Hall at Oregon State University. Studios at Covell are still used.
- 1957
- OPB’s first television station, KOAC-TV, goes on the air.
- Early 1960s
- Westinghouse Broadcasting Co. transfers ownership of its FM frequency to OPB and KOAP-FM (now KOPB) begins broadcasting.
- 1979
- The Oregon Commission on Public Broadcasting is established. In 1981 OPB leaves the Department of Higher Education and becomes an independent state agency.
- 1989
- OPB moves into its new facility on SW Macadam Avenue after its successful building campaign.
- Oregon Considered, OPB's own Pacific Northwest news magazine, is first broadcast.
- Early 1990s
- Membership exceeds 100,000.
- 1990
- Oregon Field Guide begins production.
- 1993
- OPB becomes a private, nonprofit corporation with ongoing financial support from the State of Oregon.
- 1997
- OPB Radio's program format is refined to include more news and information.
- OPB installs Oregon’s first digital transmitter, taking a critical first step in the digital television transition.
- 2000
- Oregon Art Beat begins production.
- OPB loses all state funding.
- 2002
- OPB's World of Learning Digital Campaign raises $22 million.
- 2003
- History Detectives season 1 premieres for PBS.
More information about OPB
- PDF downloads
- Annual EEO Report, 2006 (PDF)
- Prong 3: Outreach Activities, 2006 (PDF)
- Form 990 — FY06
- Independent Auditor's Report and Financial Statements — FY06
- Emergency Alert System
- OPB has been designated the “State Primary” for the Emergency Alert System, initiating messages informing other broadcasters, viewers and listeners of a wide variety of emergencies including tsunamis, floods and Amber Alerts.
- Oregon Public Broadcasting:
- 7140 SW Macadam Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97219-3099 - Business Hours:
8am-5pm Mon-Fri - 503-244-9900
- Map & Directions
- Thanks to our sponsors:
