PBS 39, AKA Lehigh Valley Public Media, to Hold Annual Meeting on Monday

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

—Corrects location of meeting.

PBS 39, the Lehigh Valley’s public media outlet, will hold its annual meeting at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2.

To sum up the state of this organization: It loses money, it has cut staff, and ratings for Channel 39 are down. That’s according to its recent meetings and statements.

In fiscal 2023, Lehigh Valley Public Media spent $15.15 million while taking in $6.49 million. That is an $8.66 million deficit. The staff was around 80 at one time, and is now 55.

Meanwhile, the money pit sits on an $80 million endowment, courtesy of the federal government. Yes, it has $80 million in the bank but has its hand out all over for more money to waste.

Consider what good $80 million might do in saving green space. Consider that PBS 39 has a bigger endowment than Cedar Crest College. Instead, that pile of money is controlled by an organization seeking relevance as ratings fall.

Local media has ignored this boondoggle, so I stepped in. Even after hearing about it, I found it hard to believe what was happening, but it turned out to be even worse.

The pomposity of the organization’s statements became kind of a joke, particularly when it announced what it called one of the most significant media events in Pennsylvania, before putting out a news program that turned out to be unwatchable.

When people speak in almost-biblical tones, and use lots of jargon, it’s time to see what they’re really doing.

As I have said before, this place needs an operations audit, a review of its endowment policy and new leadership. There was a vague plan for a part-time “Transformation Officer” (when in doubt, use jargon!) but that may have fallen by the wayside.

Channel 39, aka WLVT, used to be sort of a local institution. Sometimes a bit goofy, but an institution. Now it’s a bank account seeking a purpose, and the television station shows reruns at night and during the morning, children’s program that is available elsewhere.

The organization has changed names a couple times, and though I prefer to call it what people know it as — Channel 39 — I’ll call it Lehigh Valley Public Media, LVPM.

Meeting minutes show little cognizance of the fiscal disaster until late. Since then, the Board of Directors has acknowledged results were “unacceptable,” put new limits on who can draw from the endowment and three of the four top officials from that fiscal year are no longer there. The fourth now holds an emeritus title: perhaps this is a reward? For what? Who knows?

There are some new board members, and perhaps they will show more awareness than their predecessors. As noted above, some good moves have been made. Why it took so long is a mystery.

The meeting will be held at LVPM’s building in South Bethlehem. It nominally has a “Sesame Street” address but in reality it is off Founders Way near ArtsQuest.

I hope to be there, depending on travel plans. Anybody who cares about public media, or for that matter hates public media, should try to be there.

The Lehigh Valley Public Media Board of Directors will hold its annual meeting at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2 at the Univest Media Center.

As of now (Friday at 10:30 a.m.) it’s an in-person meeting.