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Mike Savage elected to National Public Radio Board of Directors

WBAA

Mike Savage elected to National Public Radio Board of Directors

First-ever petitioned NPR member director will strive to serve interests of small-market stations

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - WBAA, Public Radio from Purdue University, has announced that its general manager Mike Savage has been elected as member director to the National Public Radio (NPR) Board of Directors.

The announcement follows several weeks of voting, including an unprecedented nomination process whereby Savage is believed to be the first NPR member station representative to be successfully petitioned onto the ballot. Savage begins his three-year term in November and joins the 10-person member board as the second small-market station representative next to WSIU's Greg Petrowich from Carbondale, Illinois.

“I am honored to be elected to the NPR board,” Savage said. “Over the past couple of weeks, I have personally talked to nearly 90 station managers at small-market stations across the country who face similar challenges to WBAA. As a member director it will be my top priority to ensure that the needs of these small-market stations are included in NPR’s strategic plan. As the media market becomes increasingly digital, re-engaging and energizing small and rural public radio stations will be critical so that important decisions at the national level can move forward in a timely manner to the benefit of the listeners and communities we collectively serve.”

Julie Griffith, Purdue’s vice president for public affairs, said, “Having Mike on the NPR board is a big win for WBAA and for Purdue University. We’re proud to have the first ever board member from Purdue and the third ever from Indiana to be elected to the NPR board. Mike will have an unprecedented opportunity to direct policies and shape the future of the NPR network, and we look forward to seeing the impact his influence has on WBAA and Purdue.”

Savage joined WBAA in November 2013 and has more than 20 years in public radio. Prior to working at WBAA, Savage was the director and general manager of WKCC in Kankakee, Illinois. He has a background in business and marketing and a master’s degree in mass communications from Miami University. He currently serves on the board of Public Radio in Mid-America (PRIMA) and the Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations (IPBS).

The 17-member NPR Board of Directors is composed of 10 NPR member station managers (elected by fellow member stations); five public members (elected by the board and confirmed by member stations); the chairman of the NPR Foundation; and the president and CEO of NPR. The board guides the direction of NPR by setting policies and overall strategy, providing financial oversight and monitoring performance.

About WBAA

WBAA-AM, licensed in 1922, is Indiana's longest continuously operating radio station. Today, WBAA broadcasts news, classical and jazz on AM, FM, FMHD2, online at WBAA.org and on mobile devices with the WBAA app. WBAA is a listener-supported service of Purdue University and an NPR® Member Station.

Source: Chrissie Ankerberg, WBAA director of development, 765­-496­-7794, ceankerberg@prf.org