It’s the end of an era for one of Pittsburgh’s longest-tenured local media leaders.
Deborah Acklin, WQED’s president and CEO since 2010, has stepped down from that position effective Friday, per a press release from Pittsburgh’s PBS affiliate. Mildred S. Myers, co-chair of WQED's board of directors, said in the release that Acklin is leaving her WQED Multimedia post to “focus on essential medical treatments following a diagnosis of non-smoker's lung cancer.”
"Leading WQED — my hometown PBS and classical music station — has been a singular professional honor,” Acklin said in a statement. “Growing up, these were almost the only channels we watched and listened to. Day one on the job, I met Fred Rogers, and it all instantly crystallized for me. I hope I've been a worthy student of his life's example.
“Thank you, Pittsburgh!"
Lilli Mosco, WQED’s chief revenue officer, and Mike Waruszewski, WQED’s chief financial officer, will serve as interim co-CEOs while the board launches a national search for Acklin’s successor.
Acklin was the first woman to lead WQED as its president and CEO. Prior to achieving that status, she served in multiple other roles across WQED that included executive producer, executive vice president and general manager.
"Whether managing operations and strategy implementation or raising funds, Deb never lost sight of WQED's fundamental role as a community resource and educator," said Jonathan Rosenson, Myers’ co-chair on WQED’s board of directors.
As president and CEO, she was responsible for getting WQED “out of crippling debt and functional bankruptcy,” per the press release.
During her time at WQED, Acklin earned six Mid-Atlantic Emmy awards for station excellence and, over her 12-year run at its helm, helped the station bring in a number of Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy, Golden Quill, Robert L. Vann Media and Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters awards.
In addition to her work at WQED, Acklin also served on numerous boards, including for PBS and America's Public Television Stations, according to the release. It also stated that she was instrumental in transferring oversight of the Three Rivers Arts Festival to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust during her stint on that event’s advisory board.
"Deborah Acklin has led WQED through some tough years, including historic financial constraints and a pandemic," Myers said in a statement. "Through it all, she has steadily guided WQED's clear commitment to local community service and excellence.
Deb's shoes will be hard to fill, but her legacy of nationally recognized achievements will help us attract top-notch candidates.”
Joshua Axelrod: jaxelrod@post-gazette.com and Twitter @jaxelburgh.
First Published: September 30, 2022, 3:48 p.m.
