WKU News

Jordan Basham has assumed the role of Interim Executive Director of WKU Public Media.

Basham will oversee WKU Public Radio and WKU PBS, the public media services of Western Kentucky University, until the announcement of a permanent replacement for David Brinkley, who retired from WKU last month.

“Having worked in WKU’s Public Media Services for nearly 24 years, including the past three years as Director, Jordan is well equipped to build upon its ongoing success,” President Timothy C. Caboni said.

“WKU has provided me with continuous opportunities for professional growth. I am excited to take on this role and work in new ways to sustain and grow the services we provide. I’m grateful to President Caboni, the WKU Public Media team, and our communities for entrusting me with this important work,” Basham said.

Headquartered on the WKU campus, WKU Public Media serves the areas of Bowling Green, Somerset, Owensboro, and Elizabethtown with award-winning local and national programming.

Basham most recently served as Director of Content and then Director of Public Media Services for WKU Public Media. He has also worked in the roles of Television Production Manager, Broadcast Engineer, and Sports Producer for WKU PBS.

Basham is an award-winning broadcaster with nearly 25 years in public media experience. He has received numerous accolades since arriving on the Hill in the fall of 2000, including being selected for the inaugural cohort of the Digital Immersion Project developed by PBS, a fellow of the Public Media Diversity Leaders Initiative from Furman University and South Carolina ETV, an Ohio Valley Emmy Award recipient, a member of National Educational Telecommunications Association’s Board of Directors, election to the WKU Staff Senate including two years as chair, previous co-chair of the Budget Executive Committee at WKU, and selection as an emerging leader in public media.

Basham will continue his work alongside staff and students that fulfill a mission to enhance the quality of life in this region by presenting unique, non-commercial programming of exceptional quality.  From the highest caliber national, international, and local journalism to world-class arts and entertainment programs, WKU Public Media brings community members a wealth of ideas, information, and inspiration every day. 

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Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.