WKU News

Jordan Basham, Special Projects Engineer for WKU PBS, is among 25 digital professionals from PBS member stations to become Digital Immersion Partners.

The Digital Immersion Project, developed by PBS Digital & Marketing with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, is a unique opportunity that mixes in-depth training, hands-on workshops and collaborative mentorship to improve overall expertise in digital strategies and tactics. All applications were reviewed by a panel of PBS and station colleagues, bringing multiple perspectives and levels of experience to the judging process. Members were selected from across the United States.

“I am excited that WKU PBS will have this tremendous opportunity to enhance our services and in turn the experience we provide our student crew,” Basham said. “I am humbled to be selected as one of the first participants for this program.  I am ready to get to work on the challenges and solutions this initiative will provide for our community.”

The professional development program also focuses on strategic and organizational tactics, with the selected participants being able to draw on the project’s teachings and a national network of public media contacts to further digital success at the local level. Participants first will attend a curated program of sessions at PBS TechCon, April 19-21.  Additional training, running May through October, will focus on digital-first production, distribution platforms, infrastructure technologies, audience development, organizational structure and culture, multi-platform strategy and tactics, digital marketing and data analysis and metrics.

Upon completion, each participant will also have completed a digital strategy exercise that takes the project’s learnings and maps them to the station’s goals, complete with tactics and deliverables.

“This extraordinary process will help WKU PBS continue to be an innovative public television station and expand the opportunities we provide for the Western Kentucky University students who are employed as part of our production crew,” David Brinkley, Director of Public Broadcasting, said. “Additionally, as our community evolves, we will present digital communication platforms to benefit all portions of our outreach.”

Robbin Taylor, Vice President of Public Affairs for WKU, said it was an honor for Basham to be among the first selected for this prestigious national program.

“Jordan’s selection reflects both on his level of professional expertise as well as the overall quality of our Public Broadcasting team here at WKU,” Taylor said. “In addition to adding to his own skill-sets, Jordan serves as a tremendous mentor and teacher to the students in our program, so they will benefit as well, making them more valuable when they enter the job market after graduation.” 

Contact: David Brinkley, (270) 745-2400