Sarah Ashworth Named Executive General Manager

The veteran media leader will oversee both PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio beginning this November.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in People

Sarah Ashworth Named Executive General Manager

Live Poll

Do you view public media services as essential for your community?

Sarah Ashworth has been appointed as the Executive General Manager of PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio. She will lead both organizations under a unified management structure.

Why it matters

The appointment follows a nationwide search by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Educational Communications Board to unify leadership for the state's public media outlets.

Ashworth brings 25 years of public media experience to the new role, following a tenure of over three years as the Director of Radio for Wisconsin Public Radio.

The players

Sarah Ashworth

A seasoned public media executive with 25 years of industry experience and a former professor of journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

PBS Wisconsin

A public television network serving the state of Wisconsin that is now consolidating its leadership with the state's public radio network.

Wisconsin Public Radio

The primary public radio service for Wisconsin residents that is entering a new era of unified management under the Division of Public Media.

The details

The search for the new manager was conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Public Media and the Educational Communications Board. Ashworth previously held roles at Vermont Public, Minnesota Public Radio, New Hampshire Public Radio, WAMU, and KBIA, and served as an Assistant Professor of Journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

October 23, 2026: The appointment of Sarah Ashworth was officially announced.
November 29, 2026: Ashworth will officially begin her new role as Executive General Manager.

Market Landscape

The move to consolidate leadership under the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Public Media reflects a broader trend of public media networks seeking operational efficiency. By unifying PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio, the organization is positioning itself to streamline resources in an increasingly competitive media market.

Listeners and viewers should expect shifts in how content is produced and managed as the two networks integrate under a single leader. This unification aims to provide a more cohesive service experience for public media audiences across Wisconsin.

The takeaway

The unification of leadership signals a new chapter for public broadcasting in the state. Readers should monitor upcoming program announcements to see how this leadership transition impacts local content coverage.