Vickie Lawson, president and CEO of East Tennessee PBS in Knoxville, has been re-elected to the board of trustees for America’s Public Television Stations (APTS).
Lawson has worked at East Tennessee PBS for 25 years and has served as chief executive officer for 11 years. She is proud of the local programming provided including Marshal Andy, Missy Kane, the Scholars Bowl and others.
“Public television provides content without commercial interruption,” said Lawson. “We have a free zone with kids programming and every show has an educational component.” If you’ve got a kid or been a kid, you are sure to recognize these shows, all debuted on PBS:
- The Berenstain Bears
- Clifford the Big Red Dog
- Sesame Street
- The Odd Squad
- Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
Lawson said PBS was prepared for the Covid-19 closures, creating a two-hour learning block that’s available to teachers.
The East Tennessee PBS offices on Magnolia Avenue are undergoing renovations, getting ready for the general streetscape improvements underway on Magnolia. The nonprofit operates two towers with a range from Crossville to Johnson City, with “a little bit into Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina,” Lawson said with a smile. “We serve a vital role in the communities, many of which don’t have access to broadband.”
Lawson is a Knoxville native whose grandmother ran Ruby’s coffee shop in Burlington. In fact, that’s how she was introduced to public broadcast – the general manager frequented the coffee shop. Vickie went from coffee server to PBS employee and the rest is in the history books.
“We’ve stayed grounded,” she explains. “Our viewers furnish 60% of our operating revenue.”
From East Knoxville to Halls (her son attended Gibbs High School) to the Piney Grove Baptist Church community, Lawson has experienced most of Knox County up close. We’re invited for a tour of facilities once renovations are done. We’ll write a follow-up.
America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to the American people.