Indiana Public Media will welcome Michael Arnold as the new executive director of “integrated public media” in September, almost a year after IU fired the organization’s executive director and chief financial officer.
Arnold will take over the “newly redefined role,” on Sept. 22, according to a WFIU announcement. He will lead all operations across Indiana Public Media and provide “strategic oversight of student media,” The Media School announced Monday.
Indiana Public Media is the umbrella organization for WTIU Public Television and WFIU Public Radio and is part of IU Radio and Television Services. RTVS, which the IU Bloomington Office of the Provost used to operate until November 2024, now is part of The Media School, though it maintains a distinct budget and both outlets are editorially independent.
IU fired the previous executive director, Brad Kimmel, and Chief Financial Officer Christina Lirot in September 2024 after IU Provost Rahul Shrivastav reportedly said the department was going in the wrong direction. Jay Kincaid, director of facilities and technology for The Media School, was appointed as interim executive director.
The leadership change also comes as Indiana Public Media is set to lose $1.4 million, or 14% of total funding, as part of federal cuts to funding for public media stations.
Arnold, who is from Indiana, has worked at media organizations across the country. He last served as chief audience and content officer for KUNC Radio and The Colorado Sound. He has also held leadership roles at Wisconsin Public Radio, Public Radio International and New Hampshire Public Radio, according to the announcement.
“His leadership in public service media and his strategic approach to integrated platforms will help us expand our reach, connect public media to the educational mission of The Media School, and deepen our impact across Indiana and beyond,” David Tolchinsky, the dean of IU’s Media School, said in the announcement.
