Media News
Update: Lisa Trapani Shumate named executive director of Houston Public Media
Channel 11 director of marketing Lisa Trapani Shumate has been named the new executive director and general manager of Houston Public Media. She was introduced to the combined staffs of Channel 8, KUHF-FM and KUHA-FM Tuesday afternoon at the Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting on the University of Houston campus.
"I really believe the whole future is about living up to the standard of excellence of a Tier One university, which gives us a whole new level to achieve," she told CultureMap after the meeting. "We want to position ourselves for the future, which is what all media is going to have to do."
She said she sensed relief in the room that the selection process was over and praised the work of the staff at the three stations. "There's no doubt in my mind this is a very committed group. They could be just about anywhere but they are committed to Houston Public Media."
"I really believe the whole future is living up to the standard of excellence of a Tier One university, which gives us a whole new level to achieve," she told CultureMap after the meeting. "We want to position ourselves for the future, which what all media is going to have to do."
The University of Houston merged the public television station (KUHT) and National Public Radio affiliate KUHF into one unified organization in January, and launched a nationwide search for a CEO to oversee the combined operations.
In the spring, the university purchased KTRU-FM from Rice University and moved classical music programing from KUHF to the newly-named KUHA. KUHF became a 24-hour news and information station.
In a 10-year career at KHOU's owner, Dallas-based Belo Corp., Shumate served in several capacities. From 2002-05 she was executive director of Belo Marketing Solutions in Dallas before returning to Houston as marketing manager at KHOU/Channel 11. She was promoted to director of marketing in 2007. At Channel 11, she oversaw 30 employees and production of more than 26 hours of local programming.
Prior to joining Belo, she held several positions at KTRK-TV/ABC 13, including manager of marketing and special projects, news anchor and host of Good Morning Houston.
Shumate holds a degree in communications from Loyola University in New Orleans. She received the 2010 American Marketing Association Marketer of the Year award for Channel 11's Great Day Houston and a 2010 Lone Star Regional Emmy, community service, for "Star of Hope for the Holidays."
At Houston Public Media, she will oversee a $25 million annual budget and 165 employees.
Shumate will start her new job at Houston Public Media in early November.
