WQED Multimedia President/CEO Deborah Acklin has announced she is stepping down following a diagnosis of non-smoker's lung cancer. Acklin has led the Pittsburgh PBS and Classical 89.3 WQED-FM combo since 2010 after serving as Executive Vice President from 2002 to 2009. She also previously worked at the group as an Executive Producer from 1997 to
At KCET, Kobin hired television personality Huell Howser, whose “California’s Gold,” “Visiting with Huell Howser” and other programs continue as mainstays in the station lineup, even after Howser’s death seven years ago. Kobin and his team are credited with helping to create community outreach programs that included “Life & Times,” “California Stories” and “KCET Journal.”
“Bill was the one who said, ‘Yes, we are going to put news and public affairs up there with other key programs,” said Val Zavala, a former KCET news director who co-hosted “Life & Times” with many other top Los Angeles journalists. “We couldn’t do it without him. He had such commitment and such integrity and yet he was one of these quiet strong leaders. I was just so fortunate to be there when he was there.