Arkansas PBS director withdraws from Louisiana job consideration

Courtney Pledger, executive director of Arkansas PBS, has withdrawn as a candidate for the leadership of Louisiana PBS, I’m told by Marty Ryall, director of external relations for Arkansas PBS.

He said she was a finalist for the job, an opening I’d mentioned Wednesday when a legislative committee delayed voting on an increase in the maximum salary for Pledger’s position from $157,100 to $180,000. The PBS Commission sought the increase because of improvements Pledger had made since taking leadership in 2017 and because she was a candidate for a job in an adjoining state. Some in the legislature resent funding for Arkansas PBS because of the detect a leftward tilt in programming provided by the national PBS. Arkansas traditionally has worked carefully to avoid political controversies but is bound to run a significant amount of national programming in return for the financial support it receives.

Ryall said Pledger was a finalist for the Louisiana position, which is expected to be filled this month. “We will still pursue a pay raise as others will come calling,” he said.

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