Featured at ONA26: Defunded, Not Defeated: Reimagining the Public Media Model

How do you reinvent an essential service while the ground is shifting beneath it?

Join leaders from NPR, Chicago Public Media, Texas Public Radio, and Public Media Company as they move beyond the headlines of federal funding losses to reveal what’s in their new public media playbooks. This featured conversation Defunded, Not Defeated: Reimagining the Public Media Model dives into the mechanics of radical collaboration, the reality of merging legacy brands with digital startups, and the specific revenue and content innovations that ensure public media remains undefeated in a hyper-competitive landscape. Join us Monday, March 30 from 4 p.m. CT at ONA26. 

Together we’ll dive into:

• What’s its like on the ground for public media organizations post-CPB
• How innovations in content, revenue and collaboration drive real sustainability
• What are the trends in media consolidation and the implications for the FCC
• Understanding the tension between maintaining national universal access to the news and doubling down on local community service, especially when serving younger and more diverse audiences

Meet the Speakers

Ashley Alvarado became president and CEO of Texas Public Radio in December 2024, bringing more than two decades of experience in journalism.

During her twelve years at LAist, Ashley led community engagement efforts across a wide range of initiatives, from live events and art installations to responding to thousands of questions from community members. She oversaw teams focused on audience engagement and newsroom experimentation.

An award-winning journalist and experienced newsroom coach, Ashley has worked with Blue Engine, the Poynter Institute, and the American Press Institute. She has also contributed to leadership programs with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Asian American Journalists Association. A former president of Journalism That Matters, Ashley currently serves on the boards of the Online News Association, Greater Public, and the First Amendment Coalition.

Tim Isgitt is the CEO of Public Media Company, a nonprofit organization that supports local public and independent media organizations around the country, helping them expand their service and impact, strengthen their communities, and secure their future.

Prior to joining the Public Media Company team, Tim served as Managing Director of Humanity United, a human rights-focused philanthropic organization. Previously, Tim served as Senior Vice President of Communications and Government Affairs at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as well as in leadership and service roles at the U.S. State Department and public affairs firms Burson-Marsteller and Meyers & Associates. Tim began his career as a legislative assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tim serves on the boards of Media Impact Funders, a membership organization that advances the work of a broad range of funders committed to effective use and support of media in the public interest; and The Fuller Project, a global newsroom dedicated to groundbreaking reporting on women. He lives in northern California with his husband, son, and two dogs.

Thomas Evans is the Editor in Chief at NPR. Prior to this role, he served as NPR's Managing Editor, Editorial Review, leading the Editorial Enhancements program, including a new "backstop" team that ensures every story receives a second review from a senior editor not involved in its original development before publication. This new system has created demonstrable improvements in the quality of NPR's coverage.

Before joining NPR, Evans spent nearly eight years as Vice President and London Bureau Chief at CNN. In this capacity, he oversaw CNN International's operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, managing 17 bureaus and approximately 500 staff. His extensive career also includes a long tenure as an award-winning field producer, specializing in challenging environments such as war zones. He notably ran CNN's bureaus in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Evans began his career as a producer for Anderson Cooper in New York, covering a wide range of topics from domestic politics to Hurricane Katrina. His years of experience in the field and as an editorial leader in complex organizations provide him with unique insight into the challenges and opportunities facing global editorial organizations.

Kimbriell Kelly is the Editor-in-Chief of Chicago Public Media, the nation’s largest local nonprofit newsroom, overseeing more than 140 journalists across the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ. A Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist with deep roots in Chicago, Kelly brings extensive experience in investigative reporting, newsroom leadership, and public media innovation.

Prior to joining Chicago Public Media, Kelly served as assistant managing editor and bureau chief at the Los Angeles Times and spent many years at The Washington Post, where she was part of a reporting team awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Earlier in her career, she reported for the Chicago Reporter, covering race relations and poverty, and for the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights.

Kelly has also worked across broadcast and public media, including hosting a public affairs program on WFLD-TV and producing a weekly radio show on WBEZ. In addition to her newsroom leadership, she has taught journalism at Howard University and Princeton University.

Tiffany Shackelford Foundation

The Tiffany Shackelford Foundation is now accepting applications for Shackelford Shines stipends for spring and summer conferences, including ONA26 in Chicago. These small financial awards are designed to help support emerging journalists and leaders as they build their networks and sharpen their skills. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis up to February 17th. Apply now.

Register by Feb. 26 for discounted passes

ONA26 will take place March 30-April 1, 2026 in Chicago. Register for ONA26 today to attend this featured session, connected workshop and more. Members can purchase a discounted Getting Closer pass for $495 by Feb. 26; prices increase to $600 on Feb. 27. 

Learn more about ONA26 and the program.