WGCU’s 5 Year Plan of Growth

General Manager of WGCU

Corey Lewis joined WGCU as general manager in May of 2021. WGCU has embarked on a five-year plan to grow the NPR and PBS portfolio of programs with a new emphasis on locally originated content.  Corey will describe why this strategy runs counter to that of commercial media, which are under tremendous pressure to deliver value to shareholders while scaling back under a changing advertising economy.  As a non-profit public broadcaster, WGCU’s only mission is to serve this community while being sustained by the audience. WGCU’s expansion starts with the local radio newsroom, investigative reporting, and in-depth reporting on the website and through podcasts.  Their TV services are expanding through local news and more of the beloved Untold Stories local series that reveals the deep and rich history of Southwest Florida. Corey will discuss the progress they are making to meet this plan.

About the Presenter

Lewis spent the first 18 years of his career in commercial TV in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Connecticut and Rhode Island. In 2002 he joined WBUR, the public radio station on the Boston University campus, as director of corporate support and development and then served as station manager for 15 years.

 On joining WGCU, he settled in North Naples with his wife, two sons, and everyone’s favorite member of the family, Emmy the Australian Labradoodle.