Public Media Impact

Public Media Impact Award

The Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters regularly recognizes Michigan’s public broadcasters. Two awards will be presented – one award for Donors and one award for Professionals – for their contribution to public broadcasting in Michigan.

Public Media Impact Award Criteria

The MAB regularly recognizes Michigan’s public broadcasters. Two awards will be presented – one award for Donors and one award for Professionals – for their contribution to public broadcasting in Michigan.

Purpose

• To recognize outstanding individuals or foundations involved in public broadcasting for their innovativeness and creativity.
• To inspire others involved in public broadcasting to greater achievement in the field of public radio and television.
• To increase awareness of public broadcasting and the contributions talented individuals make to the industry statewide.

Eligibility
Donors and Professionals involved in Michigan public radio or television are eligible for nomination. Nominations can be made by colleagues, supervisors and/or station managers. Activities for which the person is nominated may be long-term, to recognize lifetime contributions to public broadcasting, or more recent, to reflect a concentrated period of achievement.

Nomination Process
Deadline for nominations and supporting material (i.e. letters of support, photos, and videos) will come in April 2023. Station/general manager will be notified if one of their staff members, volunteers or donors has been selected to receive an award prior to the 2023 Advocacy Conference.

Please complete the nomination form and email with supporting documents to awards@michmab.com or you can mail documents to: Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters, 222 N. Chestnut St, Lansing, MI 48933.

Awards
There will be up to two awards given — one Professional (all professionals including volunteers working in public broadcasting) and one Donor (individuals or foundations).

Judges
The nominee’s will be judged for each category. The judges will consist of a panel of their peers selected from Michigan public radio and television stations to evaluate the nominee’s qualifications.

Criteria-Donors
Judges will evaluate the Donor nominees based on:
• An individual or foundation that has been able to support a specific project at a station
• Threshold of impact and importance on public broadcasting
• In-kind resources that help to promote the station, it’s programs and projects

Criteria-Professional
Judges will evaluate nominees on the basis of:
• Development of creative solutions to address station problems or concerns
• Development of innovative projects or programs designed to meet station challenges
• Development of programs, projects or activities which are cost — and/or time — effective
• Development of programs, projects or activities which make effective use of staff or volunteer resources
• Involvement and service to the community
• Involvement and service to public broadcasting

Supporting Materials
Copies of material related to the nominee’s accomplishments or achievements may accompany the nomination form. Please indicate whether entry is Professional or Donor. Also please include a head shot of your nominee in your materials, if available. If you have any questions concerning the Public Media Impact Award program, please contact Ann Walters via email at walters@michmab.com or by phone at the MAPB office at (800) 968-7622.

Zoe Clark

Professional Recognition

Associate General Manager & Political Director, Michigan Public

Zoe Clark is Michigan Public's Associate General Manager and Political Director. As Associate General Manager, she helps guide Michigan Public's strategic direction, content vision, and cross-platform integration. As Political Director, Zoe guides coverage of the state Capitol, elections, and policy debates. Her passion for understanding and explaining politics led Michigan Public to create the position in 2022 for the first time in station history.

Zoe is also the host of It's Just Politics, a weekly look at Michigan politics with Michigan Public Radio Network's Senior Capitol Correspondent Rick Pluta. Together, they co-author the It's Just Politics newsletter.

Zoe regularly appears on WKAR's Off the Record, WDIV's Flashpoint, and offers political analysis on NPR, PBS, CNN, and the BBC. She is an award-winning journalist, including receiving a Peabody for overseeing the station's first nationally distributed podcast, Believed.

Zoe previously served as the station's Program Director and is the co-founder and former Executive Producer of Stateside. She began at the station producing Jack Lessenberry's daily interviews and essays and producing Michigan Radio's Morning Edition.

Her collegiate career began at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Zoe holds degrees in Communication Studies and Political Science from the University of Michigan and lives in Ann Arbor, where she was born and raised.

Ed and Wanda Eichler

DONOR REcognition

Philanthropists, WKAR Public Media

Ed and Wanda Eichler are longtime philanthropists and passionate advocates for music, education and public media. For nearly four decades, they have supported Michigan State University and WKAR Public Media, making a lasting impact on students, audiences and the broader community.

The Eichlers’ generosity has helped transform the student experience at MSU, particularly through their support of the Spartan Marching Band and College of Music. Their contributions include the Eichler Family Teaching Tower and Gallery, the Forest Akers Trust Practice Complex, Eichler Hall in the Billman Music Pavilion, 62 new trumpets for the Spartan Marching Band and the Red Cedar Organ in the MSU Alumni Chapel.

Their commitment to public media is equally significant. As longtime WKAR supporters, the Eichlers have championed the station’s mission, supported special projects and its 100th anniversary, and advocated for expanding access to educational opportunities through broadband innovation.

More than generous donors, Ed and Wanda are engaged partners and advocates who believe in the power of public media, education and the arts to strengthen communities. In recognition of their extraordinary contributions, they were named Michigan State University Honorary Alumni in 2022. Their enduring generosity and commitment to Michigan’s public media and educational communities make Ed and Wanda Eichler deserving recipients of the 2026 Public Media Impact Award.