Donovan Reynolds came to Louisville in 2006 just to get practice interviewing for jobs. A headhunter had contacted him about the position of Director of the Public Radio Partnership in Louisville but he says he had no intention of moving here. 

As an exercise, that idea proved to be futile. Donovan says he felt like a kid at a candy store when he saw the studio facilities at PRP, which is the only triumvirate public radio company in the U.S., along with the support that he experienced upon meeting its Board of Directors. 

“Louisville had some far-sighted leadership with PRP,” says Donovan, “and I wanted to move that into the future. With the support of my Board and the community, we were able to create Louisville Public Media.”

Donovan has now brought in a Director of New Media Strategies and reporters to generate content for online distribution basically adding a fourth outlet to WFPK, WFPL and WUOL. “I am amazed at how much people here love these stations,” says Donovan, “and I’ve come to realize that they are valued as a cultural accent to the community. The challenge now is how to serve young people in the future.”

And that is one reason why Donovan pushed for the online outlet but he says he doesn’t have all the answers. He admits, “That is why I hire young people!”