Public Media NJ Elects Former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean to Its Board of Trustees

Former Governor Joins Five Prominent New Jerseyans on the Board

NEW YORK, July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Kean has been elected to the Board of Trustees for Public Media NJ, Inc., operator of NJTV. First elected as New Jersey's governor in 1981, the former Governor served two four-year terms until 1990. He subsequently was named President of Drew University and served there for 15 years until his retirement 2005. In 2002, Governor Kean was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate to the prestigious position of Chairman of the bipartisan National Commission on Terrorists Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9/11 Commission). He presently serves as Chairman of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and is Co-Chair of the National Security Preparedness Group.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110324/DC71112LOGO)

"I'm extremely pleased to be joining the Board of Trustees of PMNJ," said Kean. "I think it's important to support public media in New Jersey—to keep the network thriving and serving the citizens of the entire state. I'm looking forward to taking a leadership role in guiding PMNJ and the renamed New Jersey public television network, NJTV, as it grows and prospers."

"It is a great honor and privilege to welcome Governor Kean, one of New Jersey's and the nation's most respected elder statesmen, to the Board of PMNJ," said Neal Shapiro, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PMNJ. "With his many years of experience in public service and in education in the state, I know he will be an invaluable asset to Public Media NJ, Inc. and to the programming and services provided by NJTV."

Kean joins a growing list of prominent New Jerseyans recently elected to the PMNJ Board, including Anthony Bastardi, Chairman of the Foundation for New Jersey Public Broadcasting and Chairman and CEO of Strategic Development Group; Thomas Bracken, Vice Chair of the Foundation for Public Broadcasting and President and CEO of New Jersey Chamber of Commerce; and Dennis Bone, a member of the Executive Committee for the Foundation for Public Broadcasting and President of Verizon New Jersey. The four newly-elected trustees join PMNJ's inaugural trustees, Neal Shapiro, President and CEO of WNET, Josh Weston, former Chairman of ADP; and Elizabeth Thomas, former member of the Public Broadcasting Authority of New Jersey and principal at Thomas Boyd Communications.

Created in 2011, Public Media NJ, Inc. (PMNJ) is an affiliate of WNET New York Public Media, parent company of award-winning television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21. PMNJ operates NJTV, New Jersey's network of four public televisions, which provides a statewide 24/7 programming schedule and a week nightly news program, NJ Today.

About WNET New York Public Media
WNET is America's flagship public media outlet, bringing quality arts, education and public affairs programming to over 5 million viewers each week. The parent company of public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET produces such acclaimed  PBS series as Great Performances, American Masters, Nature, Need to Know, Charlie Rose, Tavis Smiley and a range of documentaries,  children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online.  Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Noah Comprende and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home. WNET highlights the tri-state's unique culture and diverse communities through SundayArts, Reel 13, NJ Today and the new online newsmagazine MetroFocus.

SOURCE WNET New York Public Media