Ex-CNN exec to take over Georgia Public Broadcasting

Former CNN executive Teya Ryan has been hired as Georgia Public Broadcasting’s president and executive director, taking the helm as the state-supported outfit faces budget cuts in a tight economy.

She starts April 1.

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Teya Ryan

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GPB has an annual budget of $30 million, $18 million of which comes from the state. The other comes from fundraising. But the company, which owns nine stations including Atlanta’s WGTV (Channel 8), faces a 10 percent budget cut — about $1.8 million — from the state.

Ryan, a former consultant for PBS and president of a multimedia production company, said she sees opportunity instead. Her priorities include adding new shows, becoming more involved in education and educational programming and developing a new business model to sustain GPB.

“We’ll spend some time planning, I’ll spend a lot of time listening to the people who work there about what their creative vision is, I’ll spend a lot of time listening to the community about how the entire organization can help the Georgia community,” she said. “And then we’ll make our moves.”

Ryan, who moved to Atlanta in 1990, was the executive vice president and general manager for CNN U.S., Headline News and CNN’s financial network from 1999 until she left in 2003. Prior to that, she held other positions at CNN, owned by Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting System, including executive producer of former CNN talk show TalkBack Live.

She has won seven Emmy and four Cable Ace awards.