Carlton Wing a North Little Rock native who was named to lead Arkansas PBS in September, has a background in television journalism. He previously represented District 70 in the Arkansas House of Representatives and served as speaker pro tempore of the 95th General Assembly.
Wing earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcast communications from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and an MBA from Harding University in Searcy.
Wing is the founder and president of Wing Media Group, which specializes in outdoor content.
How has Congress’ decision to stop funding the Public Broadcasting Service affected Arkansas PBS?
When an organization suddenly loses 18% of its overall budget, it certainly gets your attention. But any time there is a significant change in the status quo, there is opportunity for those willing to pursue it. We now own the unique ability to redefine what public television means to Arkansans. My intention is to be the place where every Arkansan looks to stay informed and be inspired. I am very excited about our future and that is why I am here.
How will the network seek to make that up?
People and organizations that have never participated in public television are now seeing our new vision. As the paradigm shifts toward Arkansas and our state’s needs, we are forming new partnerships.
What are the most important services that Arkansas PBS provides to the state?
Education, education, education. We educate through informative and inspirational programs to help promote a lifetime of learning for all age groups. Also, our towers provide the only border-to-border television signal in the state. This is the reason we are the primary provider for all weather emergency alerts and Amber Alerts across the state. Another interesting fact is that we were the state’s insurance policy for education when the schools shut down during the pandemic. Within 10 days we were on the air with K-fifth grade educational programming five days a week for the final two months of the school year. Since many of our viewers don’t get a cable or satellite television signal or have no access to broadband, this is essential for many Arkansas families.
How are you ensuring that the network remains unbiased and fair in its programming?
This is something we can address. I am very passionate about bringing Arkansans together through informative dialogue. A recent episode of “Arkansas Week” highlighted our local chapter of Braver Angels discussing the needs for better civil discourse. The other segment of the same show demonstrated those very techniques when state Sen. Dan Sullivan joined Nate Coulter, director of the Central Arkansas Library System, in a panel discussion moderated by Robert Steinbugh, a professor of law and columnist. It was civil, informative, respectful, and everyone left better versed on the actual issues facing Arkansas. We will bring more of that to our station.
There was an effort during the last legislative session to dissolve the Arkansas PBS Commission and put the network under the Arkansas Department of Education. Is that a move you expect to see in future legislative sessions?
I do not. This is a new day for public television and we are addressing the concerns that the representatives of the people of Arkansas have brought forth.
How will you measure the success of Arkansas PBS?
We will measure success in multiple ways. When our partners are grateful an important issue is addressed, when Arkansans are responding to a truly local public television station meeting their informational and educational needs, and when their elected officials let us know that we are worth the appropriated revenue, we will know we are hitting the mark. Keep in mind, we are not here to compete against the private sector. Our place is not to seek TV ratings. Our purpose is to provide programming our viewers cannot get anywhere else, meeting specific needs, often for smaller but vitally necessary demographic segments.
How will your background in media inform your leadership of the network?
What I learned from decades of television is the power of video to tell an inspirational story or teach a principle. We have amazingly talented people here at the station; we win Emmy Awards every year and have the trophy case to prove it! Serving nearly five terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives has also helped me understand what it means to meet the needs of the people and the process by which that happens through their elected representatives. The beautiful thing about our republic is that the power comes from the ground up, not the top down. The people let us know what they want and we have a responsibility to meet their needs with the resources they provide.
What is your favorite PBS program of all time?
“Baseball” by Ken Burns. That series made me a fan of the documentary genre and sealed my lifetime fate as a baseball fan forever. I should add that I am very excited about “The American Revolution,” his next series, just in time for the 250th anniversary of our country.
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