Management

With over three decades of media management, programming and production experience, including 20 years at PBS and NPR affiliates, Michael Flaster has earned a strong reputation for creative programming, innovative management and igniting substantial audience and programmatic growth. Under his leadership, he has grown California and Ohio based radio and television stations into thriving, well-respected community institutions which have served as models for media organizations nationwide.

Mr. Flaster was the architect for one of this nation’s first FM news radio stations and created one of the country’s first converged Television, Radio and New Media operations. He has taught in the Communications Departments of Kent State University and San Diego State University and was a Visiting Scholar at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. He has regularly served as peer media project review panelist for the National Endowment for the Humanities and was jury chair for television entertainment and documentary for the New York Festival.

Michael Flaster has a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from the State University of New York College at Cortland and a Master’s Degree from the School of Journalism and Telecommunications from Kent State University. He has served as an advisor to both the Digital Arts Center at the University of California San Diego Extension and UCSD/Calit2 ArtPower’s “Filmatic Festival.”

Michael Flaster has served in executive leadership positions on number of professional and community boards. His work as Vice Chair for LEAD San Diego, President of the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture and the San Diego Visual Arts Foundation and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the La Jolla Playhouse affords him strong insight into non-profit arts and cultural institutional governance and management. He has also served as a board member of the Public Radio Program Director’s Association, the Association of Music Personnel in Public Radio and Music From Stan Hywet.

Experience

1989 – 2001

Associate General Manager for Programming, Program Director for Public Radio and Television stations KPBS in San Diego, California

During Mr. Flaster’s tenure, KPBS Television grew to become one of the nation’s top rated public television stations garnering multiple awards for innovative programming and production. As Program Director and eventual Associate General Manager for KPBS-FM, Flaster was the architect of that station’s news and information format, one of the country’s first, and a model for countless NPR affiliates in later years. Michael managed the TV and Radio station’s production, programming, air-promotion, research and traffic staffs. He was responsible for long-range planning, new technologies, budgeting and overall station management and developed, designed and evaluated stations’ local and national production and programming. Under his direction the Television and Radio stations became critical San Diego institutions and creators of important national and regional programs.

1983 – 1989

Director of Programming and Operations, Production Coordinator and Producer for National Public Radio affiliate WKSU-FM serving Cleveland, Akron and Canton, Ohio

During his time at fine arts radio station WKSU-FM, serving the Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Youngstown, Ohio markets, Mr. Flaster’s nationally recognized innovative approach to programming more than doubled the station’s audience. WKSU became a vital community resource for news, classical and folk music programming with a major commitment to local programming and production. Mr. Flaster’s research-based approach to audience development served as a model for music stations nationwide. During his time at WKSU-FM, Flaster recruited and coached air-talent and managed the station’s operations, production and news staff. He also developed and oversaw the station’s extensive national and regional production efforts.

1981 – 1983

Station Manager for student radio station WKHR-FM serving the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio

Mr. Flaster coordinated the station’s fundraising and development activities and was responsible for training and scheduling of station personnel.

1978 – 1980

Assistant Director of Corey College Student Center, Director of Student Media Services: State University of New York College at Cortland

Mr. Flaster was legal, programming and technical advisor to licensee, WSUC-FM and was director of the College Union’s lecture, music and film programs.