Dan Schmidt

The Future of Public Media

Daniel J. Schmidt is President and CEO of Window to the World Communications, Inc., a $48 million non-profit public media institution comprised of WTTW11, 98.7WFMT, wttw.com, wfmt.com, as well as WTTWN, WTTW’s National Production arm, and the WFMT Radio Networks. Schmidt began his career in the broadcasting industry at WHA Television and Radio in Madison, Wisconsin in 1977. He holds a M.A. in Arts Administration from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and studied at Boston University Tanglewood Institute. From 1979-1991, Schmidt held a variety of management positions with Minnesota Public Radio, including General Manager of a five-station group. He has served on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Committee for UNICEF; as a consultant for Chamber Music America and as a member of Radio Broadcasters of Chicagoland, served on the board of American Pubic Television (APT) and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and is co-author of the book, Administration in the Arts: An Annotated Bibliography. Schmidt is past Chairman of the Public Television Major Market Group LLC, served for two years on the Public Television Affinity Group Coalition (AGC), and is a past Chairman of the Illinois Arts Alliance. He is also an active member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and the Chicago Executives Club. Prior to being named President & CEO, he served as Senior Vice President of WFMT & The Radio Networks from 1991 to 1998, and is recognized for developing 98.7WFMT’s non-profit/commercial hybrid business model, resulting in substantial revenue growth. Schmidt also launched a national mainstream jazz radio format service and expanded the WFMT Radio Network’s program distribution to international venues. Since assuming his role as President and CEO of WTTW in July of 1998, the station increased local and national production substantially. Moreover, Schmidt spearheaded a successful $50 million capital campaign, and secured $47.5 million from the U.S. Department of Education to launch WTTW’s entry as a major player in PBS’s “Ready to Learn” line-up. WTTW11 reaches two million weekly viewers over a four-state area. 98.7WFMT also reaches a wide audience across four states, and is also available worldwide through an internet streaming service. In his spare time, Schmidt is a boating enthusiast and is an active Scuba Diving Instructor. A resident of Chicago, he is married and has three children.