Beth Courtney

Beth Courtney is President and CEO of Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB), the statewide public television network with stations in Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge and an affiliated station in New Orleans, WLAE-TV.

She was recently elected vice-chair of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the nine-member presidentially appointed board that oversees the federal funding for radio and television. She is Past Chairman of the Board of the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) and former Vice Chairman of the Board of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). She is co-chairman of a PBS/APTS Board initiative to negotiate carriage of public broadcasting channels on digital cable and direct broadcast satellites. Ms. Courtney has chaired the PBS education, membership, and common carriage task forces. She currently serves on the Board of the Organization of State Broadcasting Executives (OSBE), and the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA).

Prior to her appointment as CEO of LPB in 1985, she served as LPB's Executive Producer. During her tenure at LPB, numerous award-winning programs have been produced including the duPont Columbia Award-winning six-part series Louisiana: A History, Uncle Earl, Kate Chopin: A Reawakening and Frame After Frame: The Images of Herman Leonard. Recent productions have included Atchafalaya Houseboat, Washing Away: Losing Louisiana, Louisiana World War II Stories and Katrina’s Smallest Victims.

In addition to her administrative duties, Ms. Courtney hosts the annual Louisiana Young Heroes Awards, is the emcee of the Louisiana Legends Gala and co-hosts LPB's award winning monthly public affairs program, Louisiana Public Square.

Ms. Courtney has a BS in History & Speech and an MA in European History and Government from Louisiana State University, an Honorary Doctorate from Southeastern Louisiana University, and she completed UC/Berkeley's course in public broadcasting management.

She started her career in broadcasting as a Capitol Correspondent, reporting on state government and moderating numerous political debates. She was named Communicator of the Year in 1984, elected Broadcaster of the Year by American Women in Radio & Television (AWRT) in 1988, and was one of the YWCA's Women of Achievement in 1991. Ms. Courtney was inducted into the Louisiana Center for Women in Government Hall of Fame in 1999.

On numerous occasions, Ms. Courtney has testified before Congress, including the House Appropriations and Commerce Committees, as an advocate and spokesperson for public broadcasting. She has appeared on William F. Buckley's Firing Line, CBS' Sunday Morning, CNN's Crossfire, and the Freedom Forum. She continues to share her expertise as a broadcasting professional on numerous telecommunications technology advisory committees on national, state and local levels.

Ms. Courtney is also active in the community where she is a Rotarian, Junior League sustainer, board member of the Public Affairs Research Council and the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. She is a member and past president of the Baton Rouge Press Club, a member of the State Technology Advisory committee and a member of the Women's Network. Most recently, she was nominated as the Vice-Chairman of the Civic Education Committee under the leadership of Governor Bobby Jindal.

The National D-Day Museum honored Ms. Courtney for her work both behind the scenes and as co-host of the three-hour live program "Louisiana Honors Its Veterans" which celebrated the contributions of the state's World War II veterans and the opening of the National D-Day Museum.

Ms. Courtney is married to Bob Courtney, President of Courtney Communications. She is the proud mother of one daughter, Julia who is an attorney and mother of Andrew and Virginia.