Tom Karlo
General Manager EmeritusTom Karlo is general manager emeritus of KPBS. He retired on December 30, 2020. Karlo began his career at KPBS in 1973 as a part time assistant while studying television and film at San Diego State University. He has held numerous positions including assistant cameraman, director, producer, associate general manager of operations and production, and associate general manager of business, finance and operations, and general manager. He has won three local Emmys and was named general manager in 2009. During his leadership as general manager, the station merged the TV, radio, and digital departments into one content producing center, focused on journalism and local content. The station created "KPBS Evening Edition" on TV, shifted KPBS’ online content to focus on news, invested in local producers for new regional programming, and expanded the radio schedule to feature news and information 24 hours a day. The results have been impressive, with staff, audience and fundraising growth during his leadership. KPBS became among the highest rated public television stations in the nation; more than 1.2 million people watch, listen, click or stream KPBS’ content every week. The newsroom grew from 17 people in 2009 to 45 in 2020. KPBS won more than 419 awards under Tom’s leadership. Most notably, the station won the 2015 USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Political Journalism for the station’s coverage of the scandal surrounding former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner. This was the second time in five years the station was honored by the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Additional honors were awarded by the National Press Foundation, RTNA Golden Mike Awards, PEN America, Radio Television Digital News Association, Pacific Southwest Emmy Awards, San Diego Society of Professional Journalists and San Diego Press Club.
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Multiple tornadoes over several days leveled buildings and left a trail of damage in parts of the South and Midwest.
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Police took more than 250 protesters into custody in Arizona, Indiana, Massachusetts and Missouri this weekend, as the war in Gaza continues to embroil campuses across the nation.
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An organic seed company was distressed to learn it had marketed a GMO purple tomato by mistake. The incident raised alarm about the impact of new GMO plants.
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The militant group says it's examining the latest Israeli suggestions for a cease-fire in Gaza, seven months into the conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
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NPR's Scott Simon muses about the passage of parental time, now that his eldest daughter has turned 21.
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The heat bore down on Palestinians living in tents and aid groups working in the sun. UNRWA reported several heat injuries among its staff, and at least one 18-year-old Palestinian died from the heat.
- Hillcrest, hungry for park space, looks to the 163 freeway
- At least 16 people died in California after medics sedated them during encounters with police
- Members of Congress launch investigation into Frontwave Credit Union’s treatment of young Marines, following KPBS reporting
- University of Saint Katherine announces closure, filing for bankruptcy
- Migrant drop offs continue in San Diego despite influx of federal funds