American Documentary

Overview

Brooklyn, NY – June 26, 2024 – American Documentary (AmDoc), the nonprofit organization behind award-winning documentary series ‘POV’, ‘POV Shorts’ on PBS and ‘America ReFramed’ on WORLD, announced the addition of a new board member Mark Contreras, President and Chief Executive Officer of Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc. He officially joined the organization’s board of directors at the beginning of the year and will serve on behalf of Connecticut Public, which operates Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) and WNPR radio, adding to the chorus of veteran media leaders who comprise the board.

A longtime advocate for public media, Mark Contreras brings two decades worth of experience as a media executive working across broadcast television, radio and news publishing and his achievements include leading businesses through digital transformation. Prior to Connecticut Public, he was the Dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University. Before his role as a Dean, Contreras served as CEO of Calkins Media, a privately-held local television, digital and local newspaper publishing company. Under Contreras's leadership, Calkins Media received recognition for high quality and innovative journalism from regional and national organizations. Among his achievements at Calkins included maximizing audience reach, engagement and revenue by embracing streaming media platforms and launching 24-hour OTT channels across local broadcast affiliates. He previously led local newspaper publishing and digital businesses for three public companies including Capital Cities/ABC; Pulitzer, Inc; and The E.W. Scripps Co.

“I am honored to join the Board of AmDoc,” Contreras said. “For decades, it has been the source of the highest-quality and diverse documentaries. I am excited to work with Erika and the board to help expand the reach and impact of their very important work into the future.”

“On behalf of American Documentary staff and our board of directors, we are proud to welcome Mark Contreras to join us in our ongoing efforts to bring bold and visionary documentary films to the public,” said Erika Dilday, Executive Director of American Documentary and Executive Producer of POV and America ReFramed. “He is an exemplary colleague and steward of public media and his perspective and deep understanding of the media landscape are truly valued and appreciated. He’ll be in good company among industry peers and our friends who champion the values and the mission of the work we do.”

Mark Contreras

Since 2019 Mark Contreras has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc. He has previously served as Chairman of the News Media Association and the American Press Institute. In addition to the AmDoc board, he serves on the Board of Directors of Highlights for Children in Columbus, Ohio; PBS in Arlington, Virginia; Woodward Communications, Inc in Dubuque, Iowa; Woodward Communications, Inc in Dubuque, Iowa; and Report for America in Boston, Massachusetts. Additionally, Contreras was a Fellow of the Millennium Class of Henry Crown Fellows of the Aspen Institute. The son of an Irish-American school teacher and a Mexican immigrant, Mark grew up in the Midwest, primarily in Chicago, and earned an A.B. in History from the University of Chicago and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

About

About American Documentary, Inc.

American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) is a multimedia organization dedicated to creating, identifying and presenting contemporary stories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured in mainstream media outlets. AmDoc is a catalyst for public culture, developing collaborative strategic engagement activities around socially relevant content on television, online and in community settings. These activities are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunities and community participation.

American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) is a multimedia organization dedicated to creating, identifying and presenting contemporary stories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured in mainstream media outlets. AmDoc is a catalyst for public culture, developing collaborative strategic engagement activities around socially relevant content on television, online and in community settings. These activities are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunities and community participation.

Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, the Open Society Foundations, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, Park Foundation, and Perspective Fund. Additional funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Chris and Nancy Plaut, Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee, Acton Family Giving, and public television viewers. POV is presented by a consortium of public television stations, including KQED San Francisco, WGBH Boston and THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG.