Leadership Promotions at Alaska Public Media

Wei has been with AKPM since 2019, leading the programming, production, traffic, and operations teams. She has also been the executive producer for all of AKPM’s local video and audio content, including Alaska Insight, Indie Alaska, Talk of Alaska, and Line One: Your Health Connection. Wei co-chaired the PBS Programming Advisory Council, chaired the PBS Digital Media Advisory Council, and was a member of the PBS Executive Leadership inaugural class, selected for a fellowship in 2016 to embed with PBS’s signature investigative series, Frontline.

Wei’s public media career began more than twenty years ago as a volunteer with Louisiana Public Broadcasting. She continued at Nashville Public Television for fifteen years, rising to the position of Director of Digital Strategies. Currently, she serves on the board of directors for Independent Television Service and Public Media Content Collective.

“Linda brings a proven track record of success and a deep wealth of public media experience,” says AKPM President and CEO Ed Ulman. “Despite current funding challenges, I know she will be the solutions-based operations executive AKPM needs right now as we recommit and reorganize to provide the best public media service for Alaskans.”

The second promotion is Toben Shelby’s new title of Director of Radio and Audio Services. Shelby has been FM Operations Manager at AKPM, his main duties have included maintaining the KSKA-FM program schedule. His new position adds responsibility for leading a team of producers, hosts, and engineers to promote local, regional, and national content while engaging with community partners.

Born and raised in Anchorage, Shelby began his radio career at UAA’s campus radio station, KRUA 88.1 FM, in 2007. In 2008, he was hired as a news reporter at Alpha Media’s KFQD. During his twelve years in commercial radio, he transitioned from the newsroom to talk show production. Shelby joined the staff at AKPM in 2021.

“For almost five years, Toben Shelby has consistently demonstrated his dedication to KSKA and our listening audiences,” Wei says of her colleague. “Under his leadership as FM Operations Manager, we’ve streamlined much of our work behind the scenes. He also brought a discerning eye to our radio program and podcast Outdoor Explorer, including onboarding a new host. I know our Audio team will continue to thrive as he extends that editorial eye to our other programs and the KSKA schedule.”