FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact Information:  
Jenn Gordon, WTVP President & CEO 
jenn.gordon@wtvp.org, 309-645-0201 

April 23, 2026 

WTVP | PBS Welcomes James Kerr as the New Chief Officer of Content/Digital Media 

Peoria, IL - WTVP is pleased to welcome James Kerr as the new Chief Officer of Content/Digital Media starting Thursday, April 23, 2026. In this role, Kerr will lead the station’s strategic efforts to optimize local productions for digital viewers and expand audiences across all platforms, connecting central Illinois with trusted, meaningful content. 

Kerr brings more than two decades of experience in local television and media leadership, including 18 years working here at home in central Illinois. His career has centered on building audience engagement, strengthening brand identity and using storytelling to help organizations better connect with the communities they serve.  

He has worked closely with nonprofit organizations including The Salvation Army and the Center for Prevention of Abuse, helping elevate awareness and support through strategic storytelling. He also serves on the board of directors for FamilyCore, reflecting his ongoing commitment to strengthening families and communities in the region.  

“WTVP is thrilled to welcome Mr. Kerr both for his depth of experience as well as his connection to the community,” says Jenn Gordon, WTVP’s President and CEO. “His commitment to creating quality content and elevating local voices aligns with WTVP’s mission and will serve and expand our audience across the region.”  

At a time when trust in media is increasingly fragmented and local voices are often overlooked, Kerr believes public media plays an essential role in providing reliable information and fostering informed, connected communities. “WTVP is local to the core,” says Kerr. “These are your friends and neighbors telling the stories. And right now, local voices matter more than ever.” 

A central Illinois native and graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Kerr is focused on expanding WTVP’s reach across all platforms while staying grounded in its mission to educate, inform and entertain. He lives in Tremont with his wife, Suzannah, and their two children, Jack and Evelyn. 

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Illinois Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation (WTVP PBS) is a nonprofit, community-owned, public media source dedicated to connecting and inspiring the communities we serve through quality content that educates, informs and entertains.   

Founded in 1971, WTVP serves as the primary PBS affiliate station for 17 counties in central Illinois, annually broadcasting over 35,000 hours of commercial-free content across four unique channels. Learn more at www.wtvp.org.