Television Production Intern - Public Affairs

KET CEO Shae Hopkins to retire at end of 2026. By Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal USA Today Network via Reuters Connect Updated August 19, 2026 12:41 PM Gift Article Longtime Executive Director and CEO of Kentucky Educational Television Shae Hopkins is set to retire at the end of 2026, according to an Aug. 19 release. A 40-year veteran of KET, Hopkins led the statewide public media network for almost 17 years. Under her leadership, KET has been recognized with 40 regional Emmy awards and 144 nominations and 83 national and state awards, among other accolades. "It has been an honor to work with and learn from dedicated professionals, and to engage with viewers, generous supporters, committed board members and passionate volunteers, all the while making dear friendships along the way. It has been an immense privilege to serve everyone who values and relies on KET every day," Hopkins said in the release. "I want to extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to everyone who has contributed to making KET what it is today and to ask for your continued support as KET finds more ways to serve our commonwealth." Hopkins is responsible for launching The Kentucky Channel, a 24/7 television service focused on Kentucky news. She is also credited with creating production studios in the Kentucky Capitol, establishing the Louisville Production Center and guiding recent studio improvements. "Under her leadership, the use of KET's programs and services has doubled, steadily growing to more than 2 million viewers and users each week," the release states. Throughout her career, Hopkins has been recognized with the National Advocacy Award from America's Public Television Stations, Kentucky Daughters of the American Revolution Media Award, four regional Emmy Awards and three Telly Awards. In 2025, she received the Daniel K. Miller Station Leadership Award, Public Broadcasting Service's highest honor. In the release, Kentucky Authority for Educational Television Chair Dan Griffith said a search committee will begin its work in the coming weeks to determine her successor and is focused on finding candidates with extensive public broadcasting experience. "We know the next leader will be inheriting an opportunity to build on KET's significant organizational momentum and guide the future of this trusted, service-oriented educational institution." The announcement comes nearly one month after Renee Shaw announced she was retiring from KET after 29 years. Reach reporter Lillian Metzmeier at [email protected]. Reporting by Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal / Louisville Courier Journal USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect This story was originally published August 19, 2026 at 12:12 PM.

KET to host Alma's Way: Explore Your City event in northern Kentucky. For Release: 07/27/26 7:57 AM KET Education is hosting a free, family-friendly Alma's Way: Explore Your City event at the Kenton County Public Library Covington Branch on August 15, 2026 from 10 am to 1 pm. In partnership with TANK, Read Ready Covington and the Kenton County Public Library, the event will feature hands-on activities, stories and games inspired by Alma's Way. Families will also learn how they can get around their community to connect and discover local places together. The event is free, but online registration is required at KET.org/AlmasWay. KET is Kentucky's largest classroom, providing trusted programming, lifelong learning opportunities and essential services to more than two million people each week. Learn more about Kentucky's preeminent public media organization at KET.org, on X @KET and at facebook.com/KET.

Renee Shaw reflects on nearly 30 years at KET. Louisville Public Media | By Bill Burton Published July 23, 2026 at 5:00 AM EDT KET's Renee Shaw will leave the public television network at the end of July. After nearly 30 years with Kentucky Educational Television, Renee Shaw is leaving the airwaves at the end of the month. Shaw has covered state politics through legislative sessions, elections and how the state has responded to natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, among other topics. Before she leaves her role as director of public affairs and moderator, Shaw spoke to LPM News' Bill Burton to reflect on her career. This transcript was edited for clarity and length. Bill Burton: You're a graduate of Western Kentucky University. When you enrolled, what career did you see for yourself? Renee Shaw: This one. I didn't know it at the time, but I was a double major in broadcasting and government or political science, as it is now. I knew this was going to be the path. I had a lot of great professors who served as mentors, even up till now, who helped me really design a path that worked perfectly and fit, and helped to create what has been a 30-year career at KET. BB: Much of your career there at KET, you did focus on public policy. What drew you to that coverage? Was that the fact that you were a political science major? RS: It was. It absolutely was that. I wanted not just to cover politics, but I wanted to cover public policy, and I believed in the power of government and what government could do. I wanted to watch it up close and personal, and help write the first draft of it. I was really drawn to that space and more about how public policy affects Louisville Public Media all in its everyday lives. I really wanted to make it accessible for folks and try to explain it in terms that they could relate to and really go into the weeds for those who love the inside baseball. But at the same time, I hope that I've been able to advance a conversation about civility and civic discourse and and how to do that in a way that can still get to the truth, but in a respectful manner that hopefully causes Louisville Public Media to to bridge some of the gaps and the divides that Louisville Public Media is currently experiencing. BB: What are some of the things from your time at KET of which you're most proud? RS: Oh my goodness, you know it's like asking who's your favorite child. Everything is, you hope, is your best thing. I always say if the last thing turns out to be the last thing I did, I hope it's my best thing. Everything that I've done, whether it's sit down interviews where I've talked to lawmakers or politicians or celebrities or just everyday Kentuckians who are making a tremendous difference in their communities, all of those I put in equal measure and favor and value. BB: What can audiences expect of Kentucky Tonight and Kentucky Edition once you depart? RS: Bill, let me put to rest all of the fears. Louisville Public Media has an enormous fleet of talent at KET in its spaces and public affairs, in its cultural and arts programming, and I am not the least bit worried, and I hope viewers aren't as well. All of the people who work at KET are committed to the mission of KET, what Louisville Public Media try to advance in conversation and in civil discourse, and those values will remain front and center. All of the talent that I will leave behind, but will still have in my heart, they know how to do it. BB: What's next for you? RS: I don't know. In the short term, a couple of vacations. I haven't been one to really expend a lot of vacation time, so I'm going to travel quite a bit. There's lots of family memory making time that I've got in store, and to relax and read a few good books that are all stacked up by my nightstand and on the coffee table, and figure out what comes next. I know God will lead me to the place that I need to be.