Tampa volunteer producer Arlene Engelhardt will head Pacifica

Pacifica Radio’s new executive director, effective tomorrow, is Arlene Engelhardt, a programmer and former board president at affiliate station WMNF in Tampa. She was appointed by the Pacifica Foundation’s national board last week, succeeding Grace Aaron, the board chair who has served as interim director since January. The top staff position has been open since the resignation of Nicole Sawaya in September 2008. Engelhardt is co-host of Women’s Show, “an eclectic feminist/womanist radio magazine” on the Tampa community radio station. She has been a peace activist, an executive with United Cerebral Palsy and a v.p. of product development for a multimedia publishing company, according to Pacifica. The often-fractious, politically progressive five-station chain and national network based in Berkeley, Calif., celebrated its 60th anniversary in April.

ITVS, PBS partner to present indie flicks on iTunes

ITVS and PBS are offering more than 20 indie films via iTunes, according to ITVS. The initiative is part of the Independent Digital Distribution Lab, which kicked off in April to expand broadband distribution and explore revenue-generating partnerships for independent filmmakers and pubTV. Featured are films from Independent Lens, Global Voices and other series and broadcasts.

FTC journalism summit webcast now available

The webcast has begun for the FTC's workshop, "How Will Journalism Survive the Internet Age?" Participating pubcasters include Joaquin Alvarado, CPB's senior veep for diversity and innovation; NPR head Vivian Schiller; Jon McTaggart, senior veep and COO, American Public Media; Alisa Miller, president and CEO, Public Radio International; and Jason Seiken, senior veep, PBS Interactive. The workshop continues tomorrow.

Public Radio Satellite System turns 30

The Public Radio Satellite System is marking its 30th anniversary, it announced today. PRSS launched in 1979, and was the first to use satellite technology to develop a national distribution network for radio. Back then, PRSS sent out programming to 192 public radio stations; now it transmits nearly 400,000 hours of programming annually from more than 200 producers to more than 800 public radio stations. Last month it launched the Technology Research Center with NPR Labs to provide research, consulting, and testing capabilities for pubradio stations, other networks and producers. It will also market its consulting services to commercial clients. That revenue will support distribution of content to public radio stations.

Nightly Business Report chooses Kangas replacement

Nightly Business Report has decided on a co-anchor to work with Susie Gharib, the show announced today. Tom Hudson was formerly in that slot at the nationally syndicated First Business program. Hudson replaces longtime anchor Paul Kangas, who announced his retirement in May. Hudson, already working with the show, makes his on-air debut on Wednesday, and comes on as co-anchor Jan. 4.