David McGowan, president and CEO of WJCT Public Media, will retire March 31, 2026, according to a news release from the organization.
McGowan has led the community-owned public media organization since January 2018. He will be 65 in January.
“Serving WJCT Public Media through this period of growth has been a tremendous honor. Everything we’ve been through these last eight years has only strengthened my belief in the power of public media to bring people together,” McGowan said in the Oct. 14 news release.
“WJCT Public Media is such a precious community asset, and I am grateful to have helped guide it during such an interesting time in our industry and in our region. I look forward to working with our Board during this transition.”
The release said that under McGowan’s leadership, WJCT became one of the most dynamic local news organizations in the country — a multi-platform organization recognized regionally and nationally for its innovative programming in local news, music, education and community engagement.
“David is a world-class executive; we have been fortunate to have him as our President and CEO. He is a remarkable leader, whose vision and strategic guidance inspired us all to reimagine how this organization can serve the community," Bill Hendrich, chair of WJCT Public Media’s board of trustees, said in the release .
"We are grateful for his many years of exemplary service to our mission, and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement,” Hendrich said.
Initiatives undertaken by WJCT under McGowan’s leadership include Jacksonville Today, a digital-first news platform; the Jacksonville Music Experience; expansion of the WJCT Soundstage and the Film at WJCT Studios series; and new broadcast and podcast programs such as “What’s Health Got to Do With It?,” “Bygone Jax” and “Untold Stories.”
The release said revenue and the number of individual contributors have nearly doubled since 2018, and audiences for local news on WJCT News 89.9 and through Jacksonville Today stand at or near all-time highs. Use of Jax PBS’ streaming services is growing and live event attendance is at a peak following the pandemic shutdowns, it said.
The organization’s board of trustees has formed a search committee to oversee the process of identifying WJCT Public Media’s next president and CEO. DRiWaterstone, an executive search, leadership and advisory firm, is conducting a national search.
On Oct. 1, WJCT announced it had become 100% community-funded. It said the change reflected years of strategic efforts to diversify its revenue, a priority that was accelerated after about $2 million in revenue for the organization was eliminated at the state and federal levels.
In the final months of the 2024-25 fiscal year, WJCT and its supporters raised more than $1 million to ensure its financial stability, including contributions from more than 1,000 donors.