Public Media Learns
Public Media Learns (PML) is the latest tool essential for everyone in public media, no matter their area of discipline. PML offers a collaborative space for employees of our member stations to experience community, share ideas, and expand the skills needed to further the mission of public media: education.
Public Media Learns is the home of professional development courses from throughout the system, community spaces for our Peer Learning Communities, and the NETA webinar archives.
Do you have a course idea you'd like to share with members of public media? Use this form to propose your ideas.
Public Media 101
This PML course is for anyone who wants to learn the basics of public media. Whether you work at a station, are a board member, volunteer, or student intern, Public Media 101 provides an overview of public media’s origins, the many organizations that make up the public media ecosystem, and the rules and regulations that guide our work. In addition, the course breaks down the various types of stations, roles and departments within stations, and professional growth opportunities.
Anytime you feel like you’re swimming in alphabet soup, our Public Media 101 glossary provides an easy way to identify and define public media’s many acronyms and terms.
If you would like to register multiple members of your station and receive an invoice, please contact James Abraham or Maria Rodillo to start the process.
This course is self-paced. $100 for NETA Members; $550 for non-members.
Newest Courses
Join NETA and public media organizations across the country for PD Day 2025! Block your calendars now for Tuesday, June 24 for three hours of national public media professional development, beginning at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT.
Opportunities will include live sessions, on-demand courses, the best of NETA Webinar archives, recommended reading, and more! Learning tracks will include:
- Business Administration
- Community Engagement
- Content
- Cyber
- Development & Fundraising
- Education
- Innovation
- Leadership
- Marketing & Communications
Are you ready to take your station’s data management to the next level?
In this comprehensive self-paced course, you’ll explore the foundational principles and practices of data governance, designed specifically for public media. You’ll learn how to assess your current data landscape, define governance roles and responsibilities, and build a station-specific roadmap for implementing sustainable data policies. From improving data quality to protecting sensitive donor information and ensuring regulatory compliance, this course provides actionable strategies for stations of all sizes.
You’ll also access templates and real-world examples from across the public media system—equipping you to develop a governance framework that supports transparency, collaboration, and long-term success.
This course will help you gain the skills and insights needed to build a sustainable data governance program at your station that supports trust, efficiency, and compliance.
What You’ll Gain:
- A clear understanding of governance roles, policies, and processes
- Tools to assess and improve data quality, security, and accessibility
- Templates and strategies to create a data governance roadmap tailored to your station
Whether you're just getting started or looking to formalize existing efforts, this course is designed for professionals at all levels. Access this course and more through the PBS Course Catalog.
Steal This Idea builds on the popular session offered at PBS Annual Meeting. Designed to empower public media professionals, this course shares innovative strategies and fresh ideas from stations across the country. The course covers core areas critical to public media success:
- Content: Learn best practices for creating compelling narratives that engage and resonate with your audience.
- Distribution: Discover effective strategies for reaching and engaging diverse audiences across various platforms.
- Engagement: Explore innovative methods for building meaningful relationships within your community.
- Fundraising: Gain insights into successful fundraising tactics that support your station’s mission.
- Marketing: Master the latest marketing trends and increase visibility of your programs/initiatives.
Why Choose Steal This Idea?
- Real-world case studies to inspire and inform your work.
- Engage with fellow public media professionals in course discussions, sharing ideas, challenges, and solutions.
- Self-paced, online format for flexibility.
- Applicable to all levels of experience in public media.
Access Steal This Idea and other free and self-paced professional development opportunities through the PBS Course Catalog on Public Media Learns.