President/CEO Silverstein retires from Rochester’s WXXI Public Media

The following excerpt was sent out from Rochester Business Journal:

Norm Silverstein, who has guided WXXI Public Media for nearly 30 years, announced today that he will retire in 2024.

Silverstein, 71, will continue in his role as president and CEO until a the WXXI Board of Trustees hires a successor.

A native of New Jersey, Silverstein arrived in Rochester in 1995 to oversee radio and television operations at WXXI. His intention was to lead the company through its transition to digital, then move on, he said in a 2021 interview with the Rochester Business Journal.

But between a desire to continue to build the WXXI brand and his fondness for his new-found home, there was a never a reason to leave.

Under Silverstein’s leadership, WXXI has grown from one TV station and two radio stations to four public TV channels, one cable channel for the city of Rochester, and six public radio stations.

“I believe that WXXI is what Congress had in mind when the bill was passed in 1967 creating the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) — television and radio that would make a positive difference in peoples’ lives and help strengthen local communities,” Silverstein said. “The arts and cultural community in Rochester is stronger because WXXI believes in cooperation, not competition, and in putting the community first. You see that in almost everything we do.”

Silverstein led the two most successful capital campaigns in the station history. The 21/21 Vision Campaign in 2004 raised $12 million and the Go Public Campaign in 2016 garnered $18 million.

Since his arrival, WXXI has garnered more than 65 New York State Broadcasters Association Awards, 50 Telly Awards, 19 New York Emmy Awards, and 12 Edward R. Murrow Awards.

He was member of the Rochester Business Journal’s Icon Honors Class of 2021.