Houston Public Media was founded in 1953 as KUHT, the first public television station in the United States. The station was established by the University of Houston and Dr. John C. Schwarzwalder, who envisioned using television as an educational tool. The idea was to provide accessible educational content to a wider audience, revolutionizing distance learning. In 2011, KUHT merged with KUHF, the university's public radio station, to form Houston Public Media. Today, Houston Public Media operates as a service of the University of Houston, with Lisa Shumate serving as the Executive Director and General Manager. Based in Houston, Texas, Houston Public Media covers a wide range of news topics relevant to the Greater Houston area and beyond. Their coverage includes local and state politics, education, health, arts and culture, business, and environmental issues. They also provide national and international news through partnerships with NPR and PBS. Houston Public Media offers in-depth reporting on Houston's diverse communities, energy industry, and space exploration, given the city's connection to NASA. The organization produces original content across multiple platforms, including TV, radio, and digital media, to serve its audience. One interesting fact: A unique aspect of Houston Public Media is its pioneering role in educational broadcasting. When KUHT first went on air in 1953, it became not only the first public television station in the United States but also the first television station to broadcast from a university campus. This groundbreaking initiative paved the way for the development of educational and public broadcasting across the country, setting a model that many other institutions would follow in the years to come.