Porter, John S. (John Stephen), 1932-

Broadcasting executive.

President and General Manager, WXXI-TV, 1966-1969; President, Eastern Educational Television Network, 1989-1992; President, American Program Service, 1992-1998.

From the description of John S. Porter papers, 1958-2000 and undated (bulk 1958-1969) (University of Maryland Libraries). WorldCat record id: 51333385

Television executive John Stephen Porter was born September 2, 1932 in Avoca, New York. From 1952 to 1956, he served as first lieutenant in the United States Air Force. In 1958, Porter received a B.A. in English from Rochester, New York's St. John Fisher College, and in 1959 he was awarded an M.S. in Radio/Television from Syracuse University. He followed these degrees with postgraduate work in education at the University of Rochester (New York), from 1960 to 1961.

Porter's first public television job began in 1960 as a producer of instructional television programs for the Rochester Area Educational Television Association (RAETA). These programs were broadcast to the schools via the local commercial television stations and were used as samples of what the schools might expect from a full time educational station. Porter then worked part-time in New York at the Empire State FM School of Air, from 1962 to 1964, as a producer and broadcaster of weekly news analysis. In 1964, Porter moved to WROC-FM in Rochester, New York, serving part time as a producer and narrator of a weekly series until 1965. Following this, Porter went on to serve as president and general manager of WXXI-TV, Rochester, from 1966 to 1969 . During this period, Porter became a trustee of the Eastern Educational Television Network, Boston (1966-1968). Porter continued to serve the Eastern Educational Television Network, renamed the American Program Service in 1999, in many capacities: member of the executive committee, 1967-1968; executive director, 1969-1989; president and member of the executive committee, of the EEN from 1989 to 1992 and of the American Program Service from 1992 to 1998 .

During his career, Porter has also been active in associations dealing with educational and public television . He is a member of the New York State Educational Radio/Television Association, for which he served as treasurer from 1962 to 1964. In addition, he was also on the advisory committee of the National Association of Educational Broadcasters and has been a member and chairman of the Public Television Station Managers of New York State.

From the guide to the John S. Porter Papers, 1958-2000, nd, 1958-1969, (Mass Media and Culture)