WHYY President and CEO Bill Marazzo

Register now for a spirited discussion on Friday, March 21 with WHYY President and CEO Bill Marazzo about public broadcasting, digital media, and the challenges and opportunities that news media face in the Philadelphia region and beyond.

Under Bill's leadership since 1997, WHYY has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted sources of news and information in the nation's fifth-largest broadcast media market, which covers southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and all of Delaware.

WHYY is the region’s leading PBS/NPR affiliate and operates WHYY-FM 90.9, three digital TV channels including a 24/7 PBS Kids channel, whyy.org, and digital content distribution platforms Billy Penn and PlanPhilly. WHYY-FM produces Fresh Air with Terry Gross, The Pulse, The Connection, and Studio 2. Its Digital Studio produces podcasts including Half Vaxxed, Schooled, The Statue, AI Nation, among others. As of 2022, WHYY reported 537,000 television viewers and 482,000 radio listeners per week.

During his tenure, Bill has overseen growth in cultural arts programming, tripling of the WHYY newsroom staff, and increasing financial support from households, corporations, and foundations that has positioned it as one of the most financially stable non-commercial media enterprises in the nation.

Before joining WHYY, Bill served as President and CEO of the environmental engineering company Roy F. Weston Inc., which developed one of the earliest multi-disciplinary practices supporting sustainability planning. For his work, he was named The Wall Street Transcript’s Most Outstanding CEO in the waste management sector. Prior to Roy F. Weston Inc., Bill served as Water Commissioner at the City of Philadelphia Water Department from 1971 to 1988, where his work resulted among other things in a massive regional capital program to restore the region’s waterways to a fishable and swimmable status. He also served as Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia in 1983-84.

With a lifelong commitment to civic affairs, Bill has served as chairman of the board of directors for the Friends of Independence National Historical Park and The Fund for the Fairmount Water Works. He also has served on various corporate boards. Bill earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at the University of Delaware and completed graduate course work for a master’s in chemical engineering at Villanova University. He and his wife Randi have two adult children, who also live with their families in Philadelphia.

Payment options: After selecting member or non-member ticket, you will be able to choose pay by check, credit card, or at the door. Please remember your choice.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks, 1 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, United States