×

Nothing but Static? Antolini out at West Virginia Public Broadcasting

The Educational Broadcasting Authority accepted the resignation of West Virginia Public Broadcasting Executive Director Butch Antolini (pictured right) in an emergency meeting Monday. (File Photo)

CHARLESTON — Butch Antolini, the executive director of Public Broadcasting, is out after a tumultuous several months.

The West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority, the state board that oversees West Virginia Public Broadcasting, accepted Antolini’s resignation in an emergency meeting Monday afternoon held virtually.

After a brief executive session, the EBA unanimously accepted the resignation. Antolini formally tendered his resignation effective immediately in a letter to the EBA dated Friday, Aug. 11. The EBA appointed Eddie Isom, the chief operating officer and director of programming, as the interim executive director of WVPB.

“Our executive director, Carl ‘Butch’ Antolini, tendered his resignation Friday afternoon,” said EBA Chairman Bill File. “His resignation letter made it effective immediately, which would have been approximately 4 p.m. on Friday.”

A request for the resignation letter was made following Monday’s meeting, but approval to release the letter by the EBA was being sought by staff. A Freedom of Information Act request was also filed Monday. Contact information for Antolini was not available.

The EBA hired Antolini as interim executive director of West Virginia Public Broadcasting in October 2021. He replaced Chuck Roberts as WVPB executive director after the EBA fired Roberts that same month. Antolini was officially made CEO and executive director in May 2023.

Antolini — a former newspaper editor and publisher — was communications director for Gov. Jim Justice for most of Justice’s first term beginning in 2017. Jordan Damron later took over the role and duties of communications director for the Governor’s Office.

Antolini worked behind-the-scenes between 2018 and 2021 for the Executive Branch Communications Hub at the Department of Commerce’s headquarters. He left that role in March 2021. Antolini also served as communications director for former agricultural commissioner Walt Helmick from 2013 to 2017.

Antolini came under scrutiny in December 2022 after former West Virginia Public Broadcasting reporter Amelia Knisely was let go following reporting on issues within the state Department of Health and Human Resources. Knisely claimed that WVPB allegedly told her she could no longer cover DHHR due to pressure from former DHHR Cabinet Secretary Bill Crouch. Knisely filed a complaint with WVPB human resources Dec. 15 over the alleged interference.

Antolini and the EBA denied that Knisely was fired or that DHHR had pressured WVPA regarding stories critical of the department’s management of state-owned psychiatrist hospitals. Both claimed that Knisely, as a part-time reporter, was a temporary employee and when WVPA hired a full-time health reporter, there was no more work to assign to Knisely.

Emails last December showed that WVPB news staff had intended to assign Knisely legislative coverage assignments until upper management stepped in following her human resources complaint. The story of Knisely’s dismissal went viral, including coverage by National Public Radio and a fiery rebuke from state Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley.

Since then, Suzanne Higgins, a longtime executive producer at WVPB, and Roxy Todd, a reporter and producer for WVPB’S Inside Appalachia, have left. In March, the EBA held an emergency meeting that went into executive session. Authority members met with Antolini behind closed doors to discuss Knisely and other personnel issues during his tenure, but no actions were taken at the time.

According to sources, the Commission on Special Investigations has been looking into WVPB and Antolini, though it can neither confirm nor deny active investigations. The Commission on Special Investigation is a legislative commission that investigates public corruption and malfeasance. The commission then refers matters to law enforcement officials for further action.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting consists of three TV stations and 12 FM radio stations, as well as multiple digital channels available on most cable networks. WVPB has been a mainstay in the state for more than 50 years. According to WVPB’s 2021 annual report, 35% of its funding came from the state’s general revenue budget, while 21% of its funding came from fundraising and 26% came from foundations.

Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today