Pandemic has Deb Acklin focused on what matters
Deb Acklin is CEO and president of WQED Multimedia. She grew up in Highland Park and worked for WQED before moving to Washington, D. C. She came back in 2003 and was named CEO in 2010. Like everyone else, she is currently practicing social distancing at home. She quarantined at a friend’s cabin in Parker, Pa., in March during the initial lockdown.
What did you do to keep your spirits up during the pandemic?
Cooking and baking. It’s a great way to be creative, and to make the most of my pantry and freezer staples. I’m a decent cook ( most of the time), and I don’t think I’ve made the same dish twice during the quarantine. But I’m thinking about a repeat. I’m trying — and failing — to get a sourdough starter established. Take two! Fingers crossed.
Where do you go when things get tough?
When things get tough, I think back to an even tougher time in my life and remember that this too shall pass. I’m a recent widow.
When did you realize you could make a difference?
When I first met Fred Rogers, he instantly made a difference in me. Fred and I met on a television set in Hollywood. He was mobbed by reporters asking the usual questions, but when he and I started to talk, he told me a story from his heart, and he started to cry — on camera. It was like a lightning bolt to my soul. Don’t be afraid to be fully yourself.
What did you learn about yourself during this very stressful time?
A lot! I’m a thinker and an empathetic philosopher. So, having so much relatively quiet “alone time” has been a gift, mostly. I’ve been thinking about the stress of unnecessary busyness, the pace of life and work/ life balance, which seems to be gone forever. I used to zip around from meeting to meeting, and now I can only travel in my head. It has freed up space and time for more good things and good people to reveal themselves.
One continuous lesson I learn and relearn is that life truly is too short. Whatever it is you dream of doing, do it now. The cliches we use to describe our lives are mostly true! And COVID- 19 revealed — again — how fragile and fleeting and precious it all is. So I try to focus on loving deeply and keeping joy in my life.
Why do you think WQED has been so successful?
WQED’s 66 years of work in education. We are Pittsburgh’s education station — a “school of the air” — especially right now. Our audiences feel like they’re being entertained ( and they are), but they’re also learning something along the way. It comes right to your home and devices, and it’s all free.
This tragic crisis has accelerated the pace of change. WQED’s legacy strength in education and on- demand multimedia, which we’ve doubled down on over the last 10 years, is suddenly urgently relevant and critically needed. It’s gratifying to discover how we can serve this wonderful community in seemingly new ways. After all, we’ve been innovating on our education mission since 1954, so don’t worry, we’ve got this!