With great admiration and statewide pride, the New Mexico Broadcasters Association is thrilled to announce that Franz Joachim, General Manager and CEO of New Mexico PBS, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Bill Anderson North Star in Broadcasting Award.
For more than 45 years, Franz has dedicated himself to the power of public media—from his early days as a high school AV nerd in Tucson to his leadership today as one of the nation’s most respected voices in public broadcasting. A tireless advocate for access, innovation, and integrity, Franz has shaped the future of broadcasting in New Mexico and beyond.
“I’ve had the honor and pleasure to work with Franz for a long time now and have always been inspired and impressed by his diplomacy and his ability to make what seems impossible—totally doable,” said Monica Armenta, Executive Director of the NMBA. “Franz is a local talent who never wasted a minute building better programming and opportunities for the people of our state.”
Franz began his professional journey at KUAT-TV, the PBS station at the University of Arizona. What began as a student production job quickly blossomed into a career spanning every corner of the television landscape—industrial, commercial, documentary, and studio work. He joined KNME (now NMPBS) in 1999 and quickly left his mark by launching automated on-air systems, pioneering digital workflows, and leading New Mexico into the HD broadcast era.
In 2013, Franz was named General Manager and CEO of NMPBS. Under his leadership, the station became the first in the state to launch ATSC 3.0 broadcasting, the first in the nation to secure an ATSC 3.0 translator license, and a national leader in datacasting for public safety and education. He was instrumental in developing PBS’s Service Interconnection Initiative (sIX), transforming satellite feeds into modern, file-based program transfers.
A commanding national presence, Franz has served as President of the Board of American Public Television Stations (APTS) and remains a vocal advocate on the PBS Board of Directors, representing New Mexico’s interests in Washington and championing the crucial role of public media in rural communities.
But perhaps what makes Franz most deserving of the Bill Anderson North Star Award is his unwavering dedication to mission-driven media and the people behind it. Known for his collaborative spirit and forward-thinking mindset, he has always put community and service at the heart of his work—whether advocating for federal funding, supporting local storytellers, or simply mentoring the next generation of public broadcasters.
As Michael Privett, Communications Manager at NMPBS, shared in his nomination:
“Franz embodies the same drive, vision, and passion for our business that Bill Anderson did. This award would not only honor his labors, but also celebrate the very spirit of public television—education, engagement, and excellence.”
Outside the control room, Franz is an accomplished underwater videographer, known for filming in the Andaman Sea, Sea of Cortez, and being chased by a jealous sea lion. He’s also a proud husband to Dr. Lorna Joachim, a field primatologist (ask her about the alligator), and father to Gabriel, a field ecologist working in the Netherlands. Of all his accomplishments, Franz says raising Gabe to help save the planet is his greatest achievement.
Franz will be formally honored at the NMBA Afternoon of Broadcast Celebration and Recognition, Friday, July 18, 2025.
