JOANNE CHURCH

Joanne Church was a researcher and executive who transformed public radio’s access to audience measurement.   Church became knowledgeable about radio station ratings and audience measurement while working with ratings firm Arbitron (now Nielsen) for a decade in the 1970’s.   She designed data systems and managed Production and Radio Market Reports while at Arbitron.   

In 1981, she co‑founded the Radio Research Consortium (RRC) with her husband Tom, with the mission of making audience ratings affordable and actionable for non‑commercial radio stations.   They brokered group access to Arbitron’s data for public radio non-commercial stations and led workshops teaching station managers and programmers how to interpret key metrics like Cume, AQH, and Share.  In 1986, with consultant Peter Dominowski and her husband, Tom, Joanne co-authored Audience Ratings: A Primer for Non-Commercial Stations, a crucial guide for public broadcasters.   

Joanne Church became RRC President in 2005, leading negotiations to secure renewed Arbitron data access in 2007, ensuring continued market intelligence for public radio. Her leadership earned her the PRRO Award from the Public Radio Regional Organizations in 2008.  Colleagues knew her as a “gentle but mightily informed presence.” Her advocacy gave non-commercial radio stations a credible voice while pursuing underwriting commitments and programming strategies. 

In 2025, Joanne Church received a Legends Induction into the Radio Hall of Fame.