MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

AUSTIN, TX

Since the Kneeland Project’s inception in 1998, Michael Schneider has been involved as a member and officer on The Kneeland Project’s board of directors. He is Vice President for Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB). Michael graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in Radio-Television-Film and a minor in Political Science. He began his broadcast career as an assignments editor and associate producer for Houston’s KTRK-TV in 1980. Michael says, “Carole Kneeland was a role model, competitor and friend. I grew up listening to Carole on KAUM-FM and watched Carole report on KPRC-TV, her first TV job. A decade later I worked for a Texas governor and was on the receiving end of Carole’s microphone while she worked the Capitol beat for WFAA-TV.”

“In the 1990s, I was Carole’s cross-town competitor,” he continued, “but I counted her as my friend. We could always share a laugh together and commiserate the ‘joys’ of newsroom management. It wasn’t until I joined the Texas Association of Broadcasters that she and I worked ‘on the same team.’ Carole and I led TAB’s open government lobbying effort during the 75th Texas Legislature. We tracked nearly 500 bills (out of 5500) with potential newsroom impact. We spent hours waiting in committee hearings and testifying. With her help, we were able to implement much-needed reforms to the Texas Public Information Act.”

Prior to joining TAB, Michael was news director and assistant news director at Austin’s KTBC. He served the newsrooms of KTBC and Austin’s KEYE as assignments manager. During 1986-1990 he worked in public relations for the State Preservation Board, the agency responsible for the restoration of the Texas State Capitol. He also served as assistant press secretary to Governor Mark White.