Texas Public Radio will focus on San Antonio’s $10 billion technology industry with the re-assignment of award-winning writer/reporter/producer Paul Flahive, who most recently served as producer for the daily talk show, “The Source.”
"In searching for a savvy, exceptional technology reporter we found the best candidate among our own TPR staff,” said Shelley Kofler, TPR news director. “Paul Flahive has demonstrated an outstanding knowledge of the community in his role as producer for “The Source.” Paul’s contacts and insight will enable TPR to tell new stories about our region’s emerging technology sector and the innovative people who are changing the way we live."
Well-known in South Texas for his work on “The Source” and as developer of the popular live storytelling program “Worth Repeating,” Flahive has worked as a writer, reporter and producer throughout the U.S. Midwest and South and in Alaska. He has reported, hosted and produced segments for TPR, NPR's “Only A Game,” and WNYC's “The Takeaway,” the Anchorage Daily News, and Iowa Public Radio.
Flahive’s awards include 2015 Houston Press Club “Lone Star Awards” for Best Public Affairs segment for “The Changing Dynamic between Police and Mentally Ill” and Best Talk Program for “Will New Mayor Mean New Priorities?”
"San Antonio is at an exciting intersection, and it will be fascinating to document this pivotal time in this industry's history," Flahive said. "While technology represents a small fraction of the city's industrial output currently, things like the technology district, the interest from the city and county in supporting tech, the positioning of university and other organizations and the ‘all hands on deck’ approach the community has taken to spur the development of this area make it an exciting time to be on this beat."
The vast and varied technology industry is represented by information technology and internet-related companies. San Antonio’s cyber-security sector now ranks second in the nation for information assurance, trailing only Washington, D.C. San Antonio also takes second position for concentration of data centers in the nation with more than 80 companies specializing in defense technology.
From creating jobs to triggering economic growth and generating local revenue, startups make a valuable contribution to San Antonio and area communities. Homegrown, entrepreneurial spirit is credited for the birth of Rackspace, Karta Technologies (now NCI), and NewTek. And start-up stars like Trueability, TruckingOffice.com, HelpSocial, Group 42, Code Up, and Seat Smart incubated their new technologies in collaborative, co-working idea centers such as Geekdom.
Funding for this position is provided by the 80/20 Foundation, Group 42, Denim Group, UTSA Center for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship, Dirk and Annie Elmendorf, Rackspace, Giles-Parscale, SecureLogix, Conceptual Mindworks, Venture Lab and others.
