It’s easy to feel the affection that Diane Medley and Prewitt Lane have for their native state, from the panoramic views of the Ohio River from their Louisville home to the works of Kentucky artists that grace their walls. Their civic and philanthropic activities in the Commonwealth span education, public policy, land conservation and the arts. And they turn to KET to feed their interests in current events and the state’s history and attractions.

I think KET’s probably the best way to learn about Kentucky.

Diane Medley

“There are lots of shows on about the parks, about restaurants or an interesting story about a place, even if it’s not a famous place, [that] is fun to go visit,” says Medley. “So, I think KET’s probably the best way to learn about Kentucky.”

Medley is a CPA who co-founded one of the region’s leading accounting firms and is a former chair of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. She grew up in Meade County watching early KET science and outdoors programs. Lane, a chartered financial analyst who serves as a trustee of the Kentucky Retirement System, proudly notes he’s visited all 120 counties. The Mount Sterling native says his interest in finance and economics made him a fan of the old Wall Street Week with Louis Rukeyser. Today, they follow several British dramas, as well as Antiques Roadshow, but they especially appreciate KET’s public affairs coverage, which they describe as timely and informative.

“We really enjoy the shows that Renee Shaw does,” says Medley. “We really enjoy the balance that she brings to the news and interviews that she does with various people.”

“We’ve gotten into a media-driven world where it’s almost impossible to tell fact from fiction from someone’s own opinions. And that’s not what KET does,” says Lane. “KET and PBS are there not with their viewpoint, but with what’s happening.”

The couple served as honorary chairs of KET’s February Fanfare gala this year, helping to raise funds for the network’s programs and services. Given their shared backgrounds in accounting and finance, Medley says they seek to support forward-looking organizations like KET that are well run, have a wide reach and advance the greater good.

“I believe that KET is one of the best ways to stay informed, to learn, to have entertainment in a very efficient and cost-effective way,” she says. “KET is super important for this state, and we want to make sure it continues its mission.”