John Lansing (journalist)

John Lansing
Lansing in 2016
BornJuly 31, 1957
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedAugust 14, 2024(2024-08-14) (aged 67)
Eagle River, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma materBellarmine University

John Francis Lansing (July 31, 1957 – August 14, 2024)[1] was an American journalist and broadcaster. He served as president of the Scripps Networks from 2005 to 2013,[2][3] the chief of U.S. Agency for Global Media from 2015 to 2019, and the CEO of NPR from 2019 to February 2024.[2]

Career

Lansing became interested in working in news from a young age.[4] He began work in radio and TV in 1975, at age 17, two days after his high school graduation, when he was hired as a technician and camera operator for WPSD-TV in Paducah, Kentucky.[2][5][6] He later was promoted to videographer,[2] and continued to work for the station through 1979.[7] He went on to work for NBC-affiliate WAVE-TV, in Louisville, Kentucky as a news photographer. While working in Louisville, Lansing attended night classes at Bellarmine University; he left the school two semesters before graduating after being hired at WWMT-TV in Grand Rapids.[6][8]

In 1988, Lansing became assistant news director at KARE-TV in Minneapolis; he became news director of WCCO-TV, also in Minneapolis, in 1990. While at WCCO, Lansing was noted for his "family sensitive" approach to news reporting, in contrast to more popular sensationalist reporting. During coverage of the 1991 Halloween blizzard, Lansing set up phone interviews with police and with reporters who were unable to come to the station.[8]

In late 1994, Lansing moved to Chicago to work as news director at WBBM-TV. While there, he focused on local and regional news. In August 1995, Lansing moved to WXYZ-TV in Detroit to work as vice president and station manager. In 1995, he took the same position at WEWS-TV in Cleveland, Ohio.[6][8]

He served as president of the Scripps Networks from 2005 to 2013.[2][3] While working for Scripps, he returned to Bellarmine University; he graduated in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in communications.[6] He also served as the president and CEO of the Cable and Telecommunications Association for Marketing.[9] Although Lansing retired in 2013, he left retirement in August 2015 when he was named CEO of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (later renamed the U.S. Agency for Global Media).[10][11]

Lansing became CEO of NPR in October 2019, succeeding Jarl Mohn.[9][12] During his tenure at NPR, Lansing focused on "the need to diversify the staff, its programming, its story selection and its audiences to better reflect American life". He also dealt with leading the organization during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and creating the infrastructure for employees to work and broadcast entirely from home.[2] He announced his retirement from NPR in September 2023.[13][14]

In May 2021, Lansing was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame.[15] In March 2024, Lansing joined the USC Annenberg Washington Center as a senior Fellow.[16]

Personal life and death

Lansing was from Minneapolis, Minnesota.[4] He was married to Jean, with whom he had four children.[2][6] In March 2021, he underwent heart surgery which replaced one heart valve and part of the aorta.[2]

Lansing died at his home in Wisconsin on August 14, 2024, at the age of 67.[2][6]

References

  1. ^ Schudel, Matt (August 20, 2024). "John Lansing, broadcast executive who led NPR, dies at 67". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Folkenflik, David (August 16, 2024). "John Lansing, the steady CEO who led NPR through the pandemic's crises, dies at 67". NPR. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "NPR Chief John Lansing Has 'No Regrets' About Pulling Network Off Twitter". Insideradio.com. December 28, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Hill, Sommer (April 4, 2022). "Faces of NPR: John Lansing". NPR.
  5. ^ Folkenflik, David (September 6, 2023). "NPR CEO John Lansing will leave in December, capping a tumultuous year". NPR.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Martin, Ed (February 27, 2020). "Lunch at Michael's with NPR CEO John Lansing". MediaVillage. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  7. ^ York, Dalton (September 6, 2019). "Incoming NPR CEO Began Career As TV Cameraman In West Kentucky". WKMS. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Harrington, Adam (August 16, 2024). "John Lansing, former CBS Chicago and Minnesota news director and NPR CEO, dies at 67". CBS Chicago. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Folkenflik, David (September 5, 2019). "NPR Names Veteran Media Executive John Lansing As Its New CEO". NPR. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  10. ^ Nixon, Ron (August 17, 2015). "John Lansing Named as New Chief of Broadcasting Board of Governors". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  11. ^ "John Lansing says no Trump meddling in Voice of America". Knoxville News Sentinel. February 11, 2017. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Sisario, Ben (September 6, 2019). "NPR Selects Voice of America Boss as Its New Leader". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  13. ^ Robertson, Katie (September 5, 2023). "NPR C.E.O. to Retire at Year's End". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  14. ^ Reilly, Liam (September 5, 2023). "John Lansing, NPR's president and chief executive, announces he will retire". CNN. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  15. ^ Bonifer, Duane (April 8, 2021). "10 to be Inducted Into Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame May 4". UKNow. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  16. ^ Powell, Adam Clayton III. "John Lansing to join USC Annenberg as Senior Fellow". NPR. Archived from the original on August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.