Unlike some predecessors, Lansing doesn't face a particularly fraught political landscape. And were pleased to work with them. So those are the four pillars that rotate around the centerpiece, we call it the North Star, of our commitment to DEI. Age: 62, Born on July 31, 1957, in Minneapolis What makes you so open and vocal about the need for diversity? In an email to the staff on Friday, John Lansing, who joined the nonprofit as chief executive in September, projected that NPR would fall $12 million to $15 million short of the amount it had . So hes doubling down on lack of diversity, does that mean he wants his audience to reflect the other half of the country, the conservatives in flyover country? John Ten Eyck Lansing Jr. (January 30, 1754 - vanished December 12, 1829), a Founding Father of the United States, was an attorney, jurist, and politician. The last time NPR faced such stark choices, it was 2008. I'm sure that's true even today. While they do not broadcast within the U.S., the Voice of America and the other media outfits Lansing has overseen typically adhere to traditional concepts of factual, nonideological journalism, with the frequent exception of Radio Mart historically an anti-Castro and anti-Cuban communist outlet. Its a real business with real market dynamics.. Now, he says, it must drum up more creative income sources, like the licensing of the popular show How I Built This to Amazon's streaming services, which he says generates $8 million annually. And weve seen some significant success with that. Four years ago, Lansing was named by President Barack Obama to be the first chief executive of the broadcasting outfit that was renamed the U.S. Agency for Global Media. I have read and agree to the terms & conditions, Senior Vice President for Television in the broadcasting division of the E.W. Our third pillar is to optimize content and meet audiences where they are. The second pillar is to transform our workplace culture. It's not just what happened this week on the Hill, although that's important. Faces Of NPR showcases the people behind NPR--from the voices you hear every day on the radio to the ones who work outside of the recording studio. So sad to me. Scripps Company, Held senior management positions at Scripps-owned affiliates, including WEWS TV in Cleveland, Ohio and WXYZ TV in Detroit, Michigan, Early in his career Award-winning Photojournalist and Field Producer, Assignment Manager, Managing Editor, and News Director at several television stations. Government support for the public radio system isn't in any immediate jeopardy. "Management is about committing to strategy, making tough decisions.". And the pandemic hit six months later in March of '20. Its an inclusive process. The budget for the new fiscal year is set below last years actual based on our forecasts on continued downward pressure on corporate sponsorship. I subscribe to the notion of leadership as a servant leader, that the role of leaders is to support the team to do their best work. And its tied to the same variables you would know yourselves, which is, how fast can the vaccines be deployed? Lansing blamed a slowdown in advertising dollars. Yet Lansing also takes over an institution riven by a scandal that hit its top reaches, with a chief news executive toppled over #MeToo complaints of inappropriate conduct toward female subordinates and colleagues. US Media Propaganda. Drawing "Liberals" and "Leftists" into the CIA's And so that was the way I looked at the future for me. Lansing was most recently the CEO of USAGM, a $800 million dollar independent federal agency that operates on multiple platforms reaching an average weekly audience of 345 million in 61 languages. Lansing: SAG-AFTRA came out with their letter around our September board meeting in 2020. Mike Morgan/Mike Morgan When you first got to NPR, what did you think? "A really important strategic vector that we'll be talking about more within the company going forward is maximizing the value of the content wherever it can live and wherever the audience demands it," NPR Chief Operating Officer Will Lee says in an interview. The newsroom currently stands at just shy of 490 people, while programming has shot up to 230. In Mr. Mohns first full year on the job, NPR operated in the black after having run a deficit for five of the six preceding years. I think that's where we all wind up. NPR, the public radio giant that employs hundreds of journalists, is about to get a new chief executive. If we don't get this right, then our audience of the next 50 years will lack the diversity that would give it the ability to grow and thrive and prosper and even survive. How do you think that the North Star, the strategic initiative, is going? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Current is an editorially independent, nonprofit service of the American University School of Communication. But mostly its targeted at marketing investments on social media platforms that are specifically reaching out to younger and more diverse audiences to see if we can drive sampling. For July, NPRs 60 active shows among them Planet Money, Fresh Air and Wait Wait Dont Tell Me! were downloaded 141 million times and had nearly 21 million listeners in the United States, according to Podtrac. He has previously announced he would be staying on as president emeritus to help the network raise major gifts, and along with his wife, Pamela Mohn, he personally committed $10 million to the network. Doing that just requires that were putting more emphasis on the diversity of our decision makers, our leadership, our story selection, our source selection. Last year brought a host of challenges to NPR: a multimillion-dollar deficit, calls for changes in its workplace culture and a hit to broadcast listening. John Lansing , CEO of NPR NPR President John Lansing '09 is Bellarmine's 2021 commencement speaker, Honorary Degree recipient April 22, 2021 NPR P. CEO John Lansing cited the erosion. After becoming part of Warner Bros. The only route to a successful engagement on this issue is to deal with it, to talk about it, and to take action. Lansing: I guess I would comment just as a citizen watching from outside. Every time I hear it, I think that's a success by itself because we all have that as our guiding light. He was promoted to news photographer after two years, then moved on to managing editor, news director, and leadership of commercial television affiliates around the country. How has that effort been progressing? It might come from my journalistic roots, and I think other journalists would say the same thing, I deal [with] and honor the truth. NPR, the public radio and podcasting giant, has a new leader after years of growth and internal turmoil. John Lansing, the chief executive officer and director of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, will become NPR's CEO in mid-October. He guided the organization in becoming a leading developer of unique content across television, digital, mobile and radio platforms. Lansing is a veteran executive and journalist who has spent decades leading complex media companies in growing their relevance and reach, while strengthening their business operations. He is a member of the Quinnipiac University School of Communications Advisory Board and the National Board of Advisors of George Washington University's School of Media & Public Affairs. He joined NPR after serving as CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media. So Im pleased to see that that short era is over. And theyre all expected to articulate a DEI goal thats measurable, actionable, and that they can be held accountable for and will be. Current: Companies like Spotify and Amazon have been pouring big money into podcasting. Mr. Lansing rejected that accusation, saying that the agency was independent by law. Its something that we certainly support. And probably the most important accountability is that, first of all, I hold myself accountable with my goals that I report to the board. "The combination of his health issues plus the situation with Mike Oreskes did derail his plans.". Lansing, who is 62, is currently the chief executive of the government agency that oversees Voice of America, Radio and Television Mart and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, among others. Mike Morgan/Mike Morgan With a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and 17 international bureaus, NPR and its Member Stations are never far from where a story is unfolding. She really has helped us, and she's brought discipline to a process that in the past might have been people talking past each other a little bit and waiting for things to blow over. He is passionate about NPR's public service mission and the role of a free and independent media in a strong democracy. Current: Can you be more specific about what that looks like in terms of how you reach people who may not already know about NPRs podcasts? John Lansing, a media executive with government broadcast and cable television experience, has been named by NPR's board to succeed its current chief, Jarl Mohn who announced the plan to step down after his 5-Year term ended. Share Your Design Ideas, New JerseysMurphy Defends $10 Billion Rainy Day Fund as States Economy Slows, What Led to Europes Deadliest Train Crash in a Decade, This Week in Crypto: Ukraine War, Marathon Digital, FTX. Copyright 2023. Harvard Kennedy School. This time, Lansing says he is not confident the money will return anytime soon, so the network and its board have to plan more strategically. CEO John Lansing discusses NPRs diversity efforts, budget deficit and growing podcast competition. Were working with them to do joint investigative reporting. Fear drives their path. Current: Last year, the SAG-AFTRA union called out NPRs previous failures on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion and asked management to commit to accountability measures. When that happened, it energized us to really double down on understanding where our weak spots were, what we needed to work on. ", He continued: "Citizens in countries from Russia to China, from Iran to North Korea, have been victimized for decades. I just think that somebody's truth is the truth. Lansing: Everybodys at a different place with DEI depending on where they stand, whether thats a person who is white and doesnt understand how white privilege has improved their standing in their career in a way that persons of color may have not experienced. ", Lansing, formerly a top television executive for the E.W. From 2015 to 2019, Lansing served as the CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the independent federal agency whose programming reaches an average weekly audience of 345 million people in 62 languages. John Lansing, CEO, photographed for NPR, 22 January 2020, in Washington DC. I think there are interesting trends to follow and try to understand. Did you plan for this or did it kind of just happen? In a memo to. David Westin speaks with top names in finance about the week's biggest issues on Wall Street. Diversity is the North Star of a newly implemented strategic plan, Lansing said, because it filters through everything that we do with all of our work.. Lansing: We hope to have that completed within about eight to 10 weeks. It has become enshrined in our three-year strategic plan as the centerpiece of all of our work. John Lansing, president and CEO Chair of the NPR Foundation John McGinn Public members of the board Carlos Alvarez, CEO, The Gambrinus Company Fred Dust, designer, speaker, and consultant Paul G. Haaga Jr., retired, Capital Research and Management Company - Chairman of the NPR Board of Directors Being a changemaker is awesome, but can have its own challenges as you're just trying to improve your career. During that financial crisis, NPR shut down shows and laid off scores of people. Now with the magazine shows on weekdays were about 20% behind last year, which is a significant improvement over where we were about eight months ago. It all goes back to our mission: serving the American public, recognizing the American public is a diverse mosaic that makes America great and strong, and making sure that we're building systems and content that resonates with all Americans. First of all, as a white man, my first reaction is that it's important for white people in general to understand the inherent biases that we have, even when we think we don't, unconsciously. No. How cool is it to be at NPR? Current: Do you have any examples of how digital operations would be integrated into divisions throughout the organization? An open letter to NPR President John Lansing: Racial justice - Current In these comments, John Lansing slides by with a public swipe at the Trump And its where our focus needs to be right now. The roots of the VOA involved providing truthful reports to people under Nazi and Axis power rule during World War II. NPR Facebook Post with Comments. Its not a sidebar. I remember we had several all-staff discussions about a variety of issues that branched off of that, including the Code of Conduct, for example, as it relates to NPR employees at public demonstrations. Why did you undertake this? NPR will cut 10% of its workforce, CEO John Lansing said Wednesday. NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C. Trump has notably praised authoritarian figures, including the leaders of North Korea, the Philippines, Russia and Turkey and has waged his own fight against journalists. He promises NPR will build on its mission and values but adds, ""This will be a major loss." My story: npr.org NPR says it's cutting jobs by 10% as ad revenue drops But were going to continue to follow up on that going into this year. Prior to joining USAGM, he served for two years as the President and CEO of the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM), an organization that facilitates collaborative marketing initiatives for its members. So that would be mine. It really stretched me to understand that flexibility is a good thing. Then I moved on to manage TV stations and cable networks. Lansing is a veteran executive and journalist who has spent decades leading complex media companies in growing their relevance and reach, while strengthening their business operations. I just think we have a special and unique thing as a company. Lansing, 62, who is currently chief executive officer of the government agency that oversees Voice of America, Radio and Television Mart and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, among others . Lansing: I dont know how long that may or may not take, but our emphasis right now is on our own internal digital strategy, digital production, digital storytelling. NPR stands stronger than it did at the outset of Mohn's five-year term in 2014. The ratings for our weekend magazine shows are actually slightly greater than they were a year ago pre-pandemic, so thats a bright spot. Well, what we're doing right now, I think communication. Vox Media cut jobs by 7%; Gannett and Spotify by 6%. He will now lead the nation's top audio producer and broadcaster. What do you think are some characteristics of good leadership? John Lansing, CEO, photographed for NPR, 22 January 2020, in Washington DC. You hear me say fairly often it's not a thing that's going to end; it's really a new way of operating with an awareness of this weakness that we need to address and build upon and ensure that it lives on and continues to improve. NPR was seen to align itself with federal workers at VOA who essentially conducted an internal uprising on government time, while NPR made quite clear in its coverage where it stood. hide caption. I established DEI as our top priority on Jan. 5 of 2020. I thought, wow. We are different from other federal agencies, said Grant K. Turner, the agencys chief financial officer. So were now into the new fiscal year. Lansing blamed a slowdown in advertising dollars. A number of executives will report directly to Lansing, including Nancy Barnes, senior vice president for news and editorial director, who joined NPR last November and oversees the network's newsroom. NPR's search for a new CEO is finally over! 5 takeaways from the massive layoffs hitting Big Tech right now, the network announced $20 million in cuts, NPR to impose near-freeze on hiring but avoids layoffs as budget cuts loom, NPR chief news executive Nancy Barnes to depart as network reshapes top ranks, January is often a big month for layoffs. I think you have to be in front of your teams. Coming into public media, which I love, I noticed something that would be unusual in commercial media, in that there really wasnt a great investment in marketing podcasting to outside audiences off of our platforms. The ratings have tanked because all they talk about is race. That content executive position has not yet been filled; its creation led to the departure of then-NPR chief news executive Nancy Barnes. And I had a lot of interest in how my former team was being treated, but more importantly, just as an American citizen, how the work of USAGM through VOA [Voice of America] and RFE/RL [Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty] was threatening to undermine the interests of the United States government by politicizing journalism that was meant by law to be free of political interference. CEO John Lansing says ad revenue for podcasting shriveled even as general economy seems on mend. Did you know that one day you would become a CEO? Were finishing up in the next two to three weeks the specific lists of actions and activities under these pillars. To be a part of creating the future of such an important institution is humbling, exciting, and a distinct honor.". Lansing has won plaudits from journalists for his rousing defense of a free press even while serving in the Trump administration, which has been notably hostile to traditional notions of the role of journalism in civic life. Lansing previously held positions overseeing the Scripps Co.'s local television stations and then its national cable channels, which include the Food Network and HGTV, among others. Mohn led NPR through five consecutive years of audience growth and budget surplus. ", "I am thrilled to work with NPR's exceptional management team, staff and journalists," said Lansing. And the work goes on. Dear NPR President John Lansing, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for the powerful letter you wrote to NPR staff and the public about the horrific extrajudicial killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Its new president and chief executive is John Lansing, a former cable executive who for the last five years has run the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the federally funded organization behind broadcasters like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Applicants to this years fellowship see its cancellation as a setback for journalists of color who want to work in public radio. Lansing also spent almost 20 years working at Scripps, including eight years as President of Scripps Networks. John Lansing will begin his term as President and CEO of NPR in October, 2019. Scripps Company, where he managed the company's portfolio of ten broadcast television stations across the country. Lansing will begin his term at NPR in October and will succeed Jarl Mohn, who has been Chief Executive Officer and President since 2014. The Washington Post, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, eliminated its Sunday magazine and a handful of other jobs. Last fall, when announcing the earlier cuts, Lansing said the network would have to make tough choices - and to "do less with less." Scripps Co., says whenever an economic slowdown appears imminent, marketing budgets get slashed. And for those stations that were scheduled to have a reduction, we allowed those reductions to go forward with a floor of 3% so that nobodys dues went up. Current: You recently made some changes to NPRs digital strategy by moving to integrate digital operations into divisions throughout the organization.This also includes eliminating the role of chief digital officer held by Thomas Hjelm at the end of February. Current: Is there a timeline for that process? Instead, Whitney really helped us to buckle down with discipline, understand what's going on, and meet with women of color [in the organization], as we're doing tonight in our executive committee meeting, which we do regularly now. Way back when, I was a news cameraman. NPR will cut 10% of its workforce, CEO John Lansing said Wednesday. Lansing also elevated to chief strategy officer a former U.S. State Department staffer who recently pleaded guilty to having defrauded the U.S. Agency for Global Media out of more than $40,000 in government money in 2018, according to federal prosecutors. "What we've shown with podcasting is that we can take some of our core journalistic assets and we can create new formats and new programs around them and actually reach new audiences. As we moved through the summer, that deficit remained at about $25 million. August 20, 2022 August 20th is National Radio Day. Lansing says even that proved overly optimistic. Lansing has also put significant stock into what he calls the NPR Network, which calls for greater unity of coverage and digital initiatives, such as newsletters, streaming, podcasts and more. John Gibbs is an American far-right political commentator and politician. National Public Radio will reduce its workforce by 10 percent as it grapples with what CEO John Lansing says is a "sharp . "We were doing everything we could against the tide and couldn't keep clipping our costs as the revenue kept slipping," Lansing says. What we now call the North Star of our strategic plan is our DEI efforts as it filters through everything that we do with all of our work. NPR CEO Defends Journalist After Pompeo Lashes Out Over Ukraine Your email address will not be published. NPR Press Release. In 2017, Michael Oreskes, NPRs senior vice president for news, left after two women accused him of unwanted physical advances in the 1990s, when he was the Washington bureau chief of The New York Times. "I have been an avid fan of NPR for many years. He was previously head of cable TV company Scripps Networks, where he sold $10 million in stock after the company became the target of an SEC probe that was not known to the public. NPR's Incoming Chief Dumped $10M In Stock Amid SEC Probe While At Prior NPR Names John Lansing President And CEO : NPR - NPR.org It goes on to say that Mr. Lansing, 62, is currently the chief executive of the government agency, The U.S. Agency for Global Media, that oversees Voice of America, Radio and Television Marti, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, among others. The title of your piece, "Now Is A Time For Truth Telling, For Listening, And For Action," takes a bold stand in defending the urgent work of journalists during this . A new chief content officer will oversee NPR's news and programming divisions, which have frequently collaborated and almost as frequently clashed over resources and . I think you have to be willing to take hard questions. Courtesy of Allison Shelley for NPR. Current: How else might NPR assist stations in the coming year?

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