According to Nielsen data supplied by NPR, its programs and newscasts had an overall audience of 27.4 million in spring 2019. National Public Radio will reduce its workforce by 10 percent as it grapples with what CEO John Lansing says is a "sharp . In an interview, Lansing said he wants to build on NPR's successes in broadcast news and entertainment to become even more dominant in podcasting and more prevalent in streaming. 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. John Lansing - Quick Profile. 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. 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. Its my expectation that that will expand throughout the organization, so that everybody understands its everybodys job, and the accountability is going to be something that we measure and transparently report back out. In a large part, the digital teams and the divisions will work together to reach a final model. John Lansing is taking over for outgoing CEO. He made his mark in his current job with stirring defenses of journalism, free from government interference. Let's say, I was walking out of high school into college, I had no idea what I was going to do. John Lansing, CEO, photographed for NPR, 22 January 2020, in Washington DC. Disclosure: This story was reported by NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik under guidance from NPR chief business editor Pallavi Gogoi. Lansing: We hope to have that completed within about eight to 10 weeks. 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. It is our work our North Star and our work are the same thing. So Im pleased to see that that short era is over. Its new president and chief executive is John Lansing, a former cable . I think there's an awareness, like in the way you asked the question about 'our North Star.' NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C. First, we're a nonprofit. 2016 John Lansing leading a moderated a discussion with the members of the International Media Coordinating Council (ICC) about a unified strategy for the future. After Lansing hopped over to NPR from USAGM in 2019, NPR had to be prompted by outside critics to include disclaimers on its USAGM/VOA stories to note Lansings past USAGM role. Lansing: That was conducted back in September. It might come from my journalistic roots, and I think other journalists would say the same thing, I deal [with] and honor the truth. 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 . He defined NPRs mission as serving the public with information and an excellence and quality about it that makes it must see on a variety of platforms.. Mr. Lansing rejected that accusation, saying that the agency was independent by law. And probably the most important accountability is that, first of all, I hold myself accountable with my goals that I report to the board. Current: Companies like Spotify and Amazon have been pouring big money into podcasting. Because when you're all at work, you're all at work, and you go home to your individual situations. It's not just what happened this week on the Hill, although that's important. And I still think we have a long way to go. In recent remarks online, Johnson, who is Black, focused on a more competitive landscape for NPR journalists, including people of color. The networks fight for listeners time has become more feverish. In what ways do you think NPR has forced you to grow, and in what areas are you growing that you weren't before NPR? Theres no question about it. Current: When was the climate survey conducted? 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. But we made a firm commitment, as you know, to freeze station dues and fees. Lansing said he took pride in maintaining conventional broadcasts while appealing to new audiences, reaching about 25% more people each week. So its a constant commitment to communication, to training, to accountability. So I think thats being offset by some listening through smart speakers and even online, and thats helping to offset some of the reduction in listening within vehicles. administration regarding the now former managers of his former place of employment (USAGM) but claims the mantle of private citizen to do so. So we took that very, very seriously. 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. I think there are interesting trends to follow and try to understand. Lansing's previous experience includes nine years as President of Scripps Networks, where he is credited with guiding the company to become a leading developer of unique content across various media platforms including television, digital, mobile and publishing. Current: Is there a timeline for that process? Scripps Networks September 5, 2019; Washington, D.C. - The NPR Board of Directors announced today that it. Live from New York and London, analyzing the major market moving stories across the day in Europe, hear from the biggest newsmakers and showcase the unrivaled expertise of Bloomberg News. Scripps Networks Just be tuned into our folks. 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. You have shows like All Things Considered and Morning Edition, which will continue to be broadcasting tent poles, Mr. Lansing said. I would enjoy being on a podcast talking about politics. And so in late 2019 we began working on a set of priorities for the calendar year 2020 that included promoting Keith Woods to chief diversity officer; putting more energy behind our effort to have 100% sourcing and notating the diversity of our sources; and hiring, leadership, unconscious bias training, et cetera. Lansing will start in his new position in mid-October. Were still looking at a deficit, but were hopeful that by the time we get into March, well have a pretty clear-eyed view of how the year is going to end up. Lansing also spent almost 20 years working at Scripps, including eight years as President of Scripps Networks. It's not an extracurricular activity; it's fundamental to our business. Mr. Mohn was pressed about his leadership in a tense NPR interview and later apologized to employees for not taking action sooner. Its not a sidebar. When you first got to NPR, what did you think? The network's fight for listeners' time has become more feverish. Lansing, who is 62, is currently . 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. 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. Lansing started his news industry career at age 17 as a studio technician and cameraman at WPSD TV, Paducah, KY, where he was promoted to news photographer after two years. It was hard for everyone. It is our work. 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? My top goal is to support the women of color at NPR so that they feel like they have more upward mobility.. Apple is reportedly building a podcast subscription service. Put that pizza box in the trash. A review by the House Foreign Affairs Committee faulted the agency for insufficient oversight but noted that an internal task force was already having an impact. In an interview, Mr. Lansing called the ads a rogue incident and said it had been corrected. Lansing: Thats a great question. But here, Lansing basically jumps over those disclaimers using the lame attribution of private citizen.. NPR has also been the nations leading producer of podcasts, since Podtrac started measuring the audiences. Were working with them to do joint investigative reporting. While serving as chief operating officer, she took on a greater role during two of Mohn's medical leaves and in the aftermath of the sexual harassment scandal. How do you think that the North Star, the strategic initiative, is going? Ever since I've started, I've noticed that you've been very vocal about the need for diversity. 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. Ever since you started, you've been very vocal about it. This is essentially the DEI work writ large, but also our culture of respect, safety, upward mobility, training and making NPR a world-class organization for which to work. And I would do a board-level review for the donor or donors as to where the business was, the value of the work we were doing, the things we were adding in terms of covering the pandemic. 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 . The second pillar is to transform our workplace culture. "I want to hear the ideas that are bubbling underneath right now and what people are excited about, what they're looking forward to developing," Lansing said Thursday. Did you plan for this or did it kind of just happen? Oh wait. You'll find out about what they do and what they're inspired by on the daily. Unlike some predecessors, Lansing doesnt face a particularly fraught political landscape. "Jarl would be the first to say that it is the area where he feels that his work was not complete," Sheikholeslami said. But it was not from a standing start. He joined NPR after serving as CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media. But we felt like it was an important investment to make in our member stations to support them during the pandemic. Mayor is said to be staying on at the network as a top executive and deputy to Lansing, retaining the enhanced portfolio she took on after Mohn's health crises. Unlike some predecessors, Lansing doesn't face a particularly fraught political landscape. Current: How much were those anonymous gifts? John F. Lansing joined USAGM as CEO and Director in September 2015. Your email address will not be published. But thats our commitment. As I said, its hiring, its emphasis on diversity in leadership, diversity in sources, diversity in voices, diversity in the stories we tell, training around our organization. He guided the organization in becoming a leading developer of unique content across television, digital, mobile and radio platforms. Your email address will not be published. John Gibbs is an American far-right political commentator and politician. So if you have leaders talking about DEI as a priority, well, then, show me. I am still morning the loss of an objective NPR. Current: NPR has helped stations during the pandemic by delaying planned changes to the dues they pay. I just think we have a special and unique thing as a company. So sad to me. Essentially, the success of the company falls in your hands. "He is a listener and a collaborative leader with a passion for our public service journalistic mission who will help us continue to expand the audience for our storytelling. Lansing has earned an advanced degree in political agility. It was a reckoning for all of us together collectively at NPR. He is credited with restoring morale, in part by naming a noted journalist as head of the Voice of America: Amanda Bennett is a former top news executive at the Philadelphia Inquirer who previously held senior newsroom jobs at Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal. Lansing: Were still working on it right now. Mohn fired head of news Michael Oreskes on Halloween 2017. NPR has a new CEO. Jarl would be the first to say that it is the area where he feels that his work was not complete, Sheikholeslami said. Fear drives their path. So at the end of the day, its a commitment, but this also has to be accountability. Michael was a senior marketing executive at Scripps for Food Network and HGTV and really brings a lot of media marketing expertise. In these comments, John Lansing slides by with a public swipe at the Trump Current: What challenges have you faced in implementing your DEI plans? As President, he held strategic and operational oversight of Scripps Networks Digital division and Scripps Networks Interactive, which includes six cable networks: Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, DIY, Cooking Channel and Great American Country. NPR Start Date: Mid October, 2020 It has become enshrined in our three-year strategic plan as the centerpiece of all of our work. That was due largely to reductions in corporate sponsorship and also additional expenses we were incurring in supporting our employees with paid time off, as we adjusted to the new working arrangements and the stresses that we were all under and also the additional expense of cleaning the headquarters multiple times a day on certain occasions. 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. hide caption. 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. NPRs search for a new CEO is finally over! We still remain one of the top, if not the top, podcasters in America. So it's kind of inseparable, that coming in as CEO of NPR, and then six months in having the coronavirus, followed by a major economic downturn in the country and for NPR, and then the reckoning that summer. 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. And were pleased to work with them. Lansing: About 11 months ago, in February, a pilot group of 15 stations got together and put together an 18-month plan to begin the process. He soon made DEI the top priority at NPR. Well, I like NPR Politics a lot. hide caption. Were certainly not over, were not at a finish line. Current: What are some of the highlights of that strategic plan? ", "I am thrilled to work with NPR's exceptional management team, staff and journalists," said Lansing. You can't escape that. Not exactly. Mohn led NPR through five consecutive years of audience growth and budget surplus. We are different from other federal agencies, said Grant K. Turner, the agencys chief financial officer. And the pandemic hit six months later in March of '20. 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. Others have waded into the podcast fray with a vengeance. NPRs president of operations, Loren Mayor, was the leading internal candidate for the chief executive position. Mr. Lansing, who began his career as a teenage cameraman at a television station in Kentucky, spent two decades at Scripps Networks. John Lansing, a veteran government broadcast and cable television executive, has been selected by NPRs corporate board to succeed its current chief, Jarl Mohn. June 1, 20203:52 PM ET. 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. They lost their objectivity and are now just pushing leftist ideology. That survey happened in the fall of 2020. John Lansing will begin his term as President and CEO of NPR in October, 2019. Its an inclusive process. 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. Selected by the NPR board of directors, Lansing will start in October, succeeding outgoing head Jarl Mohn, Current: Did anything else stand out to you in that survey that you believe needed attention and needs attention? All rights reserved. You go to college and all the sudden you're like 'wait a minute, I've got to do something when this is over.' 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. The network had run deficits in six of the seven previous years; under Mohn, it has achieved a slight surplus for each year during his tenure, even as the annual budget grew by more than 40%. I think leaders are accountable for walking the walk, for doing what they say they're going to do. Doing that just requires that were putting more emphasis on the diversity of our decision makers, our leadership, our story selection, our source selection. Courtesy of Allison Shelley for NPR. "When I think of NPR and I think of the member stations collectively, I think really of journalism as a public service, not tied to a profit motive," Lansing told NPR News. Mohn fired head of news Michael Oreskes on Halloween 2017. U.S. Agency for Global Media Well, I'm fortunate that we have a terrific executive committee and leadership team, so we all share the daily ins and outs of managing a big organization. I have a negative reaction to what is fundamentally unfair in life, whether it be pay equity, promotions and advancement, training and hiring, or making sure leadership represents people of color and our staff. The agency has an annual budget of $808 million. And the work goes on. Under standard procedures for reporting on NPR matters, NPR's corporate and news executives were not allowed to review the report until it was posted. I'm from Minneapolis, and my parents are buried about six blocks from where George Floyd was killed. NPR's John Lansing Discusses the Importance of Integrity in Journalism By Nicole Jones - October 30, 2020 0 463 NPR National President and CEO John Lansing joined the Belmont community for a conversation about integrity in journalism, highlighting its importance especially during an election year. 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. Six blocks from where George Floyd was killed unique content across television, digital, mobile and platforms. Today that it is our work are the same thing a vengeance the agencys chief financial officer its new and! Individual situations that completed within about eight to 10 weeks but we made a firm commitment, but this has., which will continue to be accountability 've been very vocal about it including eight years as president Scripps. 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