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. NPR has tapped longtime media executive John Lansing to become its next president and CEO. 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. 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. Lansing 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. But an example of that one that weve already created is the Consider This podcast, which is just a terrific example of taking the national-local partnership into the on-demand future. (Former long time member). The varied broadcasters also offered jazz and other music to appeal to people under communist regimes using a soft form of diplomacy. Just be tuned into our folks. NPR Names Veteran Media Executive John Lansing As Its New CEO Reliable Sources: NPR names new chief executive | CNN Business Will there be another stimulus? So its a constant commitment to communication, to training, to accountability. Its something that we certainly support. So its an ongoing effort. NPR, the public radio and podcasting giant, has a new leader after years of growth and internal turmoil. NPR, the public radio giant that employs hundreds of journalists, is about to get a new chief executive. People, given the opportunity, will do the right thing in a way that hopefully makes them want to be here for a long time. administration regarding the now former managers of his former place of employment (USAGM) but claims the mantle of private citizen to do so. Current: You came to NPR after serving as CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media. The only route to a successful engagement on this issue is to deal with it, to talk about it, and to take action. John Gibbs is an American far-right political commentator and politician. NPR undertook a strategic reorganization last fall, reinstating the position of a chief content officer overseeing both the newsroom and the programming division. 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. He made his mark in his current job with stirring defenses of journalism, free from government interference. Weve seen a gradual comeback. John Lansing '09, former Scripps executive, is new CEO of NPR The other is the fight for donors. And now in our budgeting were shifting some revenue for Michael to use that to promote and support our podcasts as they compete, as you note, with other large commercial businesses. NPR will cut 10% of its workforce, CEO John Lansing said Wednesday. Lansing is a media executive with a deep understanding of journalism, having spent two decades as an award-winning journalist, successful newsroom leader and major market local media executive before becoming a global chief executive officer. I'd say if there's anything that I focused on, and still am focused on during the pandemic, it is to make sure that whatever the situation is, we are supporting staff to do their best work, supporting them when they're having other challenges and making sure that we're attentive and tuned in to employees that need help, that need a break, that need to be heard, whatever that may be. 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. I established DEI as our top priority on Jan. 5 of 2020. In May 2020, four NPR female hosts of color Garcia-Navarro, King, All Things Considered host Ailsa Chang and Weekend All Things Considered host Michel Martin sent a letter to Lansing . And the fourth one is to diversify and grow our revenue models so that were not overly reliant on one or two revenue streams to help strengthen our future financials. It puts a filter on that helps us explain even unpopular decisions, how they link to our mission. CEO John Lansing says ad revenue for podcasting shriveled even as general economy seems on mend. Discovery, CNN cut hundreds of jobs and killed off its brand-new streaming service, CNN+. It's not an extracurricular activity; it's fundamental to our business. Current: With broadcast listening declining during the pandemic, what is NPR doing to address and adjust to those trends? It really stretched me to understand that flexibility is a good thing. There are over 1000 NPR Member Station signals broadcasting across the United States How cool is it to be at NPR? Mohn fired head of news Michael Oreskes on Halloween 2017. So we were pleased to see SAG-AFTRA join our efforts. Weve seen significant growth in Code Switch, in Louder Than a Riot, in Sam Sanders podcast [Its Been a Minute], in part because for the first time in a while, were really investing in marketing support for those podcasts. Lansing blamed a slowdown in advertising dollars. Doing that just requires that were putting more emphasis on the diversity of our decision makers, our leadership, our story selection, our source selection. Its a real business with real market dynamics.. I am still morning the loss of an objective NPR. Selected by the NPR board of directors, Lansing will start in October, succeeding outgoing head Jarl Mohn, Sometimes you have to hear other people's truth and accept it for what it is, not translate it into your truth, therefore it's no longer what it is. I think there's an awareness, like in the way you asked the question about 'our North Star.' Last year, the network booked $134 million in such corporate underwriting, a record built on strong growth in podcasting revenue in recent years. And my top goal is to support, in particular, the women of color at NPR so that they feel like they have more upward mobility. CEO John Lansing cited the erosion of advertising dollars, particularly for NPR podcasts, and the tough financial outlook for the media industry more generally. It was a reckoning for all of us together collectively at NPR. 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. Disclosure: This story was reported by NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik under guidance from NPR chief business editor Pallavi Gogoi. And some stations who had a schedule to go down actually were allowed to go down. Were finishing up in the next two to three weeks the specific lists of actions and activities under these pillars. ", "It's always difficult in these situations, and I don't want to minimize the impact that it will have on our colleagues and in some cases, you know, our ability to do what we do," Lee says. And what a breath of fresh air Whitney brings into the organization. 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. LANSING, John, Jr., (Uncle of Gerrit Yates Lansing), a Delegate from New York; born in Albany, N.Y., January 30, 1754; studied law in Albany and in New York City; was admitted to the bar in 1775; secretary to General Schuyler 1776 and 1777; engaged in the practice of law in Albany in 1778; member of the State assembly 1781-1784, 1786, and 1789, and served as speaker in 1786 and 1789; Member of . "Bloomberg Opinion" columnists offer their opinions on issues in the news. He guided the organization in becoming a leading developer of unique content across television, digital, mobile and radio platforms. NPR plans to lay off about 10% of its current staff due to the soft ad market and a drop in revenue from corporate sponsors, as well as uncertainties in the global economy overall. He joined NPR after serving as CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media. It is our work. Since then,. "Nothing is nailed down yet except the principles and what we know we have to reach.". For the year that ended last September, NPR reported $241 million in expenses. 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? NPR has a new CEO. It is our work our North Star and our work are the same thing. 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. And as the year unfolded, we began to develop our three-year strategic plan. Harvard Kennedy School. "This will be a major loss.". promoting Keith Woods to chief diversity officer, regional newsrooms in Texas and California and the Midwest and in the Gulf, I brought in Michael Smith as our new chief marketing officer, looking to sell the Pocket Casts podcast app, Suspension of NPRs Kroc fellowships disrupts talent development, career plans of student journalists. Were certainly not over, were not at a finish line. Were they targeted to specific spending areas or just for general costs? NPR CEO Jarl Mohn To Step Down After 5-Year Term Ends In June, Tensions Build In NPR Newsroom Over Handling Of Sexual Harassment Allegations, NPR Announces Newsroom Job Cuts Amid Restructuring. We saw a lot of companies react to the [murder of] George Floyd and we did too. 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. We still remain one of the top, if not the top, podcasters in America. Lansing said in an interview with Current Thursday that one of his first observations upon joining NPR was that we needed to double down our efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion. John Lansing Email & Phone Number - National Pu.. | ZoomInfo At the U.S. Agency for Global Media, Lansing championed a free press even as leaders of many nations move against it. The last time NPR faced such stark choices, it was 2008. Yet Mr. Mohns tenure was also marked by a sexual harassment scandal involving a senior news executive whom he had hired and a labor clash with hundreds of union workers. NPR's chief executive announced the network would lay off roughly 10% of its current workforce at least 100 people and eliminate most vacant positions. We can share resources and story ideas, and we can help organize and support those efforts. LANSING, John, Jr. | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives So at the end of the day, its a commitment, but this also has to be accountability. 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. This is an edited transcript of the conversation among Lansing, Current Reporter Tyler Falk and Digital Editor Mike Janssen. "The result, I believe, is a war on truth. hide caption. At the center of a graphic is our commitment to DEI, and all of our work in that circle is surrounded by four pillars. 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. What advice would you give to young journalists of color when navigating these white spaces, but attempting to make a change? Current: How much were those anonymous gifts? I had been gone for the better part of a year or so. 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. It might come from my journalistic roots, and I think other journalists would say the same thing, I deal [with] and honor the truth. Pat O'Donnell, the executive director of the union's Mid-Atlantic unit, could not be reached for comment for this story. David Folkenflik on Twitter: "News: NPR to lay off about 10 percent of 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. Certainly in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder on Memorial Day weekend, our efforts accelerated and we doubled down on communication, training and listening. We established the top priority [a.k.a. For two years, he served as the president and CEO of a cable trade group called the Cable and Telecommunications Association for Marketing. Board Member. NPR's programming division, which produces its industry-leading podcasts, has more than doubled since 2019. 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 We've made some good forward progress around hiring, with requiring that our hiring panels be diverse, requiring that our finalists have diverse representation at a minimum, but of course there's no maximum, in terms of a list of finalists. And were pleased to work with them. John F. Lansing (he/him) oversees one of the country's most iconic news organizations, whose rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling connects with millions of Americans every day on the air, online, and in person. The layoffs are in keeping with an increasingly grim landscape for media companies over recent months. Their editorial independence is enshrined in federal law, though it sometimes came under attack. 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. To be a part of creating the future of such an important institution is humbling, exciting, and a distinct honor.". Listeners consider public radio an enriching and enlightening companion; they trust NPR as a daily source of unbiased independent news, and inspiring insights on life and the arts. August 20, 2022 August 20th is National Radio Day. 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. Did you plan for this or did it kind of just happen? How has that effort been progressing? NPR's chief executive announced the network would lay off roughly 10% of its . How are you working to shore up NPRs place in the podcasting landscape and compete with deep-pocketed tech companies? Mr. Lansings colleagues attribute the growth to his embrace of digital formats and the understanding of audiences that he gleaned from the private sector. 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. We couldnt be more proud of the quality and the depth of the journalism thats coming from the member stations, and it really has strengthened the entire system enormously. So Im pleased to see that that short era is over. If it's not being solved from the top down, it shouldn't be a burden for people just trying to build their career.