We still remain one of the top, if not the top, podcasters in America. We're funded by your subscriptions, your donations, advertising, and a generous grant from the Wyncote Foundation. Scripps Networks It is our work. To be a part of creating the future of such an important institution is humbling, exciting, and a distinct honor.". Current: NPR and a group of stations started a pilot project around collaborative fundraising in 2019. John Lansing, CEO, photographed for NPR, 22 January 2020, in Washington DC. It was about a $3 million cost to NPR for the fiscal year. Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world. Lansing served for ten years as a visiting faculty member at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies. But also, what are the larger things that are happening? John Lansing '09, former Scripps executive, is new CEO of NPR He made his mark in his current job with stirring defenses of journalism, free from government interference. That's something that perceptive journalists should be able to pick up pretty quickly. Doing that just requires that were putting more emphasis on the diversity of our decision makers, our leadership, our story selection, our source selection. Lansing said he took pride in maintaining conventional broadcasts while appealing to new audiences, reaching about 25% more people each week. Under his leadership NPR has been reaching new audiences as the country's top podcast publisher and through platforms like smart-speakers and connected cars. 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. National Public Radio (NPR) CEO John Lansing announced in a Wednesday memo that the network will lay off 10 percent of its staff and freeze vacant positions. 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. John Lansing will begin his term as President and CEO of NPR in October, 2019. David Westin speaks with top names in finance about the week's biggest issues on Wall Street. Lansing's tenure at the agency has not been without controversy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Public Media Now was created to be a centralized source of information and resources to help professional within Public Media be more successful. Current: What are some of the highlights of that strategic plan? Lansing will start in his new position in mid-October. Current: How have your priorities for NPR changed since you became CEO? So we took that very, very seriously. I hear that all the time. Were working with member stations on topic teams for, say, political reporting or criminal justice reporting across the system. 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. Pack then took a number of actions that raised fears about the independence of the agency, which includes Voice of America. Or 'How are we doing on the North Star?' Michael was a senior marketing executive at Scripps for Food Network and HGTV and really brings a lot of media marketing expertise. Because when you're all at work, you're all at work, and you go home to your individual situations. NPR, the public radio and podcasting giant, has a new leader after years of growth and internal turmoil. John F Lansing, National Public Radio Inc: Profile and Biography - Bloomberg Markets Live Now Bloomberg TV+ Bloomberg Daybreak Middle East Bloomberg Daybreak Middle East. 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. John Lansing will begin his term as President and CEO of NPR in October, 2019. Were working with them to create regional newsrooms in Texas and California and the Midwest and in the Gulf. In these comments, John Lansing slides by with a public swipe at the Trump 2017-2022. I am still morning the loss of an objective NPR. 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. NPR Names Veteran Media Executive John Lansing As Its New CEO The work theyve done during the pandemic has been nothing short of miraculous in many cases, particularly given the summer of racial reckoning, the most unusual presidential election in memory and everything thats gone on since. I will say in the last three or four weeks weve seen a little bit of an uptick in a positive way on corporate sponsorship. But were going to continue to follow up on that going into this year. 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And were pleased to work with them. "Governments around the world are increasingly cracking down on the free flow of information; silencing dialogue and dissent; and distorting reality," Lansing said in a speech he delivered in May to the Media for Democracy Forum. 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. In late November, the network announced $20 million in cuts, including a near-freeze on hiring, elimination of most travel, and suspension of internships. So sad to me. In an interview on Friday, Mr. Lansing, 62, praised NPR as a home of high-quality journalism and audio production, and said that in addition to supporting traditional radio broadcasting he wanted to help NPR further its expansion into areas like podcasts, where the radio network has already been a leader. And some stations who had a schedule to go down actually were allowed to go down. My top goal is to support the women of color at NPR so that they feel like they have more upward mobility.. NPR Facebook Post with Comments. John Lansing is a former Obama appointee who was named president and CEO of NPR on Thursday. America needs public radio more than ever. We need help now. So we began an intensive set of Zoom meetings that I attended, each one with a member station and a qualified potential donor. He soon made DEI the top priority at NPR. After becoming part of Warner Bros. 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. 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. It's interesting. The budget for the new fiscal year is set below last years actual based on our forecasts on continued downward pressure on corporate sponsorship. Video Snippet NPR stands stronger than it did at the outset of Mohn's five-year term in 2014. 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 I still think we have a long way to go. Mike Morgan/Mike Morgan In 2019, Joshua Johnson left 1A, a nationally syndicated public affairs show produced by WAMU in Washington, D.C., and distributed by NPR, for MSNBC. ", Lansing, formerly a top television executive for the E.W. 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? So sad to lose an American institution to propaganda. And weve seen that really help them grow. How are you working to shore up NPRs place in the podcasting landscape and compete with deep-pocketed tech companies? This is just dishonest, especially since NPR became what amounted to a voice of the opposition in its coverage of this dysfunctional federal agency. 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. Board Member. NPR Cuts Executive Pay as Corporate Sponsors' Payments Fall 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. As we got to April of last spring, we saw a massive deficit develop for NPR on the order of about $25 million. Your email address will not be published. He will be the 11th permanent president or chief executive in the radio network's nearly 50-year history. 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. We did a climate survey of our employees, and we learned about a particular weak spot for us with women of color at NPR who didn't feel it was a place to grow their career, a place to be their whole selves, a place where they are seen and respected. NPR draws more than 28 million listeners each week and 40 million unique monthly visitors to its website both represent a rise of several million over those five years. And The New York Times has won praise and new fans through its weekday podcast The Daily, with in-depth interviews of reporters and newsmakers. U.S. Agency for Global Media The second pillar is to transform our workplace culture. Unlike some predecessors, Lansing doesn't face a particularly fraught political landscape. The roots of the VOA involved providing truthful reports to people under Nazi and Axis power rule during World War II. 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 Lansing: That was conducted back in September. 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. 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. Government support for the public radio system isn't in any immediate jeopardy. An open letter to NPR President John Lansing: Racial justice - Current 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. How has that effort been progressing? NPR has tapped longtime media executive John Lansing to become its next president and CEO. I dont know if youve been on the highway recently, but theres a lot more traffic on the highway today than there would have been last May and June. You have stated that DEI is your top priority at NPR. Being selective, having mentors both white and people of color mentors that you can have confidential conversations with and gain some thoughts to help you develop your strategy, standing up for yourself which essentially is what happened at NPR through the climate survey and holding leaders accountable for everything. Our goal of developing our audience as a younger and more diverse audience requires that we invest in marketing, we invest in content, and we partner with platforms where those audiences can be found rather than expecting younger and more diverse audiences to come to our platforms, necessarily. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly. No. 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. Pompeo Interview Dispute With NPR Sends Conflicting Message on - VOA Age: 62, Born on July 31, 1957, in Minneapolis administration regarding the now former managers of his former place of employment (USAGM) but claims the mantle of private citizen to do so. "However, when you think how we look out longer term, right, not just for 20 years, but several years out, it's really about building a sustainable financial future for NPR.". He also vowed to make sure job cuts do not fall disproportionately on employees of color. Live from. It has become enshrined in our three-year strategic plan as the centerpiece of all of our work. He began his career in media at age 17 when he was hired as a studio technician and cameraman for WPSD TV in Kentucky. NPR hosts' departures fuel questions over race. The full story is 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. CEO John Lansing discusses NPR's diversity efforts, budget - Current I had no idea what was out there. 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. Obviously, this job that you have as a CEO of NPR is a really huge responsibility. He defined NPR's mission as "serving the public with information and an excellence and quality about it that makes it 'must see' on a variety of platforms.". He is. 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 I think that it has caused me to be more tuned in to hearing and understanding our employees. NPR is funded by the CPB/PBS which are funded in part by the U.S. government. Lansing: We arent in a position to answer that until we know for sure when the pandemic is going to subside. We saw a lot of companies react to the [murder of] George Floyd and we did too. (On NPR's radio side, advertising takes the form of underwriting, as corporate sponsors are not permitted to call for listeners to purchase goods or services.). 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. NPR will cut 10% of its workforce, CEO John Lansing said Wednesday. I had been gone for the better part of a year or so. 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. He spent two decades at Scripps Networks, starting as a station manager in the Detroit, MI affiliate; eventually becoming President of Scripps cable networks company from 2005 to 2013. The last time NPR faced such stark choices, it was 2008. CEO John Lansing says ad revenue for podcasting shriveled even as general economy seems on mend. 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 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. Essentially, the success of the company falls in your hands. "Management is about committing to strategy, making tough decisions.". You go to college and all the sudden you're like 'wait a minute, I've got to do something when this is over.' Weve had a couple of significant anonymous gifts that have helped shore up our forecast for the coming fiscal year. Lansing: Thats a great question. 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. NPR's Incoming Chief Dumped $10M In Stock Amid SEC Probe While At Prior Current: You came to NPR after serving as CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Then I moved on to manage TV stations and cable networks. John Lansing - Quick Profile. Mohn placed an emphasis on fostering a more collaborative dynamic with the public radio stations that NPR serves and was given credit for making progress on that score. 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. "This will be a major loss.". And Im holding myself accountable with my board and Ive been and am holding my direct reports accountable to me. 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. And its something that I think will strengthen the ability for news programming, marketing and member services to be more responsive and to offer greater service to audiences in a more agile way. John F. Lansing : NPR Today is a good day to remember the vital role public radio plays in providing the information we all need to fully exercise our rights in our democracy. John Lansing, a veteran government broadcast and cable television executive, has been selected by NPR's corporate board to succeed its current chief, Jarl Mohn. Talk about a force of nature. Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnlansing. 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. hide caption. NPR - Wikipedia And be a good listener. I joined in October of '19. Arcbazar.com. Last fall, when announcing the earlier cuts, Lansing said the network would have to make tough choices - and to "do less with less." Current (https://current.org/2021/02/ceo-john-lansing-discusses-nprs-diversity-efforts-budget-deficit-and-growing-podcast-competition/).