It's not just what happened this week on the Hill, although that's important. I would enjoy being on a podcast talking about politics. Weve also seen very positive upticks in development. It really stretched me to understand that flexibility is a good thing. 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. NPR stands stronger than it did at the outset of Mohn's five-year term in 2014. Bellarmine alumnus and former trustee John Lansing, a veteran cable television and government broadcast executive, is the new CEO of NPR. Every time I hear it, I think that's a success by itself because we all have that as our guiding light. Or persons of color who are in our organization that are hearing [about] a lot of activity but arent experiencing what they believe they should be experiencing in terms of a workplace where they feel like they can grow and improve their work and improve their careers. NPR Start Date: Mid October, 2020 Lansing, who is . That content executive position has not yet been filled; its creation led to the departure of then-NPR chief news executive Nancy Barnes. US Media Propaganda. Drawing "Liberals" and "Leftists" into the CIA's It puts a filter on that helps us explain even unpopular decisions, how they link to our mission. Unlike some predecessors, Lansing doesn't face a particularly fraught political landscape. In a memo to. Within a few weeks, Lansing became convinced that projection would be unreachable. 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. I think you have to be transparent and be able to explain what you're doing, even if it's unpopular. CEO John Lansing discusses NPRs diversity efforts, budget deficit and growing podcast competition. She also has led initiatives to reform hiring practices and to sweep far more temporary positions into permanent slots, often working closely with the network's chief unions to do so. So I wouldn't create a politics podcast because there are too many, and we have the best one of many already. This is an edited transcript of the conversation among Lansing, Current Reporter Tyler Falk and Digital Editor Mike Janssen. Lansing says the agency referred Haroon Ullah's expenditures to auditors and investigators after travel assistants flagged them; according to the Justice Department statement, Ullah admitted submitting fraudulent receipts for hotel room reimbursements and fake medical claims to get government payments of upgrades in airline seat assignments, among other offenses. Were working with them to create regional newsrooms in Texas and California and the Midwest and in the Gulf. hide caption. 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. 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 am thrilled to work with NPR's exceptional management team, staff and journalists," said Lansing. What makes you so open and vocal about the need for diversity? 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. Current: Companies like Spotify and Amazon have been pouring big money into podcasting. He will be the 11th permanent president or chief executive in the radio network's nearly 50-year history. He held off a push by House Republicans to spin off Voice of America into a nongovernmental broadcaster. NPR chief news executive Nancy Barnes to depart as network reshapes top 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. 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. I'm just passionate about how good leadership can lead to good outcomes, and that led me here. "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. In a large part, the digital teams and the divisions will work together to reach a final model. If it's not being solved from the top down, it shouldn't be a burden for people just trying to build their career. 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 how's that being measured and accounted for? We collected a lot of data and we have a lot of good follow-up opportunities, and Ill continue to offer myself up as a direct resource in that pilot project. Lansing says he does not yet know who within NPR will be affected, but said the job cuts would not fall evenly across the organization. We have many miles to go. A graduate of Bellarmine University, he was named to the Bellarmine University Gallery of Distinguished Graduates in 2010. Lansing: You have to imagine a picture, if you will. 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. So its a constant commitment to communication, to training, to accountability. NPR has also been the nation's leading producer of podcasts since Podtrac started measuring audiences. Or 'How are we doing on the North Star?' NPR's programming division, which produces its industry-leading podcasts, has more than doubled since 2019. Today, those individual situations are happening in the background when everybody's working, whether it's kids that are school age, or kids that are toddlers, or elder care, or spouses working in the same room or in the same apartment. NPR Cuts Executive Pay as Corporate Sponsors' Payments Fall . 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.. 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. 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. To be a part of creating the future of such an important institution is humbling, exciting, and a distinct honor.". Required fields are marked *. Last year, however, the U.S. Agency for Global Media came under fire when it emerged that it had bought Facebook ads targeting American citizens, in violation of laws meant to protect Americans from domestic propaganda. The ratings have tanked because all they talk about is race. NPR To Layoff About 10% Of Current Staff - Deadline So I brought in Michael Smith as our new chief marketing officer almost a year ago. LANSING, John, Jr. | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives 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 . If you had to create a podcast, what would it be about? Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft have announced more than 50,000 job cuts combined in just the past few months. NPR Names Veteran Media Executive John Lansing As Its New CEO Mr. Lansings colleagues attribute the growth to his embrace of digital formats and the understanding of audiences that he gleaned from the private sector. And so that was the way I looked at the future for me. The union represents 570 people at NPR. Their editorial independence is enshrined in federal law, though it sometimes came under attack. What advice would you give to young journalists of color when navigating these white spaces, but attempting to make a change? 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. National Public Radio will reduce its workforce by 10 percent as it grapples with what CEO John Lansing says is a "sharp . Notify me of follow-up comments by email. So Im pleased to see that that short era is over. When asked about his priorities, Lansing invoked what he has called the network's "North Star'' since his arrival in the fall of 2019: a push to ensure the network has a bigger and broader audience base, rooted in younger and more diverse listeners, readers and consumers. It didnt begin in the summer it accelerated in the summer. John Gibbs (government official) - Wikipedia They lost their objectivity and are now just pushing leftist ideology. Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnlansing. administration regarding the now former managers of his former place of employment (USAGM) but claims the mantle of private citizen to do so. And it gives the lie to NPRs claim, through disclaimers, that it is simply reporting on its own the implication of the disclaimer being that there is no editorial control or direction from the CEO. 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. John Lansing testifying before a House Appropriations subcommittee in July. 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. Considering the demise of local newspapers around the country and the growth of our member stations newsrooms around the country, were really working hard to support their local journalism, because its so important to us. ", He continued: "Citizens in countries from Russia to China, from Iran to North Korea, have been victimized for decades. Board Memberships & Affiliations. We established the top priority [a.k.a. Government support for the public radio system isn't in any immediate jeopardy. Disclosure: This story was reported by NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik under guidance from NPR chief business editor Pallavi Gogoi. Then I moved on to manage TV stations and cable networks. 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. Podtrac, which measures the audiences of podcast publishers, has consistently placed NPR at the top of its monthly rankings. 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. "Your mobility becomes extremely important to be involved and connected to audiences that are mobile and that tend to be, frankly, younger and, as we think of it at USAGM, future leaders, who can influence the rise of free and open societies.". We can share resources and story ideas, and we can help organize and support those efforts. And I think we have to extend that lead. Lansing says he remains committed to podcasting "1,000 percent," as well as the network's hallmark news magazines, such as Morning Edition and All Things Considered. I think you have to be willing to take hard questions. First, we're a nonprofit. John F Lansing, National Public Radio Inc: Profile and Biography 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. Such distinctions between news and programming are tricky, however, as programming oversees podcasts, including those that perform journalistic functions, such as Code Switch, It's Been A Minute, Planet Money, and Throughline. Leading the organization through it all is CEO John Lansing, a longtime media executive who has been on the job since October 2019. Last summer, we definitely had a racial reckoning. He will now lead the nation's top audio producer and broadcaster. "The combination of his health issues plus the situation with Mike Oreskes did derail his plans.". Talk about a force of nature. 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. 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 . Here's what to do in a worst case scenario. Were working with them to do joint investigative reporting. During the Donald Trump administration, he held roles in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and was acting Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Community Planning and Development. Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News. Lansing: We arent in a position to answer that until we know for sure when the pandemic is going to subside. NPR maintains 17 national bureaus and 17 bureaus abroad. 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. 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? 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. This documentary-style series follows investigative journalists as they uncover the truth. Copyright 2023. I thought, wow. 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. "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. NPR has a new CEO. NPR's New CEO Is Veteran Media Executive John Lansing : NPR - NPR.org NPR Layoffs: Radio and Podcaster Will Cut 10% of Workforce - The He is passionate about NPR's public service mission and the role of a free and independent media in a strong democracy. Not exactly. September 5, 2019; Washington, D.C. The NPR Board of Directors announced today that it selected John Lansing to become its next President and Chief Executive Officer. Lansing clearly had an ongoing interest in the USAGM story and the notion that that at some point along the line he did not provide his take, at minimum, to NPR reporting staff, on the story beggars belief. 2017-2022. It was a reckoning for all of us together collectively at NPR. My top goal is to support the women of color at NPR so that they feel like they have more upward mobility.. That said, Mohn set higher annual expectations for the network in fundraising and agreed to be co-chairman of its 50th-anniversary capital campaign. 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. New podcasts Up First, Consider This and State of Ukraine sit on both sides. The budget for the new fiscal year is set below last years actual based on our forecasts on continued downward pressure on corporate sponsorship. "We are delighted to welcome John, whose deep experience as a media industry executive and practicing journalist make him ideally suited to lead NPR into its next chapter," said Paul Haaga, Chair of the NPR board. NPR's Michel Martin asks NPR's CEO, John Lansing, to respond to an All Things Considered interview with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Its pretty clear to me that the ratings decline in radio is driven by commuting patterns. 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. 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. 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. What would you go back and tell your younger self? NPR, the public radio giant that employs hundreds of journalists, is about to get a new chief executive. Lansing's tenure at the agency has not been without controversy. Current: NPR and a group of stations started a pilot project around collaborative fundraising in 2019. It began to improve a little bit as we moved into August and September, as corporate sponsorships began to recover a little bit. I'm kind of a politics junkie. 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 had no idea what was out there. What was it like for you to watch that happen? 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. 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. John F. Lansing : NPR Anyone can read what you share. Obviously, this job that you have as a CEO of NPR is a really huge responsibility. "North Star"] for NPR on my arrival as supporting the diversity, equity, and inclusion of our staff so that we could become more relevant to our audiences and grow the diversity of our audiences. Mohn led NPR through five consecutive years of audience growth and budget surplus. It's interesting. NPR Announces Layoffs In 'Major Loss' For Network Lansing blamed a slowdown in advertising dollars. 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. hide caption. The roots of the VOA involved providing truthful reports to people under Nazi and Axis power rule during World War II. The first pillar is to expand the power of the national-local partnership into the on-demand future. John Lansing is a former Obama appointee who was named president and CEO of NPR on Thursday. And its tied to the same variables you would know yourselves, which is, how fast can the vaccines be deployed? I established DEI as our top priority on Jan. 5 of 2020. 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. And what a breath of fresh air Whitney brings into the organization. He guided the organization in becoming a leading developer of unique content across television, digital, mobile and radio platforms. NPR's total workforce has grown by about 50 percent since before that crisis. Michael was a senior marketing executive at Scripps for Food Network and HGTV and really brings a lot of media marketing expertise. 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. Your email address will not be published. Lansing blamed a slowdown in advertising dollars. After becoming part of Warner Bros. And the pandemic hit six months later in March of '20. 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. Networks like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty are meant to counter disinformation from foreign governments by broadcasting objective reports, although they have always been dogged by an accusation that they are a form of American propaganda. Current. Mr. Lansing will start in October, replacing Jarl Mohn, who has run NPR since 2014. 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 are not just putting out regulations or policies and paperwork. I, and the management team, all of us, we determined that was going to be a priority for the year 2021. He also vowed to make sure job cuts do not fall disproportionately on employees of color. He made his mark in his current job with stirring defenses of journalism, free from government interference. Will there be another stimulus? Scripps Company, where he managed the company's portfolio of ten broadcast television stations across the country. Faces of NPR: John Lansing : NPR Extra : NPR - NPR.org Doing that just requires that were putting more emphasis on the diversity of our decision makers, our leadership, our story selection, our source selection. 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? How are you working to shore up NPRs place in the podcasting landscape and compete with deep-pocketed tech companies? Lansing, who is 62, is. 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. So if you have leaders talking about DEI as a priority, well, then, show me. Essentially, the success of the company falls in your hands. Leading the organization through it all is CEO John Lansing, a longtime media executive who has been on the job since October 2019. 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. The emphasis, he says, must be on drawing in "the future audience to make NPR sustainable for the next 50 years. 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. Lansing also spoke to Current about the challenges of implementing his DEI plans, the organizations financial outlook and his thoughts about the recent controversies at USAGM. America needs public radio more than ever. Current: How have your priorities for NPR changed since you became CEO? Lansing said he took pride in maintaining conventional broadcasts while appealing to new audiences, reaching about 25% more people each week. 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 will begin his term as President and CEO of NPR in October, 2019. NPR Selects Voice of America Boss as Its New Leader, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/06/business/media/npr-john-lansing.html. At Colorado Public Radio, I think there was a $300,000 donation that came out of that. There's always going to be things here and there that have to be worked out, because that's just the way a company is, but I've never been in a company before where it was so understood that we're here to serve the American people. And its where our focus needs to be right now. I think there are interesting trends to follow and try to understand. 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. The network's fight for listeners' time has become more feverish. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly. I had been gone for the better part of a year or so. The other is the fight for donors. Scripps Networks 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.