John Lansing, president and CEO of NPR from 2019 until his retirement earlier this year, died this week at his home in Wisconsin, according to NPR. He was 67.
A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
NPR CEO Katherine Maher, who succeeded Lansing in March, said in a statement that her predecessor “had a tremendous impact on NPR’s workplace culture and led the organization through some of its most difficult times. His commitment to improving NPR’s audience and staff diversity has left an indelible positive impact.”
CPB President Pat Harrison said in a statement that Lansing’s work with NPR “will continue to inspire generations to come.” America’s Public Television Stations President Pat Butler said Lansing’s service with NPR “was the capstone of an extraordinary career in media and public service, and he has left a distinguished professional legacy and countless personal friends.”
Lansing took over as NPR CEO in October 2019, succeeding Jarl Mohn. Just a few months later he was faced with leading the news organization through the COVID-19 pandemic. In her statement, Maher credited Lansing with his “speed and decisiveness during that difficult period.”
Listenership initially increased from a spike in news consumption. But as the pandemic wore on, NPR, like other outlets, was hit with audience declines that later triggered losses in sponsorship revenues. In March 2023, Lansing announced a restructuring that included layoffs and cancellation of podcasts.
Prior to the workforce reduction, Lansing oversaw development and implementation of the NPR Network initiative and a strategic plan centered on diversifying audiences. In August 2023, he moved to combine NPR’s programming and news divisions under a chief content officer.
When Lansing announced his plan to retire, he expressed pride at what was accomplished during his tenure: “We have been through a lot together over the past four years, and you have made me proud every day,” he wrote in a note to staff. “All of you — and I mean every person working in every role at every level of this company — played a role in serving our audiences and the public interest at a time of incredible need.”
In retirement, Lansing joined the University of Southern California Annenberg Center for Communication Leadership and Policy as a senior fellow at its center in Washington, D.C.
Before NPR, Lansing was CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which operates international broadcasting services such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. He was also president of Scripps Networks, overseeing cable networks such as Food Network and HGTV from 2005 to 2013.
Lansing got his start in journalism at age 17, when he was a studio technician and camera operator for a television station in Louisville, according to an NPR report on his death. He later became a videographer, news director and leader for E.W. Scripps Co. over local stations.
Immediate reaction from current and former NPR staffers on social media praised Lansing’s leadership.
Lulu Garcia-Navarro, former host of NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday and co-host Up First, said on X that he “was a moral leader who cared deeply.”
Cheryl Thompson, an investigative correspondent and senior editor, said on X, “He steered NPR through some tough times, and I always appreciated his candor. His door was always open for me, and for that, I’m grateful.”
Brandon Carter, a former associate producer of social media on NPR’s Politics Desk, said, “There are no perfect media leaders. But at the onset of the pandemic, John was firm that NPR would not cut jobs. He worked hand-in-hand with our union @WeMakeNPR, and we avoided layoffs. I will always admire him for that. Condolences to his family.”
NPR’s report said Lansing is survived by his wife Jean and their children Alex, Jackson, Nicholas and Jennifer.
This article has been updated to include the statements by Pat Harrison and Pat Butler.