Former NPR CEO and President John Lansing has died, the radio network has announced.
Lansing retired from the position in 2023 after four years leading the organization. Before working for NPR, Lansing served as the president of Scripps Networks, which owned stations like Food Network, HGTV, and Travel Channel.
“The Corporation for Public Broadcasting mourns the death of John Lansing. His contributions to public radio were immense, and his leadership during challenging times left a lasting impact,” said Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) President and CEO Patricia Harrison. “John was mission-driven and was proud of public media’s and NPR’s service to the American people. His commitment to journalistic excellence will continue to inspire generations to come.”
In a statement from NPR, new CEO Katherine Maher, who replaced Lansing after his retirement, praised the former leader for his stewardship through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“His speed and decisiveness during that difficult period enabled NPR to maintain uninterrupted, high-quality programming at a moment when trustworthy news was a lifeline to Americans,” Maher said. “He inspired those around him with his integrity and compassion, and his loss will be felt deeply by our staff and across the public radio system.”
John Lansing was 67 years old.
