John F. 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.
In 2023 Lansing retired from his position as NPR President and CEO where he led the iconic news organization for four years, including through the tremendously difficult challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2015 to 2019, Lansing served as the CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the independent federal agency whose programming reaches an average weekly audience of 345 million people in 62 languages. He guided the organization in becoming a leading developer of unique content across television, digital, mobile and radio platforms.
Prior to joining USAGM, he served for two years as the President and CEO of the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM), an organization that facilitates collaborative marketing initiatives for its members. Lansing also spent almost 20 years working at Scripps, including eight years as President of Scripps Networks. 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. He served for four years as the SVP, Television for the E.W. Scripps Company, where he managed the company’s portfolio of ten broadcast television stations across the country. Prior to that, Lansing was VP and GM of Scripps ABC affiliates.
He began his career in media at age 17 when he was hired as a studio technician and cameraman for WPSD TV in Kentucky. 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.
Lansing served for ten years as a visiting faculty member at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies. He is a member of the Quinnipiac University School of Communications Advisory Board and the National Board of Advisors of George Washington University’s School of Media & Public Affairs.
A graduate of Bellarmine University, he was named to the Bellarmine University Gallery of Distinguished Graduates in 2010. He served on the Bellarmine University Board of Trustees from 2010-2016 and was vice-chair 2014-2016.