LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A former WAVE News photographer and Bellarmine University graduate who went on to lead several major news organizations has died.
John Lansing died on August 14 at his home in Wisconsin at the age of 67.
Lansing began his long journalism career at WAVE as a news photographer while also taking night classes at Bellarmine. Lansing left Bellarmine before completing his degree to take a job in Grand Rapids, but received his degree from BU in 2009. He served on Bellarmine’s board of trustees from 2010 to 2017, including a term as vice chair.
In addition to Grand Rapids, his career took him to Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland in management positions.
In 2015, former President Barack Obama appointed Lansing as the first executive director of the broadcasting agency, which was renamed the U.S. Agency for Global Media, Bellarmine University said.
“John was a man of integrity. He was a wonderful ambassador for Bellarmine in his lifelong pursuit of journalistic excellence and his desire to support democracy by informing the public,” said Dr. Susan Donovan, president of Bellarmine University. “We are saddened by the news of his passing and our thoughts are with his wife, Jean, and their children.”
In 2019, Lansing became CEO of National Public Radio and helped lead the network during the global pandemic.
In 2021, Lansing received an honorary doctorate of humanities. That same year, he was also inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame.
Lansing was later named Bellarmine University’s 2023 Alumnus of the Year.
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