NPR's President & CEO Jarl Mohn has a lot to say about the future of the nonprofit media organization. He also has a lot to say about the future of terrestrial radio in general.
"One of the mythologies we try to strangle," Mohn says, "is the idea that radio is dead."
Rattling off facts and figures about the listening habits of 18-30 year-old millennials that critics tout as the death knell of the medium, he, conversely, makes a strong case that radio--not satellite radio and not internet radio--but radio will be around for the foreseeable future.
His top-of-mind knowledge of consumer media habits betrays his background as a radio announcer, owner, and then executive at several large television outlets including E! Entertainment Television, an outlet he founded.
Much has been written about the travails of NPR's leadership over the past nine years. When he was hired Mohn became the eighth such leader in the same number of years.
Challenges such as diversifying audiences, deepening digital integration, and successfully collaborating with member stations are all issues that face NPR under Mohn's leadership.
Guest:
- Jarl Mohn, President and CEO of NPR
