WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 23, 2020 - Patrick Butler, president and chief executive officer of America's Public Television Stations (APTS), made the following statement today on the passing of Jim Lehrer.
“With all of my colleagues in public television and in journalism, I mourn the loss of my friend Jim Lehrer.
“Jim set a standard of objective, dispassionate, careful journalism that inspired generations of journalists who have tried to follow his shining example.
“With Robin MacNeil, he made public television famous for its thoughtful, civil approach to public affairs, and that tradition continues to this day.
“It was our honor to pay tribute to Jim Lehrer at our Public Media Summit in 2012, along with many of his former PBS NewsHour colleagues, and the outpouring of respect and affection for this good man was simply overwhelming.
“Our hearts go out to Kate, his wonderful wife of 60 years, and our gratitude for his profound contributions to public television, to journalism and to the country he loved will never die.”
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About APTS
America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
Contact:
Stacey Karp
202-654-4222
skarp@apts.org