Jim Lehrer

Jim Lehrer (1934–2020) was an American journalist, novelist, and television news anchor who co-founded PBS’s NewsHour and moderated 12 U.S. presidential debates.

Robert MacNeil: Robert MacNeil was a Canadian-American journalist and television news anchor who co-founded the PBS program later known as the NewsHour. MacNeil partnered with Lehrer to create the public-affairs program that became their shared legacy.
PBS NewsHour: PBS NewsHour is an American nightly television news program known for extended reporting and interviews. Lehrer co-founded the program and served as its anchor for many years.
News analysis: News analysis explains the significance and context of events while distinguishing interpretation from straight reporting. Lehrer favored explanatory coverage over rapid, personality-driven television news.
Presidential debates in the United States: Presidential debates in the United States are televised encounters among candidates seeking the nation’s highest office. Lehrer became one of the most frequently chosen moderators in this national political tradition.
Lester Crystal: Lester Crystal was an American television journalist and executive producer of PBS’s NewsHour. Crystal helped develop the program’s format and led its newsroom during Lehrer’s tenure.
Presidential debate: A presidential debate is a public event where candidates for a national presidency answer questions and address one another. Lehrer moderated 12 U.S. presidential debates, shaping how candidates were questioned and compared.
Broadcast journalism: Broadcast journalism is the reporting and presentation of news through radio or television. Lehrer’s anchor work belongs to the wider practice of reporting news for broadcast.
Commission on Presidential Debates: The Commission on Presidential Debates is a nonprofit organization that has organized most U.S. general-election presidential debates since 1988. The commission selected Lehrer to moderate debates across multiple election cycles.
PBS: PBS is an American public broadcasting network that distributes television programming through member stations. PBS provided the public-broadcasting home for Lehrer’s nightly news program.
The Last Debate: The Last Debate is Jim Lehrer’s 1996 novel about a presidential campaign and its televised debates. The novel drew on Lehrer’s firsthand knowledge of debate production and political journalism.

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Bill MoyersRelated: Lehrer’s public-television career provides a close parallel to Moyers’s.