Geoff Bennett, Amna Nawaz Pick Up Managing Editor Duties at ‘PBS NewsHour'
The two anchors of 'PBS NewsHour' have been giving a lot of thought to the news they deliver, but also to the audience that's receiving it.
'I don't think enough people know that our viewership is evenly split among conservatives, independence, progressives,' says Geoff Bennett, one of the co-anchors of the long-running program that was once known as 'The McNeil-Lehrer News Hour.' In an era when audiences have become polarized, the show has also focused on 'exploring every issue from every possible angle,' says Amna Nawaz, who leads the program with Bennett. 'It's the kind of thing I think our audience craves.'
More from Variety
'Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light' Is a Seamless - but Darker - Continuation of the PBS Series
Pati Jinich to Host New PBS Series about Pan-American Foods and Cultures (EXCLUSIVE)
PBS, NPR Say They Comply With U.S. Regulations After Trump-Appointed FCC Chairman Warns They May Be 'Violating Federal Law' by Airing Ads
Nawaz and Bennett will be considering such issues more frequently now that they have each taken on a managing editor role at the program. The title was previously held by Judy Woodruff, whom the duo succeeded in early 2023. Nawaz and Bennett take on the responsibilities after recent contract renewals for each that will keep them at the helm of the PBS news mainstay for a multi-year cycle, according to two people familiar with the matter.
'These new titles of co-managing editor reflect the way Amna and Geoff work with each other and the staff. Their editorial input is reflected in all aspects of our program,' says Sara Just, senior executive producer of 'PBS NewsHour,' in a statement. 'I am so grateful to partner with them both as we consider the daily challenges for journalism and our newsroom.'
They take on their new duties as public-media outlets — and mainstream press as well — comes under intense scrutiny during the Trump administration. Brendan Carr, who now heads the Federal Communications Commission, has made plain his interest in trying to cut off government funding of PBS and NPR, and has launched an investigation into whether the on-air nods they make to corporate sponsorship are appropriate.
'NewsHour' has long been seen as distinct from its evening-news counterparts on ABC, NBC and CBS. The show tends to spend more time on individual stories and offers more analysis and investigation. At times, there is also some of the heat that viewers see from cable. Nawaz, for example, has in recent weeks pressed members of Congress and foreign dignitaries on the effects of tariffs or budget decisions.
The pair believe an ongoing expansion by 'NewsHour' into digital venues is helping the show reach new and younger audiences. 'There's a new focus on being everywhere, not just the TV show,' says Nawaz. When it comes to the program's digital venues, including YouTube, 'it's not your typical broadcast demographic that's coming to us,' she adds. 'It's people who are increasingly watching in the many ways that we all consume news. I cut the cord a long time ago and only stream all my content, and I think that's what a lot of people are increasingly doing.'
The nightly audience for the broadcast component of 'NewsHour' is about 1.9 million viewers. But video views across new-media venues are rising. Average monthly video views from YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok came to 85.2 million in the fourth quarter, up 130% compared with the year-earlier period. Metrics for the program's reach on social has also increased during that time
Two 'NewsHour' segments are getting new emphasis as the program seeks to cultivate a digitally-savvy audience. The 'PBS News Hour' series 'On Democracy' which examines challenges to the nation's laws and institutions through conversations with people from across the spectrum of ideas, is expanding. And the show's regular exchanges between Jonathan Capehart and David Brooks — one progressive and one conservative — are proving popular online.
The focus on digital isn't going to pull the co-anchors away from the due diligence they give to daily coverage. They want to focus on 'really deepening our analysis, our reporting, our investigative work and ensuring that we provide not just today's headlines, but also the context that helps viewers really understand the forces shaping our world,' says Bennett.
Best of Variety
The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
31 minutes ago
- Axios
Trump Org launches mobile service for $47.45 a month
The Trump Organization announced Trump Mobile as its next venture on Monday, on the 10th anniversary of President Trump announcing his first bid for the White House. Why it matters: The announcement marks yet another expansion for the organization — run by the president's sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. — which made millions in real estate and luxury golf courses, but has pivoted to other avenues, including crypto and digital media. "One of the places where we felt there was lackluster performance was in the mobile industry," Donald Trump Jr. said from Trump Tower in New York City on Monday. State of play: Phones will be both built and remanufactured in the U.S., and the phone plan — which will cost $47.45 a month, a nod to Trump serving as the 45th and 47th U.S. president — will include unlimited data, texting and calls with over 100 countries. Trump Mobile will maintain a flat carrier fee and include a telemedicine partnership at no additional cost, with prescribing doctors available around the clock. It will also offer roadside assistance via Drive America. Customers can elect to use Trump Mobile SIM cards in their existing phones, though a new smartphone called the T1 is set for release in September and will cost $499. An image from the Trump Mobile website shows a gold-plated phone engraved with an American flag on the back. The website says the phones are made in the U.S. The call center will be based in St. Louis, Missouri, Eric Trump said. "It's about time we disrupt this space," he said. The intrigue: Trump Mobile "products and services are not designed, developed, manufactured, distributed or sold by The Trump Organization," the website said. Our thought bubble, from Axios' Ben Berkowitz: Trump Mobile is entering a crowded space that just so happens to be regulated by the president's appointees. The T1 brand on its phone is owned by the Trump Organization, effectively putting the Trump family in a manner of competition with the likes of Apple and Samsung, both of which the president has threatened to tariff heavily. Zoom out: During his 2024 campaign, the now-president promoted the sales of Trump-branded Bibles, sneakers and cologne.
Hamilton Spectator
33 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
The Latest: Trump attends G7 summit amid his trade war with US allies
President Donald Trump has arrived for the G7, or Group of Seven, summit in Canada, a country he's suggested should be annexed, as he wages a trade war with America's longstanding allies. If there's a shared mission at this year's G7 summit, which begins Monday in the Rocky Mountains, it's a desire to minimize any fireworks at a moment of combustible tensions. Here's the latest: Sen. Kaine says he'll force a vote to give Congress more of a say over military force against Iran Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is filing a resolution that would require that Congress authorize a declaration of war or any specific use of military force against Iran. Congress passed a similar resolution in 2020 during Trump's first term. 'It is not in our national security interest to get into a war with Iran unless that war is absolutely necessary to defend the United States. I am deeply concerned that the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran could quickly pull the United States into another endless conflict,' Kaine said. The resolution requires that any hostilities with Iran must be explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force, but would not prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack. Who's attending the G7 summit? The Group of Seven comprises Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Britain. Leaders of each nation will be in attendance. The European Union also attends, as well as other heads of state who are not part of the G7 but have been invited by Carney. These include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who is expected to have her first in-person meeting with Trump, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, was invited but will not attend. ▶ Read more about the G7 summit ICE is using no-bid contracts, boosting big firms, to get more detention beds Leavenworth, Kansas , occupies a mythic space in American crime, its name alone evoking a short hand for serving hard time. The federal penitentiary housed gangsters Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly — in a building so storied that it inspired the term 'the big house.' Now Kansas' oldest city could soon be detaining far less famous people, migrants swept up in President Trump's promise of mass deportations of those living in the U.S. illegally. The federal government has signed a deal with the private prison firm CoreCivic Corp. to reopen a 1,033-bed prison in Leavenworth as part of a surge of contracts U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued without seeking competitive bids. ICE has cited a 'compelling urgency' for thousands more detention beds, and its efforts have sent profit estimates soaring for politically connected private companies, including CoreCivic, based in the Nashville, Tennessee, area and another giant firm, The Geo Group Inc., headquartered in southern Florida. ▶ Read more about new immigration detention centers Trump's schedule Monday, according to the White House Trump is expected to have a busy schedule on the first day of the G7 conference. 9 a.m. — Trump participates in a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney 10 a.m. — Trump will attend the event's official welcome 10:30 a.m. — Session one 12:30 p.m. — Session two 2:45 p.m. — Session three 5:45 p.m. — Time for a group photo 6:15 p.m. — Session four 9 p.m. — Trump will attend a 'cultural event' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Suspect in Shootings of Minnesota Lawmakers Is Apprehended
(Bloomberg) -- The man suspected of killing a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband in Minnesota has been taken into custody, the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office said. Shuttered NY College Has Alumni Fighting Over Its Future Do World's Fairs Still Matter? As Part of a $45 Billion Push, ICE Prepares for a Vast Expansion of Detention Space NYC Renters Brace for Price Hikes After Broker-Fee Ban As American Architects Gather in Boston, Retrofits Are All the Rage Vance L. Boelter, 57, was arrested Sunday evening after a manhunt that stretched more than a day, keeping the entire region on edge. The FBI had been offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to Boelter's arrest. The suspect crawled to officers after they located him in the woods near his home in Sibley County, the Associated Press reported. Authorities had earlier located a vehicle Boelter was using abandoned in the rural area, AP said. Melissa Hortman, the Democratic leader in the state House, and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot Saturday at their house in Brooklyn Park, a suburb north of Minneapolis. John Hoffman, a Democratic Minnesota state senator, and his wife, Yvette, were wounded in a separate shooting at their home that was also linked to the suspect. The shootings sparked fear on a day when protesters filled streets in hundreds of cities across the US to oppose President Donald Trump's administration, as he held a military parade in Washington. In a message published by US Senator Amy Klobuchar, Yvette Hoffman said she had been shot eight times and that her husband, John, took nine bullet hits. 'We are both incredibly lucky to be alive,' Yvette Hoffman wrote. 'There is never a place for this kind of political hate.' Speculation has focused on a purported hit list in a car left at the crime scene that included several Minnesota politicians and abortion providers in the state, according to a government document seen by Bloomberg News. 'This is not a document that would be like a traditional manifesto that's a treatise on all kinds of ideology and writings,' said Drew Evans, superintendent of the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Rather, it's 'a notebook with a lot of lawmakers and others that are listed,' along with 'other thoughts.' Drew cautioned against speculating about the suspect's motives and declined to elaborate on the list in the notebook. The Minnesota carnage renewed a focus on political violence that both political parties have deplored for years. Threats against national lawmakers in Washington increased to 9,000 last year from 1,700 in 2016, Klobuchar said. --With assistance from Miranda Davis. (Updates with details of apprenhension in third paragraph, background throughout) American Mid: Hampton Inn's Good-Enough Formula for World Domination The Spying Scandal Rocking the World of HR Software New Grads Join Worst Entry-Level Job Market in Years As Companies Abandon Climate Pledges, Is There a Silver Lining? The $7 Billion Nicotine-Pouch Market's Next Target? Women ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
