Jim Russell (journalist)

James B. Russell (January 30, 1946 – September 13, 2022) was an American journalist, producer, and executive who created national programs for all three public radio networks: National Public Radio, Public Radio International and American Public Media, as well as for PBS.

James B. Russell
Born(1946-01-30)January 30, 1946
DiedSeptember 13, 2022(2022-09-13) (aged 76)[1][2]
EducationAmerican University School of Communication
Occupation(s)Journalist, Radio producer, Television producer
Years active1963–2022
Notable credit(s)Marketplace
Weekend America
AwardsAlfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award, Peabody Award, Emmy Award[3]

Russell worked for more than thirty years in commercial radio, print, public radio, and television. Programs he helped create include Marketplace,[4][2][3] Weekend America, and public TV's Newton's Apple, NightTimes, Electronicle and America After Vietnam. He also helped develop NPR's Morning Edition[2] and All Things Considered,[5] and PRI's The World.

Russell was a 1973–1974 NEH Journalism Fellow at the University of Michigan.[6]

Personal life edit

As a result of having a US Foreign Service employee as a parent, grew up in Pakistan, Greece and Italy[4] until age 16, which he credited with giving him "the ability to look at the world and my own country through others’ eyes.”[3]

Russell began working for commercial radio stations in the Washington, D.C. market as a college student, including one of the earliest stations dedicated entirely to news; there, he delivered live coverage of major events including the Poor People's March on Washington, a protest against the Vietnam War in front of the Pentagon, and the 1968 Washington, D.C., riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King.[3]

In his final years, Russell was the president of his consulting company, Jim Russell Productions—The Program Doctor.[3]

He died on September 13, 2022,[2][3] after suffering a fall and spending several days in the intensive care unit followed by hospice.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Roush, Chris (14 September 2022). "Russell, creator of "Marketplace," has died". Talking Biz News. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Ryssdal, Kai (14 September 2022). "Remembering Jim Russell". Marketplace. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Jim Bio," Program Doctor website. Accessed Oct. 25, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Farley, Ellen (1 June 1989). "Public Radio Covers World Business From Long Beach". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  5. ^ Adelson, Andrea (24 November 1997). "Talking Stage". New York Times. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Past Fellows: 1973-1974," Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Knight-Wallace Fellows at Michigan website. Accessed Oct. 26, 2015.

External links edit