PBS NewsHour Anchor and Co-Founder Jim Lehrer Dies

Maria Leaf
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON– Jim Lehrer, the longtime anchor of the PBS NewsHour passed away in his sleep at home this morning. He was 85 years old.

Lehrer anchored the show until his retirement in 2011. He and Robert MacNeil founded the program in 1975.

According to a statement from the network, current anchor and managing editor Judy Woodruff said, “I’m heartbroken at the loss of someone who was central to my professional life, a mentor to me and someone whose friendship I’ve cherished for decades”.

PBS says Lehrer moderated a total of 12 president debates, more than any other person in U.S. history, including all of the presidential debates in 1996 and 2000.

In addition to winning dozens of Journalism awards, Lehrer also earned dozens of honorary degrees, wrote 20 novels, three memoirs and several plays.