Neal Shapiro: A Career Shaping Public Broadcasting

Neal Shapiro: A Career Shaping Public Broadcasting

From Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin by iHeartPodcasts

April 14, 2026 · 42 min

About this episode

Neal Shapiro discusses his extensive career in public broadcasting and the challenges facing the industry today.

Neal Shapiro is an award-winning producer and media executive whose 30-year career spans print, broadcast, cable, and online media. Currently the CEO and President of WNET, Shapiro oversees the operations of ten public media channels and one radio station including THIRTEEN, WLIW21 , and NJ PBS which reaches a combined monthly audience of nearly 10 million viewers. Prior to joining WNET, Shapiro served as the President of NBC news where he oversaw MSNBC, The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and Dateline . Prior to NBC News, Shapiro started as a Research Assistant at ABC News and rose through the ranks to serve as writer and producer for P rimeTime Live and World News Tonight. From there, Shapiro executive produced Dateline and is responsible for transforming the show into a primetime staple of American Broadcast journalism. Shapiro’s work has been recognized with 32 Emmy Awards and 31 Edward R. Murrow Awards over the course of his career. Now WNET and Shapiro face a new challenge in the form of an executive order to dismantle the federal funding and government support for public television. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Guest: Neal Shapiro

Topics covered

  • public broadcasting
  • media executive
  • television
  • journalism

Keywords

  • WNET
  • NBC News
  • Emmy Awards
  • Edward R. Murrow Awards

Mentioned in this episode

Products: WNET, NBC News, MSNBC, The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, Dateline

Books & works: The Today Show, Dateline, World News Tonight

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