Changes Coming at ‘NewsHour With Jim Lehrer'

Show will change its name, move to two anchors, merge on-air and online operations

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 5/12/2009 10:48:53 AM

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer is making some big changes effective next September.

The show will change its name to PBS NewsHour and move from a single-anchor format to two anchors and add an online correspondent.

Lehrer will remain the executive editor and primary anchor, joined by Gwen Ifill, Judy Woodruff or Jeffrey Brown, with senior correspondents Ray Suarez and Margaret Warner concentrating on out-of-studio reporting.

The show will also merge is on-air and online operations, but the plan is not to cut any staffers, according to spokesman Rob Flynn. "We anticipate that we won't be laying off anyone," he said.

Does this mean Lehrer is stepping back? No, says Flynn. "It suggests that we feel the program needs some changes to make the online and broadcast programs work more in synch, but to also provide a little bit more warmth and humanity and a different type of pacing to the broadcast."