Robert Ferrante, Radio Executive, dies at 87

Robert Ferrante was a radio executive who led the reform and growth of National Public Radio. He died at the age of 87.

Radio executive Robert Ferrante passed away at 87

Robert Ferrante was a broadcast executive who oversaw the reorganization and expansion of National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition” in the 1990s, strengthening its news operation and hiring producer Ira Glass and humorist David Sedaris for commentary and features, passed away on September 15 at a hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was 87.

At NPR, Mr. Ferrante made the relentless chase of the news part of a program that, by many accounts, had spent a decade looking for an identity. Public radio had a reputation for being “late and long,” according to Ellen McDonnell, a senior producer who served as Mr. Ferrante’s second-in-command and succeeded him as executive producer when he left.

Robert Ferrante Age, Family, Early Life

Robert Ferrante was born in Boston on Oct. 6, 1934(87 years old), in Arlington, Mass. He holds an American nationality and his zodiac sign is Libra. He belongs to the white ethnicity.

Robert Ferrante’s father was a bank clerk, and his mother owned and operated a beauty salon.

Robert Ferrante Wife, What about his Children?

Mr. Ferrante’s first marriage, to Anne Basti, ended in divorce. In 1998, he married Pamela Post. In addition to his wife, of Cambridge, and daughter Donna, from his first marriage, of Taunton, Mass., surviving to include two stepchildren, Tyler Post of Hingham, Mass., and Whitney Otto of Cambridge; and eight grandchildren.

Robert Ferrante Career, What was his profession?

In a journalism career that spanned more than five decades, Mr. Ferrante reported live from Dallas when nightclub owner Jack Ruby killed presumed presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963; directed TV coverage of the riots outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago; and helped create innovative public affairs programs in the 1970s for Boston’s public television station, WGBH.

He acquired even more fame in the media in the 1980s – overhauling the “CBS Morning News,” ratings hit, and developing the network’s nightly news show “Nightwatch.” When he jumped to NPR in 1989, he was tasked with performing the same magic. “Morning Edition” long struggled in the shadow of the network’s signature afternoon news program, “All Things Considered.

”Mr. Ferrante is credited with changing it over the next nine years into the most popular morning news magazine in public and commercial media. He also was receptive to additional feature parts. In 1992, Mr. Ferrante was called by Ira Glass, then a relatively unknown independent producer, who had watched David Sedaris, a professional house cleaner and struggling writer, perform in a Chicago club.

Glass recommended screening quirky commentary by Sedaris, which Mr. Ferrante eagerly welcomed. Sedaris’s humorous take on his experiences as Crumpet, the department store Christmas elf, in a spot called “The Santaland Diaries” was an immediate hit. Sedaris became a monthly contributor to “Morning Edition,” which launched his career as a prominent speaker and best-selling author.

How much is Robert Ferrante Net Worth?

Robert Ferrante has not disclosed his financial details. Thus it is hard to estimate his net worth.

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Which school and college did he go to?

Robert Ferrante got a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University in 1957 before joining WNAC-TV, then the CBS affiliate in Boston.

Is he available on any kind of social media platform?

Robert Ferrante is not active on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Physical Appearance of Robert Ferrante’s Height, Weight

Interesting facts about Robert Ferrante’s should be knows