Robert MacNeil, the co-founder of PBS NewsHour and a respected figure in journalism, died on April 12, 2024, at the age of 93. MacNeil passed away due to natural causes at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, according to his daughter, Alison MacNeil. He leaves behind a significant legacy in the field of journalism.
His career was a testament to journalistic integrity, characterized by in-depth reporting and a steadfast commitment to delivering news with an understanding of its complexities and intricacies.
Born in Montreal, Canada, and known to friends as Robin, MacNeil initially aspired to be an actor. However, after graduating from Carleton University in Ottawa, he shifted his focus to journalism. He began his news career at Reuters and NBC News, reporting on a range of domestic and international stories.
MacNeil was in Dallas, Texas, during the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy and reported live via telephone from the Texas school book depository where Lee Harvey Oswald worked. He said, “I found out that a man named Oswald, who worked at the book depository, had been arrested. I remember thinking, ‘How strange. I had just entered that building. He probably left just as I was arriving.'” His significant coverage continued through the Civil Rights Movement.
In 1971, MacNeil’s career took a pivotal turn when he joined PBS. Alongside Jim Lehrer, MacNeil was instrumental in the in-depth coverage of the 1973 Watergate hearings, earning them an Emmy Award. This period solidified their reputation for journalistic credibility and laid the foundation for the future MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, which later became the PBS NewsHour.
Judy Woodruff, a senior correspondent and former anchor at PBS NewsHour, remembered MacNeil as a skilled journalist and a cherished friend. She said, “The loss of a dear friend deeply saddens me. One of the greatest privileges of my career was to collaborate with Robin MacNeil and contribute to the revolutionary changes he and Jim Lehrer brought to television journalism. He was brilliant and sophisticated and possessed a wonderful sense of irony.”
Outside of journalism, MacNeil was an ardent advocate for the arts. He served as chairman of the MacDowell Artist Colony in New Hampshire for 17 years. His passion for language and storytelling was reflected in his numerous writings, including books and memoirs that explored the intricacies of the English language and his personal experiences in journalism.
MacNeil’s dedication to journalism was deeply connected with his personal life. He loved spending summers at his seaside home, a tribute to his Canadian roots and his appreciation for tranquil landscapes. He is survived by his four children and many grandchildren, who remember him as a loving and considerate figure.
