How to Restore Trust in Media
In this moment of reckoning for media, the path to restoring trust is not an easy one. But through transparency, a commitment to fact-based reporting, and a renewed focus on the core values of journalism, CHRIS LICHT lays out a clear, inspiring roadmap for how media organizations can rebuild the trust they’ve lost and serve their communities in more meaningful, impactful ways.
Overcoming Adversity: Facing Health Challenges and Finding Balance
Based on his first book, What I Learned When I Almost Died, renowned veteran executive producer CHRIS LICHT shares his journey surviving a near-fatal brain hemorrhage. Licht was at the helm of MSNBC’s Morning Joe—one of the most popular shows on cable TV. He had become a real-life Jerry Maguire: hard-charging, obsessively competitive, and willing to sacrifice anything to get it done. He felt invincible. Then one day, Chris heard a pop in his head, followed by a whoosh of blood and crippling pain. Doctors at the ER said he had suffered a near-deadly brain hemorrhage. Chris’s life had almost been cut short, and he had eight long days in a hospital bed to think about it. In this inspiring talk, Chris tells the story of what happened next.
Leadership: Authenticity, Creativity, and Reinvention
Veteran executive producer and Chairman and CEO of CNN CHRIS LICHT has spent decades in the media business, transforming shows and networks through his leadership and earning countless accolades. In this compelling talk, he shares his insights about his journey as a leader, leveraging authenticity and creativity to build strong and resilient teams and leading large-scale transformations by leaning into innovation and empathy.
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Speaker Spotlight: Chris Licht, Titan of the Television Landscape
Throughout his career, veteran executive producer CHRIS LICHT has been at the helm of major networks and produced news programming, bringing a unique perspective to the world of news and entertainment, with grave concerns about the ever-broadening lack of trust in media by the America public. A breakdown in civil discourse, rising political polarization, and widespread distrust of media are threatening the fabric of a stable society. Licht has keen insight into how the media must adapt to regain trust and restore faith in journalism and its special place in a democratic republic.
Drawing on his depth of experience, Licht shares key insights about building resilient teams, change management, and leading transformative large-scale organizations by leaning into innovation and empathy.
Former CNN Worldwide CEO and veteran executive producer of award-winning television, Chris Licht has created and led some of the most powerful, impactful organizations in America today. A titan of the news and entertainment industry and an outspoken observer of the media and its role in protecting democracy, Licht brings refreshing candor to his behind-the-scenes perspective about where we are and where we are headed as a country and as a people.
Licht has worked with dozens of A-List talent in both news and entertainment during a career that spans a quarter-century of awards, achievements and milestones. Licht was recruited by CNN at a time of significant political and media disruption after serving in senior executive positions at CBS, CBS News, and MSNBC. He served as Executive Vice President of Special Programming at CBS and Executive Producer and Showrunner for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”. Under Licht’s leadership “The Late Show” mixed entertainment and politics (including dozens of live shows around major news events) to become the most-watched and most-talked-about program in late-night television. Licht and Colbert collaborated on several successful shows such as “Our Cartoon President” on Showtime and “Tooning Out The News” on Paramount Plus.
Licht previously served as Executive Producer of “CBS This Morning”, which was known for “bringing the news back to morning news” and unique innovations such as the popular “Eye Opener.” CTM became the network’s most successful morning newscast in more than two decades.
Licht came to prominence as the co-creator and original executive producer of MSNBC’s influential “Morning Joe” -- the first cable show to take an interactive, discussion-dominated approach to morning news.
Licht has received numerous honors for his work, including Peabody and DuPont awards, multiple News and Documentary Emmys, a Daytime Emmy and Primetime Emmy.
Drawing on his depth of experience, Licht brings an insider’s perspective to building resilient teams, navigating change management, and leading transformative large-scale organizations by leaning into ingenuity, innovation and empathy.
Licht’s first book, “What I Learned When I Almost Died”, tells the story of what happened after a near-fatal brain hemorrhage left him hospitalized and traumatized for months. Licht shares the lessons he learned overcoming adversity, surviving a health crisis, and creating more balance in his life.
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