IOWA 500: Q&A with Myrna Johnson, Iowa Public Radio

The list includes leaders representing 14 categories, which we believe reflect the scope of business sectors in our state. Myrna Johnson’s Q&A introduced the Media and Communications category.

Myrna Johnson is a nonprofit media executive focused on strategic change and delivering excellence. Over the last 11 years, Ms. Johnson has led Iowa Public Radio through a period of significant transformation, guiding an acquisition of IPR’s 26-station network from the Iowa Board of Regents, reformulating IPR’s governance structure, and leading IPR through a successful first-ever comprehensive campaign.

Ms. Johnson serves on the board of National Public Radio. Her prior experience includes running the Boston Schoolyard Initiative; managing the National Forum on Children and Nature; serving as VP of government affairs for the Outdoor Industry Association; and working in the National Affairs Department of NPR. 

CBJ: Tell us a bit about your career and what has led you to the role you are in today.

Ms. Johnson: My interest in news and journalism began early, watching the evening news, reading the paper, and having conversations about the news of the day around our dinner table, as I was growing up in NW Iowa. My father was particularly interested in politics and current affairs, and our conversations made a big impact. 

Fast forward to my young adulthood:  I moved to the Washington, D.C. area right out of college, and as I began my career, I became a huge NPR fan. It was exciting to me that female reporters and hosts (Cokie Roberts, Nina Totenberg, Linda Wertheimer, Susan Stamberg) were the primary voices of the newsroom there, at a time when reporting and anchoring news shows was dominated by men. I landed a job in the NPR Government Affairs office. It was a great vantage point to learn about public radio and the public radio system. I was there for eight years, and while I pursued a government relations career outside of public radio after that, I kept involved in public radio through board roles and by being an avid NPR listener.

It was a full circle moment to come back to Iowa to run Iowa Public Radio.

CBJ: Tell us a bit about Iowa Public Radio.

Iowa Public Radio is a statewide network of public radio stations, connecting Iowans with news, music, information and ideas that shape their lives every day. We’re a community-based public radio network with a multimedia presence that provides free, local news and music to Iowans, wherever they are. We are an independent nonprofit advised by a volunteer board representing — and committed to — serving all of Iowa. More than 86% of our funding comes from the listeners, businesses and organizations in local communities across the state.

Our history of serving Iowans started more than 100 years ago, when Iowa State University and the University of Iowa received some of the first radio broadcast licenses ever granted. Iowa Public Radio was created in 2004 by the Iowa Board of Regents to manage the radio groups operated by the three state universities. In 2022, IPR became a community-based public radio network, separate from the universities. Our statewide network broadcasts from 27 stations that reach the state of Iowa and beyond, serving more than 205,000 listeners with news, alternative music and classical music — and thousands more through our podcasts, website, newsletters and apps.

What has been your most significant memory or moment as a leader so far?

Ms. Johnson: The last few years for IPR has been extraordinary, managing a transfer of the IPR network from ISU, UI and UNI ownership to IPR ownership, celebrating 100 years of service to Iowa, and successfully completing our first-ever comprehensive campaign, laying a solid foundation for the new, independent IPR. I am proud of what the IPR board and staff have accomplished, and excited about our plans for the future.

What are some of your personal and professional goals for the next 10 years?

Ms. Johnson: Here are a few:

• Make IPR a daily habit for more Iowans – on the radio, on our website and apps, through our newsletters and podcasts.
• Work to ensure a strong news and journalism presence in Iowa. I believe good journalism is essential for vibrant communities and for government and society the serves its people. 
• Grow IPR’s journalism team, covering the most important issues to Iowans
• Provide programming that piques curiosity and creates connections.
• Travel more!

 CBJ: What are some hopes you have for the business community of Iowa as a whole?

Ms. Johnson: That the business community continues to grow, and that Iowa grows an economy that is future-looking and on the cutting edge.  I wish for the business community to offer exciting jobs that create a good standard of living for Iowa families and communities.

CBJ: What are the biggest challenges you face as a leader in your sector of business?

Ms. Johnson: Changing media consumption habits.  We are no longer a country with three network news programs to choose from, and our phones are becoming our primary device for information.  Breaking through that cacophony of sources of content is imperative, and a huge challenge.

CBJ: What drives you as a business leader?

Ms. Johnson: I am driven by a desire to make Iowa a great place to live.  We deserve excellent information, a window to the rest of the world, content that connects and inspires us to create engaged and vibrant communities, and a little sparkle too. 

CBJ: Outside of work, what do you do in your free time?

Ms. Johnson: Hike, read mystery novels and garden.  And in the winter, knitting.