Bill Moyers Dies: Journalist & White House Aide at 91
- NEW YORK-Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary under Lyndon B.
- Tom Johnson, a longtime friend, former CNN CEO, and also an assistant to Moyers during the Johnson management, confirmed that Moyers died in a New York City hospital.
- Moyers' career was diverse,including roles as a Baptist minister,deputy director of the Peace Corps,newspaper publisher,and senior news analyst for "The CBS Evening News," as well as chief correspondent...
Bill Moyers, a prominent figure in American journalism and former White House press secretary, has died at 91, leaving behind a legacy of impactful reporting. His insightful television work, which spanned government, media, and cultural issues, earned him over 30 Emmy awards, numerous Peabody Awards, and a place in the Television Hall of Fame. Moyers, known for his thought-provoking series on PBS, fearlessly explored complex topics, shaping public discourse. His impact extended beyond news, influencing the Men’s Movement and the medical community with his innovative approaches. As a citizen journalist, Moyers prioritized in-depth investigation and open dialog. Read more about the life and legacy of this influential journalist on news directory 3. Discover what’s next for his impact.
Bill Moyers, Award-Winning Journalist, Dies at 91
Updated June 28, 2025
NEW YORK-Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary under Lyndon B. Johnson who became a celebrated figure in television journalism, died Thursday at age 91. He was known for his insightful use of the visual medium to explore complex ideas.
Tom Johnson, a longtime friend, former CNN CEO, and also an assistant to Moyers during the Johnson management, confirmed that Moyers died in a New York City hospital. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Moyers’ career was diverse,including roles as a Baptist minister,deputy director of the Peace Corps,newspaper publisher,and senior news analyst for “The CBS Evening News,” as well as chief correspondent for “CBS Reports.” His work in television journalism earned him numerous accolades.
He is best known for producing thought-provoking series on public television. Over hundreds of hours of PBS programming, Moyers tackled subjects ranging from government corruption and media consolidation to modern dance, drug addiction, religion, and environmental abuse. his insightful approach to television journalism made him a respected voice.
In 1988, Moyers produced “The Secret Government,” which examined the Iran-Contra scandal during the Reagan administration. He also published a book of the same name. Around the same time, he captivated audiences with ”Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth,” a series of six interviews with the renowned religious scholar. The book version became a best-seller.
Moyers’ televised conversations with poet Robert Bly are credited with launching the 1990s Men’s Movement. His 1993 series, “Healing and the Mind,” significantly influenced the medical community and medical education.
Moyers once explained his focus on interviews, saying, “The question is, are the talking heads thinking minds and thinking people? Are they interesting to watch? I think the most fascinating production value is the human face.”
Known for his “soft, probing style” and his Texas accent, Moyers approached the world with a calm and reasoned perspective, nonetheless of the topic.
His association with Johnson, his work on public television, and his investigative journalism led some to label him a liberal, a label he did not necessarily reject.
“I’m an old-fashion liberal when it comes to being open and being interested in other people’s ideas,” Moyers said in a 2004 radio interview. Though, he preferred to call himself a “citizen journalist” operating independently.
Moyers said in a 2007 interview that public television allowed him to open “the conversation of democracy open to all comers.”
“I think my peers in commercial television are talented and devoted journalists,” Moyers once said, “but they’ve chosen to work in a corporate mainstream that trims their talent to fit the corporate nature of American life. And you do not get rewarded for telling the hard truths about America in a profit-seeking environment.”
Moyers received numerous awards, including more than 30 Emmys, 11 George Foster Peabody awards, three George Polks, and two Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Gold Baton Awards. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995.
What’s next
Moyers’ legacy as a champion of in-depth television journalism and thoughtful exploration of complex issues will continue to inspire future generations of journalists and media professionals.