Neal Shapiro

Neal Shapiro (born March 9, 1958) is an American television executive and journalist who has served as president and chief executive officer of The WNET Group, the parent organization of public broadcasting stations THIRTEEN and WLIW PBS in New York, since February 2007. Prior to this role, Shapiro held senior positions at NBC, including president of NBC News from June 2001 to September 2005 and executive producer of Dateline NBC from 1993 to 2001, during which the program expanded to multiple nights per week and garnered significant primetime viewership.

Shapiro's career, spanning over four decades across print, broadcast, cable, and digital media, began with 13 years at ABC News as a producer for programs including PrimeTime Live and World News Tonight. At NBC, he oversaw marquee programs like Today and NBC Nightly News, contributing to ratings successes despite internal challenges that led to his resignation amid perceptions of mismatched leadership style. His tenure at WNET has focused on expanding educational and cultural content, launching initiatives such as MetroFocus, NYC-ARTS, and American Graduate, while doubling arts programming and achieving record fundraising; the organization now reaches 9.5 million monthly viewers across its stations and digital platforms.

Raised in a Jewish family, Shapiro's early environment emphasized community and cultural traditions, which later intersected with his professional interests in storytelling and public service media. While specific childhood hobbies or pivotal events are not extensively documented, his formative years in Delmar provided a stable, middle-class backdrop in a region known for its educational focus, fostering an early aptitude for analytical pursuits that would inform his academic path.

He is the son of Sumner Shapiro and Mildred Shapiro, residents of Delmar, New York. His mother worked as an Associate Commissioner for Medicaid before retiring. Shapiro grew up in a Jewish family.

Along with his wife, ABC News correspondent Juju Chang, Shapiro supports Jewish community organizations, including as a donor to the 92nd Street Y, a cultural and community center in New York City offering programs in arts, education, and Jewish heritage. They are also recognized in the Entertainment Roll of Honor of UJA-Federation of New York, a philanthropic network funding Jewish social services, education, and global aid.