Susan Swain

For the professor of pathology, see Susan L. Swain.

Susan Swain
Swain in 2015
Born	(1954-12-23) December 23, 1954 (age 70) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Scranton (B.A.)
Occupation(s)	Business executive, journalist
Employer	C-SPAN
Known for	Broadcasting executive at C-SPAN
Notable work	First Ladies: Presidential Historians on the Lives of 45 Iconic American Women
Television	First Ladies: Influence & Image
Title	Co-CEO
Predecessor	Brian Lamb
Successor	Sam Feist

Susan M. Swain[1] (b. 1954) is an American business executive and journalist who was the co-chief executive officer of C-SPAN with Robert Kennedy from April 2012 to September 2024.

Early years and education

Swain was born December 23, 1954,[2] in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[3]

Swain was part of the first class of women at the University of Scranton when it became coeducational in 1972.[4][5] She received a Bachelor of Arts in communications in 1976, magna cum laude.[3][5] She served as a university trustee for six years, and in 1999, the school awarded her an honorary doctorate.[5]

Career

Susan Swain with (from left) Rob Kennedy, co-CEO of C-SPAN, and network founder Brian Lamb in 2012

Swain began working for C-SPAN in 1982 as an associate news producer.[4] She was named co-president and chief operating officer in 2006 and co-chief executive officer in 2012 with Robert Kennedy.[6][7] Kennedy oversaw finances and technology; Swain oversaw broadcast programming and marketing.[3]

Swain helped create American History TV and First Ladies: Influence & Image.[4] She made more than 5,300 appearances on C-SPAN during her time with the organization.[8] In 2024, Swain and Kennedy were succeeded as C-SPAN CEO by Sam Feist, head of CNN's Washington D.C. news bureau.[9]

Swain was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Cable Hall of Fame in 2019.[10] She is a former member of the board of directors for Talbots and Discovery Communications,[11][12] and is an emerita board member of the National Press Foundation.[5]

Bibliography

• Lamb, Brian; Swain, Susan (2008). Abraham Lincoln: Great American Historians on Our Sixteenth President. New York: PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1586486761.
• Lamb, Brian; Swain, Susan; Farkas, Mark, eds. (2011). The Supreme Court: A C-SPAN book Featuring the Justices in Their Own Words. New York: PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1586488352.
• Swain, Susan (2015). First Ladies: Presidential Historians on the Lives of 45 Iconic American Women. New York: PublicAffairs. ISBN 1610395662.
• Lamb, Brian; Brinkley, Douglas; Medford, Edna Greene; Smith, Richard Norton; Swain, Susan (2019). The Presidents: Noted Historians Rank America's Best—and Worst—Chief Executives. New York: PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1541774339.

References

1. "Susan M. Swain". White House Historical Association. 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
2. "Discovery, Inc., Schedule 14A Information". Securities and Exchange Commission. March 26, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
3. Van Zandt, Emily (December 7, 2016). "A foot in both camps: How Susan Swain is guiding C-SPAN through a changing industry". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
4. "Taking Viewers to 'Church': Susan Swain '76, H'99". Scranton Journal. Fall 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
5. "Susan Swain". National Press Foundation. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
6. Stelter, Brian (March 18, 2012). "C-Span Founder to Step Down as Chief Executive". The New York Times. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
7. Cunningham, Todd (March 18, 2012). "Brian Lamb, C-SPAN Founder, Steps Down After 34 Years". TheWrap. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
8. "Susan Swain". C-SPAN. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
9. Barr, Jeremy (May 14, 2024). "Sam Feist, longtime CNN executive, will become CEO of C-SPAN". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
10. Goldsmith, Jill (March 5, 2024). "C-SPAN Co-CEOs To Step Down This Year". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
11. Lieberman, David (October 21, 2016). "Discovery Adds C-SPAN's Susan Swain To Board, Diversifying All-Male Group". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
12. Hayes, Dade (July 6, 2024). "Discovery Shareholders Win $125M Settlement Of Lawsuit Alleging AT&T Merger "Wasn't Entirely Fair" To Most Investors". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 21, 2025.

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Susan Swain's oral history for The Cable Center's Hauser Oral History Collection, December 13, 2017