Pioneers in Health Episode 19, March 13, 2025 – Jim McLean, Senior Reporter, Kansas News Service
Jim McLean is the Senior Reporter of Kansas News Service, where he directs a team of editors and reporters covering education, health and politics for public radio stations across Kansas. McLean also serves as Executive Editor of the KHI News Service, where he oversees the editorially independent initiative of the Kansas Health Institute. KHI News Services is part of a network of state-based news organizations dedicated to providing in-depth reporting on health and health policy issues. From 2005 until 2013, McLean coordinated all communications activities at KHI as Vice President for Public Affairs.
Prior to coming to KHI, McLean had a distinguished career as a journalist, serving as the news director and Statehouse bureau chief for Kansas Public Radio and a managing editor for the Topeka Capital-Journal.
During his more than 20 years in Kansas journalism, McLean won numerous awards for journalistic excellence from the Kansas Press Association, regional chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Kansas Association of Broadcasters.
In 1997, McLean and two Capital-Journal colleagues received the Burton W. Marvin News Enterprise Award from the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism for a series of stories on the state’s business climate.
McLean holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Washburn University.
