Jim Farley, the former VP of News & Programming at WTOP radio in Washington, D.C., (103.5), died of complications during surgery. He was 75. Farley served as VP of News & Programming at WTOP from 1996 to 2013 and,  during that time, he oversaw the transformation of a poorly-rated AM news, talk and sports station into the consistent top-billing radio station in the country, reports WTOP.

According to WTOP, it was Farley’s capacity for engendering a feeling of pride, responsibility and empowerment within the WTOP newsroom that has led to a flood of appreciation from current and past employees.

“He once described his (leadership) technique to me as ‘managing by walking around,’” said afternoon anchor Shawn Anderson. “He rarely if ever interfered with the sausage-making of putting news on the air.”

Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller echoed his regard for Farley’s leadership style: “He always let his team take the helm with breaking news because he trained us all so well and trusted us to do the right thing.”

Farley wouldn’t disagree with the characterization that he was part Edward R. Murrow and part P.T. Barnum, stated WTOP.  He coined the phrase “Glass Enclosed Nerve Center,” to demonstrate radio’s “theater of the mind.”

“He had the flash to gather an audience, and the gravitas to provide reliably credible reporting,” wrote former reporter and anchor Chas Henry on Facebook. “Not once during years of working for Jim did I ever feel editorially queasy; his journalistic ethics were rock solid.”

During Farley’s tenure, stated WTOP, he consistently tested the boundaries of news radio. He hit the ground running when he first arrived. He held staff meetings for “How we’re gonna win.” He emphasized pocketbook issues and a focus on storytelling.

In a business littered with egos, added WTOP, Farley’s door was always open.

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