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Michael Manning is an American broadcaster, writer and musician with experience in print, radio, television and online media. His career was launched as a pledge drive host at PBS Television station KERA TV 13 in the Dallas/Ft. Worth market. After a teleprompter broke down just seconds before going on the air, Manning launched into a humorous improvisational skit that attracted the attention of Bob Banner, co-producer of “The Carol Burnett Show”. Banner was in Dallas to produce a documentary film of distinguished alumni from his Alma mater, Southern Methodist University. After the PBS pledge drive, he recruited Manning as the voice-over talent for the film.

Manning’s broadcasting continued in Dallas at WRR, Classical 101 FM where he reported news for Barron’s Business and Financial Weekly and also anchored nightly newscasts. His news coverage included the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War, the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing, the O.J. Simpson Murder Trial, the Oklahoma City Bombing and the Death of Princess Diana. Manning assumed Mid-day reporting and was tasked with producing and hosting a Marconi-nominated weekend cultural affairs music magazine, “The Saturday Main Event”. As Chairman of Public Relations for The Lupus Foundation of America North Texas Chapter, Manning appeared with physicians on 41 radio and television public affairs programs, with public service announcements that aired three years on KDFW “FOX 4”, KXAS “NBC 5”, WFAA “ABC 8” AND KTVT “CBS 11” affiliate television stations. In 1996, Manning began hosting The Lone Star Film & Television Awards for three seasons.

He was tapped by WRR management to lead a successful overhaul of all on-air marketing, branding, contesting and advertising initiatives to reposition the troubled station as an independent and viable entity. After completing the project, Manning was interviewed in Billboard Magazine. He began reporting for Airways Magazine, an international commercial aviation monthly where his story concepts witnessed his return to the interview format. Featured guests have included Colonel Frank Borman, NASA Astronaut (Commander, Gemini 7 & Apollo 8) and Eastern Airlines CEO; Hollis Harris, president and Chief Operating Officer of Delta Air Lines; Gordon Bethune, Continental Airlines CEO and author of the New York Times Best Seller, “From Worst to First”. In 2002, the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum recognized Manning for his interview with the late Martin R. Shugrue, Jr., Vice Chairman of Pan American World Airways and Trustee of Eastern Airlines. His recorded audio interview was admitted to the museum’s Permanent Oral Lecture Series.

In 1999, Manning was recruited by The ABC Radio News Network as an anchor with WBAP News/Talk 820 AM Radio in Dallas/Ft. Worth. His reporting included the War in Kosovo, the USS Cole Bombing, the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks, the Milosevic Trial at The Hague, the Crisis in Iraq and the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster.

In 2003, Manning reported breaking news as a Helicopter News Anchor with WLW TV 5, the NBC affiliate in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 2005, Manning created and produced “The Annual Steve McQueen Film Festival” online for six-years, attracting an international following.

In February 2008, Manning was selected to substitute for Dick Clark as Master of Ceremonies for the National Parkinson Foundation’s Annual Gala of Hope in Miami, Florida. In 2010, he contributed to the book, “Steve McQueen: A Tribute to the King of Cool,” by Marshall Terrill. He also served as a freelance correspondent during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to highlight the Mens and Women’s Bobsled events.

Manning’s high profile guest interviews in print, online, radio and television have included such notable personalities as: Ken Mansfield, Grammy Award-winning record producer for Waylon Jennings and former U.S. Manager of The Beatles’ Apple Records; Jeb Rosebrook, screenwriter of the 1972 Steve McQueen film "Junior Bonner"; Annemarie Lucas, host of Discovery Channel’s "Animal Precinct" in New York City; Jim Tilmon, Chicago television meteorologist and CNN aviation consultant; Florette Vassall, actress and founder of “The Annual New York EVVY Fashion Awards”; veteran Hollywood actors June Allyson and Van Johnson; Canadian Symphony and Opera Conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson, and David Lanz, Grammy Award-nominated New Age pianist.

He has appeared in over 6,000 television and radio commercials and has championed the work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in treating pediatric cancer.
Manning graduated from The University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.