Former CNN executive who greenlighted stories for CNN.com has said . Jon Petrovich was 63 ; he had battled cancer and diabetes . He encouraged colleagues to explore new ideas and was respected among rank - and - file . ` He also was a professor for the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University . ` He was a builder , an innovator and a journalist ''
Former CNN executive who greenlighted stories for CNN.com has said . Jon Petrovich was 63 ; he had battled cancer and diabetes . He encouraged colleagues to explore new ideas and was respected among rank - and - file . ` ` He was a builder , an innovator and a journalist ''