Elizabeth Murphy Burns

1945 - 2025

Elizabeth Murphy Burns

December 4, 1945 - April 24, 2025

Elizabeth Murphy Burns, affectionately known to all as Liz, died peacefully on April 24, 2025, at her home in Carefree, Arizona.

Liz, as the President and owner of Morgan Murphy Media in Madison, operated TVW, Madison Magazine, Channel3000.com, WISC-TV (Channel 3), and Phase 3 Digital. Additionally, in Wisconsin, Morgan Murphy Media continues to operate WKBT-TV in La Crosse and QueenB Radio stations in Platteville/Lancaster.

Liz was born in Superior, Wisconsin, on December 4, 1945, into a family of media pioneers, a tradition she cherished and further extended in her lifelong commitment to broadcasting and the good it can do. In 1890, her grandfather started The Evening Telegram, which later became Morgan Murphy Media. Throughout her career, she championed the responsibility of journalists to "inform, educate, and entertain" by engaging deeply with their communities to enrich the lives of viewers, listeners, and readers.

In 1982, Liz became President of Morgan Murphy Media and over more than forty years oversaw the company transition from its newspaper and broadcasting roots to its current position as a leader and innovator in multimedia journalism. The company TV stations have been early adapters in every technology, including color television, stereo broadcasting, satellite newsgathering, the national transition to digital broadcasting, and digital media. With the decline of newspaper readership, Morgan Murphy divested of its newspaper properties in 2003. As media consolidation began, Liz recognized the importance of growing the family broadcast portfolio beyond WISC-TV in Madison, KXLY-TV in Spokane, Washington, KAAP-TV in Yakima, Washington and KVEW-TV in Kennewick, Washington. To do so, she purchased the CBS affiliate in La Crosse, Wisconsin in 2003, stations in Joplin, Missouri and Pittsburg, Kansas and markets in Victoria, Texas in 2017, and stations in Alpena, Michigan and Marquette, Michigan in 2024. As digital advertising developed, Morgan Murphy Media started its own digital advertising entity, P3DAInside, which works with advertisers in its markets and beyond.

As the first woman elected to the CBS Affiliates Board and a vocal advocate for women's involvement in journalism, Liz was both a pioneer and inspiration for women in the industry. In 2018, Liz was honored as a Giant of Broadcasting and Electronic Arts from the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation. She was also inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame and was awarded the Alumna of the Year Award from the College of Fine Arts at the University of Arizona, the Chuck Sherman Leadership Award from the National Association of Broadcasters, and the Pioneer Award from the Broadcasters Foundation.

Throughout it all, Liz and her brother, John Murphy, retained their commitment to family ownership. Despite the trends toward corporate operations at all levels of media, Liz believed that being family-owned was integral to the community-based brand they had built. Moreover, Liz's commitment to a strong local news product never wavered. Today Morgan Murphy television, radio, print, and internet entities retain a respected position locally and nationally for both their strong news product and commitment to community.

Liz demonstrated her dedication to the industry through her community involvement. She served both as Chair and Board Member for The Northeast-Midwest Institute (the public policy arm of the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition), and Chair and Board Member for Maximum Service Television (MSTV). She also served on the Boards of Directors of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB). She also served as a Board Member of National Guardian Life Insurance Company, Madison, and Republic Bank, Duluth, and also served as a Trustee at The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth.

Liz's most cherished community service project was the Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities, a Mass produced weekly by WISC-TV since its start in 1967. Liz was close friends of Fr. Tom Campion, the diocesan priest assigned to that ministry and for decades the celebrant of that Holy Mass. The weekly production of the Mass continues today within the Diocese of Madison.

Liz is preceded in death by her mother and father, Elizabeth and Morgan Murphy, and survived by her loving husband of 40 years, Richard Burns; her step-children Jennifer Kindle (Tom) and Brian Burns (Toya), grandchildren; Elise, Alivia, Andrew, Maya, and Collin, brother; John Murphy and sister-in-law Jan, nephew and niece Bryan Murphy and Kate Doty (Ben) and grand-niece, Claire and grand-nephew Conor, as well as countless friends.

A service for Elizabeth Murphy Burns was held on Monday, April 28, 2025, at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, Carefree, Arizona. Celebrations will also be held in Madison and Duluth later this year.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be directed to the Desert Foothills Land Trust in Carefree, Arizona, or to a charitable organization of your choice.