Story Syndicate Elevates Jon Bardin to President of Documentary and Unscripted Amidst Strategic Expansion
LOS ANGELES, CA – October 24, 2023 – Story Syndicate, the acclaimed production company founded by Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan, announced today the promotion of Jon Bardin to President of Documentary and Unscripted. The move underscores Bardin’s pivotal role in the company’s significant growth and strategic diversification within the non-fiction content landscape.
Bardin, who joined Story Syndicate at its inception in 2019, previously served as Head of Documentary and Unscripted. His elevation to President reflects the expanded scope of his responsibilities, particularly his leadership in steering the company toward more recurring non-fiction series. This strategic pivot is exemplified by projects such as "Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross," whose second season successfully premiered in July on The Roku Channel. Furthermore, Bardin oversees the company’s innovative equity fund, launched in 2025 to finance documentary films and series with strong commercial potential, signifying a forward-looking approach to content creation and distribution.
In his new capacity, Bardin will continue to report directly to Dan Cogan, CEO of Story Syndicate. He will lead a robust team of seasoned professionals, including Tommy Coriale, Head of Production and Operations; Lianna Schwartzman, VP of Development; Casey Currier, Head of Postproduction; Brendan Waterhouse, Head of Business Affairs; and Celia Winchester, Chief Financial Officer. This leadership structure is designed to support the company’s ambitious slate of projects and its continued expansion.
"Jon was one of our first hires at Story Syndicate seven years ago, and his role has grown every year since," stated Dan Cogan and Liz Garbus in a joint statement. "His brilliance, judgment, taste, great rapport with both filmmakers and platforms, and incredibly strong work ethic have all contributed enormously to our success. Bottom line: we love working with Jon, and this new title recognizes the central role he plays in our non-fiction work."
Bardin’s impressive background includes a Harvard degree and a PhD in neuroscience from Weill Cornell Medical College, highlighting a unique blend of intellectual rigor and creative vision. Prior to joining Story Syndicate, he co-founded the nonprofit production company The Public Good Projects and held the position of VP of Documentaries and Specials at The Discovery Channel, where he honed his expertise in factual programming.
During his tenure at Story Syndicate, Bardin has been instrumental in producing a string of critically acclaimed and impactful projects. His producer credits include "Fauci," "Mayor Pete," "Sally," "Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna," "Titan: The OceanGate Disaster," and "Maternal Instinct." He has also served as executive producer on high-profile series such as "Britney vs Spears," "Harry & Meghan," and "Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer," demonstrating his versatility across diverse narrative styles and subject matter.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Bardin remarked, "I am privileged to wake up every morning and go to work at Story Syndicate, and I’m deeply grateful to Dan and Liz for their mentorship — and for their trust in me as I step into this new role. There’s so much still to come, and I can’t wait to keep producing groundbreaking work in partnership with the incredible Story Syndicate team and the best filmmakers in the business."
Bardin’s promotion signifies a new chapter for Story Syndicate as it continues to solidify its position as a powerhouse in the documentary and unscripted genre, pushing boundaries and delivering compelling narratives to global audiences. The strategic focus on recurring series and the innovative equity fund position the company for sustained growth and influence in the evolving media landscape.
For more information on this significant industry development, you can refer to the original report: Story Syndicate.
