Washington – Vivian Schiller has resigned as the president
and CEO of DC-based National Public Radio (NPR), a day after one of the
organization’s prominent fundraisers openly questioned whether it needs federal
backing. "The board accepted Vivian’s resignation with understanding,
genuine regret and great respect for her leadership of NPR these past two
years," said Dave Edwards, NPR’s chairman.
Joyce Slocum, the
organization’s senior vice president of legal affairs and general counsel, has
been named interim CEO until a permanent successor is named.
The news comes a
day after reports surfaced that NPR executive Ronald Schiller (no relation to
Vivian Schiller) was secretly recorded by Republican operatives criticizing
Republican and Tea Party supporters.
On the video, he also said it is
"very clear" that NPR would be "better off in the long-run without
federal funding."
Vivian Schiller, who quickly condemned the comments, had
already been under fire for her dismissal of political analyst Juan Williams
last fall.
Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/4zozm8m
(NPR blog)
http://www.npr.org/about/press/2011/030911.BoardStatement.html
