Shakeup At NPR

WASHINGTON - The NPR Board of Directors announced today that it has accepted the resignation of Vivian Schiller as President and CEO of NPR, effective immediately.

Vivian Schiller came under fire last year following the dismissal of veteran black political analyst Juan Williams. 

Board Chairman Dave Edwards said: "The Board accepted Vivian's resignation with understanding, genuine regret and great respect for her leadership of NPR these past two years."

Vivian Schiller's resignation comes after then-NPR fundraiser Ron Schiller was videotaped slamming the Tea Party movement and questioning whether NPR needs federal funding during a lunch with men posing as members of a Muslim organization (they were working with political activist James O'Keefe on a "sting.")

Ron Schiller said, "While the meeting I participated in turned out to be a ruse, I made statements during the course of the meeting that are counter to NPR's values and also not reflective of my own beliefs. I offer my sincere apology to those I offended. I resigned from NPR, previously effective May 6th, to accept another job. In an effort to put this unfortunate matter behind us, NPR and I have agreed that my resignation is effective today."

Vivian Schiller had this to say regarding Ron Schiller's resignation, "Ron Schiller's remarks are contrary to what NPR stands for and deeply distressing to reporters, editors and others who bring fairness, civility and respect for a wide variety of viewpoints to their work every day."

According to a CEO succession plan adopted by the Board in 2009, Joyce Slocum, SVP of Legal Affairs and General Counsel, will be appointed to the position of Interim CEO. The Board will establish an Executive Transition Committee to develop a timeframe and process for the recruitment and selection of new leadership.