NPR editor Edith Chapin resigns after Congress yanks federal funding

NPR’s high editor and appearing chief content material officer is leaving the group later this 12 months — simply days after Congress axed its federal funding.

Edith Chapin informed staffers Tuesday that she is stepping down and that she gave her discover to NPR chief govt officer Katherine Maher two weeks in the past, in response to a report from NPR.

The transfer comes at a tough time for public broadcasters like PBS and NPR — house to flagship reveals “Morning Version” and “All Issues Thought of.”

Final week, Congress slashed all $500 million in annual federal funding for the Company for Public Broadcasting, which backs NPR and PBS.

NPR receives about 1% of its funds from federal sources yearly, and about 3% not directly from stations, the corporate has reported.

The majority of NPR’s funding comes from member station charges, company sponsorships and particular person donations, however the minimize in funding might have a serious influence on its member stations.

“I’ve had two large govt jobs for 2 years and I wish to take a break. I wish to ensure that my efficiency is at all times top-notch for the corporate,” Chapin mentioned in an interview with NPR.

She mentioned she expects to remain on the firm till September or October.

In a observe to staffers on Tuesday, Maher thanked Chapin for her work.

“Edith has been an indispensable associate throughout my first 12 months at NPR, a gradual chief for a big a part of this group, and a improbable collaborator as a member of the manager group,” she wrote.

The CEO didn’t present any particulars about transition planning and interim management but.

Chapin’s departure means Maher might want to fill two high roles on the firm. Chapin oversaw NPR’s information report, in addition to its podcasting enterprise.

The veteran journalist joined NPR from CNN in 2012 as chief worldwide editor and has held completely different roles throughout her time there, together with senior vice chairman of reports and editor in chief.

In 2023, she turned NPR’s high editor and added the position of interim chief content material officer just a few months later.

Round that point, NPR had been gripped by funds cuts and laid off 10% of its employees and halted the manufacturing of a number of podcasts.

A 12 months later, one among its senior editors, Uri Berliner, penned an essay for the Free Press that accused NPR of getting liberal bias.

Chapin despatched a memo to employees shortly after, defending the “distinctive work” of NPR journalists as the corporate took steps to extend editor scrutiny on its tales. Berliner, who had been suspended with out pay, resigned quickly after.

The Home of Representatives’ vote to claw again federal funding final week has shaken up staffers at NPR. Maher spoke to staff final week, telling staffers that the corporate will face “an incredible quantity of change.”

The laws will head to President Trump’s desk for his signature.