By Kevin McCauley
Ellen Weiss, NPR’s senior VP for news who handed the firing of analyst Juan Williams, today announced her resignation as law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges completes its probe of the affair.
Williams, who is now with Fox News, was axed after he expressed unease at seeing Muslims in traditional garb at airports.
The review found that Williams’ ouster was based on solid legal footing, and not a result of outside pressure from special interests or donors. NPR’s board has adopted new internal procedures to deal with how analysts and correspondents are treated in the aftermath of on-air comments.
The board also slapped NPR CEO Vivian Schiller, expressing “concern over her role in the termination process and deciding not to award her a 2010 bonus. It did express “confidence in Vivian Schiller’s leadership going forward,” according to a statement released today.
In a note to staff, Schiller praised Weiss as a “strong journalist” who has made “meaningful and lasting contributions to the evolution of NPR and our newsroom.”
Margaret Smith, VP-programming, has been tapped as acting senior VP- news until a replacement is found for Weiss.
|