NPR CEO Gary Knell Names Kinsey Wilson, Margaret Low Smith To Top Positions

WASHINGTON — NPR's new chief executive named two public radio executives Friday to lead news and programming at the network's Washington headquarters, elevating the network's digital chief to oversee all content.

Gary Knell announced he was promoting Kinsey Wilson to the new role of executive vice president and chief content officer. Wilson joined NPR in 2008 from USA Today to lead the digital media division. Wilson will oversee all radio news, programming and digital content in the new role.

Knell also appointed Margaret Low Smith to permanently lead NPR's news division and its staff of nearly 400. Smith was a longtime producer of "All Things Considered," NPR's evening news program and most recently oversaw the network's programming division for talk radio programs.

Smith has been acting in the lead news role since January 2011, when Ellen Weiss left the top news post after the firing of commentator Juan Williams. An internal investigation found that incident was mishandled.

The appointments represent Knell's first major changes at NPR since he arrived in December from Sesame Workshop, the producer of TV's "Sesame Street." Knell replaced Vivian Schiller at NPR after controversies in 2010 and 2011 stemming from the firing of Williams and the release of an undercover video of a fundraising executive criticizing tea party conservatives.

Knell said having these two journalists in top posts will help NPR innovate and evolve with its member stations.

The role of Keith Woods, NPR's vice president for diversity, also will be expanded to work with member stations to push for greater diversity in audience, staffing and content, Knell said.

Comments

[realitybase]

09:14 AM on 02/27/2012

I stopped contributing over a decade ago when they went corporate lite. Yes there are some good shows. But I won't support something I have to question the agenda.

[vicla1942]

06:26 AM on 02/27/2012

The public radio and t. v. shows needs many voices with diverse
viewpoints and more college professors to educate people on process.

[Italianamerican]

10:59 AM on 02/26/2012

I wish their change was to stop taking the American tax payers money. Let their rich lefty friends pay for them and not the me.

[ShinjiIkari]

01:11 AM on 02/26/2012

I have hopes for Margaret Low Smith. Since I first encountered NPR four decades ago, "All Things Considered" has been the crown jewel. If she can bring that committment to quality to the whole news division, which has started slipping into the "happy talk" trap, the best of the network will go on.

[BrendanP]

11:14 PM on 02/25/2012

Bye-bye NPR.

[Todays Illusion]

08:29 PM on 02/25/2012

K0ch's nailing in the final controls. No one should still be working for NPR The message is pure CATO/Heritage/AEI conservative talking points. Let congress shut them down, This is no "public." organization.

[Chroesus]

07:38 PM on 02/25/2012

I still like most of NPR programming but I am getting sick and tired of them bending over backwards to carefully repeat right-wing talking points with little questioning. This includes them not refuting the conservative stance on climate change. They have become so frightened of the conservative noise machine that they cave in constantly and are starting to bash liberal views and politicians. They are not afraid of us because we won't start an unfounded hate campaign against them, but they cave and cave to the right, they are close to losing me.

[Todays Illusion]

08:30 PM on 02/25/2012

K0ch's are the largest private donor. . . . Now you know why their "experts." are from CATO, Heritage, AEI, etc. We should let congress cut the funds and shut them down. They have not been serving the public for about 10 years now, the only serve the K0ch gang's agenda.

[ladameennoir]

02:55 PM on 02/25/2012

Rearranging deck chairs on the Costa Concordia.

[NormdePlume]

11:33 AM on 02/25/2012

NPR continues to fascinate and entertain. Wait Wait is one of my favorites programs. PoliticalJunkie is a close second.

[Joe Cass]

08:25 AM on 02/25/2012

Only NPR does thorough reporting of world news as well as the national. Of course, This American Life and Prairie Home Companion bring great entertainment.

[edward60]

08:24 AM on 02/25/2012

I like NPR I have listened to it for many years its the best thing on the radio, no one else plays classical music.

[MahatmaCoat]

12:45 AM on 02/25/2012

Bring back the BPP!

[builderman55]

11:35 PM on 02/24/2012

NPR is, without question, the best news source in the country. It is the REAL fair and balanced...

[Sundance]

09:31 PM on 02/24/2012

This post was at 12:18 pm. It's now 9:31 pm. There are only nine posts. Methinks no one cares. NPR is SO out of touch with what is happening in the real world, especially as it relates to politics and society.

[MemphisBuffalo]

10:16 PM on 02/24/2012

Everyone is listening to NPR and not posting on HP. You clicked on the story for what reason?

[builderman55]

11:38 PM on 02/24/2012

Funny thing to say about a news source that kicks the crap out of all of the Faux Noise "newscasters" that get so much attention. NPR is the best source of news hands down. But it does require a little more intelligence--it's stories are longer than 22 seconds...

[Russell Masingale]

05:23 AM on 02/25/2012

and npr contains actual factual information.

[Jamf]

03:58 PM on 02/24/2012

Let's hope that the phrase, "...work with member stations to push for greater diversity in audience, staffing and content," isn't code for, "Move more to the right."

That's what I'm afraid of. Time will tell...

[Peace Walker]

05:35 PM on 02/24/2012

you took the words right out of my mouth. fanned

[Jamf]

07:06 PM on 02/24/2012

Back atcha...

[DesertShores]

08:09 PM on 02/24/2012

The key word is "National". More diversity? I hope so. They constantly whine for more money while becoming a voice for the liberal left. At one time I considered NPR fairly neutral, but their left wing bias is costing them money. If you liberals think they are so great give them some money and then they will not have to diversify.

[themoosespeaks]

12:38 AM on 02/25/2012

NPRs reporting is far from liberal. It's pretty much straight down the middle. The right thinks it's liberal because outlets like Fox are so far off the center that to them the center looks far to the left. It's all a matter of perspective.

The concept of "liberal media" is every bit as outdated as "the red menace", and yet those old chestnuts seem to be getting revived as though they were as pertinent today as in their heyday. Today the media imbalance is significantly to the right, just as "socialists" are far less worrysome today than extreme conservatives (e.g., fundamentalist sects).

I hope NPR stays near the center where the terms "fair" and "balanced" are more than an advertising slogan, and carry actual weight.