NPR suspends search for senior news exec

NPR will suspend its search for a senior vice president for news until the public broadcaster finds a permanent CEO, according to an email obtained by The Hill.

NPR interim chief executive Joyce Slocum informed staff Monday she has decided to stop the search for Ellen Weiss's replacement after consulting with members of the search advisory committee. Weiss was forced to resign in January over her role in the firing of news analyst Juan Williams (Williams now writes a column for The Hill.)

NPR Chief Executive Vivian Schiller was subsequently forced to resign herself after conservative activist James O'Keefe published a video containing impolitic remarks from NPR fundraiser Ron Schiller (no relation) concerning Tea Party supporters.

Slocum said the decision was driven by the fact that several candidates for the senior news position have indicated interest in the CEO position; the two people would have to work closely. 

"It’s only fair that the CEO have a key role in selecting the [senior vice president] News and that the [senior vice president] News know who his or her long-term boss will be when coming into the position," Slocum said.

"I know that we all want to fill these roles as quickly as possible with permanent leadership. At the same time, I think we all want to follow the best possible process for each of these enormously important hiring decisions. This approach will help accomplish both objectives."

NPR has faced a strong political backlash over the two events that prompted the executives' resignations. The House voted to defund the organization earlier this month and Senate Republicans have been searching for ways to do the same.

The White House has said it "strongly opposes" defunding NPR but stopped short of promising to veto the measure.