Morning Edition Changes
Letter From Jay Kernis, Senior Vice President for Programming
Dear Morning Edition listener:
I have heard from many of you over the past few days about our decision to
reassign Bob Edwards to a new role as senior correspondent for NPR News. By now, you should have received
a reply from me, but based on your responses to it, many questions clearly remain.
We didn't do a good job of explaining something so important. For that reason, we've
compiled the most frequently asked questions and I've tried to answer them below.
I am also hoping that you will join me in a live online web chat on Monday,
April 5 at 1 PM (EDT), when I'll be talking with listeners about Morning
Edition and any other part of our programming that you'd like to discuss.
This will be the first of several opportunities to talk about these issues
directly with us. For more information about how to join the discussion, go to
http://www.npr.org/about/morningeditionchanges/.
Frequently Asked Questions |
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We've seen references by NPR management that the decision to move Bob Edwards
to a senior correspondent position was about the need to "evolve," and "refresh"
Morning Edition. What does that mean?
Over the past three years we've been engaged in an intensive process of reviewing
all of our programming with three questions in mind: How can we continue to
improve and deepen our coverage of the critical stories of the day? How can we
better tell powerful stories from around the world and from all over the U.S. in
the way only NPR can? And how can we enhance our on-air diversity? The changes
we're making in Morning Edition - and the changes we've made in many other areas
- are part of our answer to those questions.
Three years ago, we looked at the rest of the broadcast world and saw only
retreat: fewer reporters in the field, less international coverage, less diversity
of views and voices. NPR made a clear and conscious decision to move in the opposite
direction. We opened two more foreign bureaus, opened a production facility called
NPR West in Los Angeles, and added field reporters in communities around the United
States. We launched new shows, like the Tavis Smiley Show and Day to Day, to expand
our range and bring new voices to public radio. We made major changes to All Things
Considered, Talk of the Nation and Weekend All Things Considered. These changes in
their entirety have improved and deepened our programming, allowing us to provide
the broadest range of ideas, sounds, and stories.
We believe, and listeners have told us, that these changes have brought real
improvements to our programming, and we're confident the same will be true for
Morning Edition. (back to top)
So, why are you moving Bob out as host of Morning Edition?
Morning Edition is our most important show, and we wouldn't make changes without a
lot of planning and discussion. More than 18 months ago, we began a careful series
of discussions about the program with Bob, stations, and NPR staff.
Twenty-five years ago, Morning Edition was created with a single, in-studio host.
That model is no longer sufficient to bring the weight of credible, in-depth reporting
that we are demanding of ourselves. In the last year, we have experimented with a
different model: two hosts (one in DC and one in Los Angeles) for the show, both
capable of providing unique reporting from the field, and of working in tandem to
carry the show forward during even the most pressing news events. We believe this
is the right model for Morning Edition in the years to come. In making this change,
we don't mean to diminish Bob's remarkable career at NPR, and we know that he will
continue to make an extraordinary contribution in his new role. (back to top)
Are you doing this because you're trying to attract a younger audience?
We don't program to one audience - but to everyone who wants in-depth, intelligent
news and information. Over the last two years, we have hired at least six new hosts
at NPR - Michele Norris, Alex Chadwick, Tavis Smiley, Melissa Block, Neal Conan and
Steve Inskeep. They range in age from the mid 30s to the late 50s, they are white
and black, male and female, east coast and west coast. They are threaded together
only by their excellence of craft, love of radio and dedication to the highest
standards of journalism. (back to top)
Why now? Why not wait till Bob's 25th anniversary in November?
We made the difficult decision to replace Bob as host early this year, at the end
of an extensive process lasting more than 18 months. Given the length of time,
we did not believe it appropriate to wait another nine months before making this
change. Having made the decision, we also felt that it would be unfair to withhold
the information from Bob or, having told him, to ask many people to hold this
announcement for an extended period of time. All that being said, we deeply regret
that many have understood this to be disrespectful of Bob. We intended nothing
of the kind. (back to top)
Is this decision a reflection of a dumbing down of NPR - what we see in the commercial broadcasting world?
No. We are working hard to move in the opposite direction: expanding our reporting
staff and adding thought-provoking new shows. In the coming year, with the proceeds
from the historic bequest from the late Joan Kroc, we will expand our reporting staff,
enhance our ability to do investigative reporting and increase our capacity to tell
the stories no one else can. Last month we hired Bill Marimow, a two-time Pulitzer
Prize winner and one of the most distinguished journalists in America, as a new
managing editor for NPR News. We have also committed to adding three new producers
and editors to Morning Edition to ensure that the quality of the show will only grow.
These hires are emblematic of our specific goal to enhance quality, diversity and
excellence at NPR News. (back to top)
Morning Edition's audience has been growing dramatically over the last few years. If it ain't broke, why are you fixing it?
You're right, it isn't broken; it's a great show. If we were a commercial outfit where
decisions are profit driven, we probably wouldn't make any changes. But we're not.
We're driven by a mission to provide the highest quality journalism to our listeners.
We have asked ourselves hard questions, and we're acting on our answers to make
Morning Edition even better. Our goals are to take the show to more places, with hosts
as reporters going into communities, giving it more depth, flexibility and responsiveness. (back to top)
Unless you bring back Bob, I'm going to stop giving to my local NPR station.
Public radio has been built on listener support, which is the largest source of funding
for local, independent member stations. They rely on the public's support to bring each
community the best news and information daily. Holding back your contribution will only
penalize your local station for a decision made by NPR management. (back to top)
Is there a chance you will change your mind and bring back Bob?
The changes we are making are part of a multi-year effort to expand our reach, to enhance
our diversity, to tell stories from your community and abroad, and to be able to react to
the immediacy of news across the day. We have worked hard to make this happen and believe
that you are already hearing the benefits of these ideas. We are deeply aware that this
is a listener-supported network and we are grateful for all the expressions of love and
support for Bob. But in the end, this is about our broad commitment to delivering the
kind of high-quality in-depth coverage that makes our reporting remarkable.
We do not plan to deviate from that commitment.
As a senior correspondent, Bob will be an important part of our plans going forward.
He is an extraordinary storyteller and writer and we expect him to tell the most vivid
stories of artists, thinkers and leaders. We look forward to hearing him on all of our programs. (back to top)
Again, thank you for your comments about Morning Edition.
I do hope that you will choose to join us at the online chat on Monday.
Sincerely,
Jay Kernis, Senior Vice President for Programming
Note: E-mails regarding Bob Edwards can be sent to nprcomm@npr.org.
