Morning Edition Live Chat Transcript
NPR recently announced that it would reassign longtime Morning Edition host Bob Edwards to a new role as senior correspondent. To offer more information about this decision and talk about NPR's plans for Morning Edition, NPR's senior vice president for programming, Jay Kernis , took questions from listeners on Monday, April 5.
Full Transcript from the Chat
More about Morning Edition Changes
jeffrey dvorkin: Hello, I'm Jeffrey Dvorkin, NPR's ombudsman and listeners' advocate. I'll be moderating this live Web chat with Jay Kernis, NPR's senior vice president for programming. NPR has received thousands of e-mails, letters and phone calls about Bob Edwards' departure from Morning Edition. People have expressed their concern about Bob and what this might mean for the future of Morning Edition.
jeffrey dvorkin: In moderating this chat, I want to make sure that Jay is able to reply to as many questions as we can handle over the next hour or so. It may not be possible to answer every question that gets sent in but we'll do our best. For those of you who haven’t done a chat before, this happens in real-time so there may be a few seconds between asking the question and posting the answers.
jeffrey dvorkin: For the record, as ombudsman, I'm not part of management at NPR. I'm here to help you get answers about Bob, Morning Edition and the direction that NPR is going. Please send in your questions now, so we can start at 1 pm Eastern Daylight Time.
jeffrey dvorkin: Jay thanks for joining this chat and thanks of course to all the listeners who are participating.
jay kernis: Jeffrey, thank you and I also want to thank everyone who's logged on.
jeffrey dvorkin: Jay so many listeners ask if this decision about Bob is set in stone. Are you going to reconsider this decision?
jay kernis: We know that the announcement was awkward at best
jay kernis: but it's the right decision and we do not plan to change it.
nicholas-north andover: Why are you holding a chat, if the answers do not matter in the decision-making process?
jay kernis: Because we want to explain the process
jay kernis: and because it's important to hear from you.
kathleen: Considering the degree of impact which Bob Edwards has on Morning Edition listeners, why did NPR choose to let us, the listeners, hear about his ousting on the streets, as it were? You consistently mention that NPR values its listeners' probity and intelligence, yet you tried to foist off on us bland examples of spin. Can you blame us for being upset?
jay kernis: We agree that the announcement could have been handled better
jay kernis: I know people are disappointed
jay kernis: that there could have been a more clear explanation, which is why we're holding this chat.
jeffrey dvorkin: Many people are wondering why you would “dump” an anchorman after such a distinguished career and a rise in the number of people listening to NPR?
jay kernis: We are expanding the role of the host on Morning Edition
jay kernis: and we are moving from one to two hosts
jay kernis: the news demands of the broadcast require more than one host to keep the program timely every morning
jay kernis: Morning Edition goes on the air at 5am ET and stays on the satellite for all stations until noon.
jay kernis: wherever you listen, you should hear the most timely news and perspective.
jay kernis: We also want to get our hosts out of the studio and into the field
jeffrey dvorkin: Why can't Bob be considered for one of the new two-host positions on Morning Edition?
jay kernis: in the same way as we do on All Things Considered and other NPR news programs
jay kernis: Bob has always made it clear that he wants to work solo.
ellie-laguna: You talk about bringing "higher quality" to the morning show, but specifically, what constitutes "higher quality"
jay kernis: It means providing different points of view
jay kernis: it means getting information from diverse sources
jay kernis: it means doing more original reporting
jay kernis: it means doing more investigative reporting
jay kernis: it means getting more reporters and hosts into the field
jay kernis: into local communities
jay kernis: and around the world to do primary research
jay kernis: to see and hear things for themselves.
jeffrey dvorkin: While many people may like replacements such as Steve Inskeep and Renee Montagne, they say they will not have the same credibility as Edwards – that “the institutional knowledge that Edwards brings has been compared to Walter Cronkite’s.” Are you losing more than you’re gaining?
jay kernis: Bob has been a strong and reassuring presence for so many years
jay kernis: that it will be challenging for anyone to fill his shoes
jay kernis: I do know that when Susan Stamberg or Steve or Renee or Alex Chadwick have filled in for Bob over the years, listeners have responded very favorably.
jay kernis: The staff of Morning Edition is a seasoned team of reporters, editors, producers and technicians.
jay kernis: We have confidence in them and the shows they will produce in the future.
karin-chattanooga: Your letter states that Bob Edwards was included in the discussions about the updating of the Morning Edition Lineup, yet you state that he was "told" of the changes at a particular point in time. Which of these is more accurate?
jay kernis: They are both accurate.
jay kernis: We've had discussions with Bob over the past 18 months.
jay kernis: And the final decision was made two weeks before the public announcement.
andrea-paloalto: Programming changes have not incited the reaction that this one has; I believe it is why some have threatened to stop contributions. Will NPR absolutely not consider keeping Edwards until the anniversary which might seem a fairer move to supporters of Morning Edition?
jay kernis: It was a long process and once I made the final decision, we didn't want to wait another nine months
jay kernis: There is never a good time to announce this kind of decision.
thomas-chicago: Now that the announcement is out, and given the public outcry, what prevents an extension to at least meet Edward's 25th anniversary with the show? Also, you explain that since you had already deliberated about the change for 18 months, "Given the length of time, we did not believe it appropriate to wait another nine months before making this change." Do you honestly feel that after 24 years, NPR can't afford to wait another nine months?
jay kernis: Bob is going to be on the road throughout the summer
jay kernis: in May, June and July - he will be talking about his new book about Edward R. Murrow
jay kernis: It's called "Edward R. Murrow and The Birth of Broadcast Journalism"
jay kernis: As I said, there is never a good time to announce this kind of decision.
jeffrey dvorkin: Some listeners have worried that accepting money from the Kroc Foundation or underwriting from Wal-Mart means that NPR is becoming less public and more corporate.
jay kernis: NPR News stands for independent, in depth journalism
jay kernis: If this were all about money, we wouldn't have made any changes.
jay kernis: We made the decision based on our love of in depth journalism
jay kernis: and our constant desire to build the strongest show possible.
kathleen: Will this create a news format that is more akin to the 'news briefs' you get from other radio stations? One of the things which i prize most highly about Morning Edition is the fact that there are pieces on things which aren't precisely late-breaking news stories, such as the plight of the rainforest and various endangered species.
jay kernis: Thank you so much for the comment.
jay kernis: The answer is absolutely not. We're going to improve and deepen our story coverage.
jay kernis: We've opened two new international bureaus and a production facility called NPR West in Los Angeles
jay kernis: we're also adding three producers and editors to the Morning Edition staff
jay kernis: My committment to you is that NPR will be the leader in depth coverage including stories about the environment
jay kernis: We continue to report from areas that few others pay attention to
jeffrey dvorkin: While many people may like replacements such as Steve Inskeep and Renee Montagne, they say they will not have the same credibility as Edwards – that “the institutional knowledge that Edwards brings has been compared to Walter Cronkite’s.” Are you losing more than you’re gaining?
jay kernis: I think we answered this earlier but NPR is blessed with the best team of broadcast journalists in the business.
jeffrey dvorkin: How many stations were consulted? Some listeners say their stations were not.
jay kernis: We are in discussion with public stations all the time about all aspects of our programming
jay kernis: With more than 270 member stations, it is impossible to talk to all of them about every decision
jay kernis: but I assure that we talked with many stations over a two year period about this change.
camille-dc: You talk about contributing to our local station and not stopping that. What if we listen to ME simply because bob is on our local station? why would I contribute if Bob, the reason I did in the first place, is no longer there?
jay kernis: As Bob has said himself, "because this is still the very best news organization in all of journalism...
jay kernis: ...I just beg listeners to see the bigger picture and that they will continue to be generous as they have been in the past in keeping public radio alive and well."
jay kernis: Those are Bob's words from last week
jay kernis: you can hear his entire interview with Korva Coleman at www.npr.org/morningeditionchanges
jay kernis: Once Bob returns from his book tour, you'll hear him on all of our shows.
sheila - great falls: As much as NPR is about excellent news coverage, it is about building community through public radio. Your decision to replace Bob Edwards seems to ignore the community aspect of this program. We do not listen to ME only for news, but to hear Bob. Can you speak to this concept of building community in your decision making process?
jay kernis: I understand and value the personal relationship that you have with public radio stations and teh voices you hear on NPR programs
jay kernis: On Morning Edition, you hear a team of very talented journalists and commentators including Susan Stamberg, Juan Williams, Renee Montagne, Frank Deford, and Ketzel Levine and many NPR correspondents and independent reporters
jay kernis: Bob has been a significant contributor and will remain so.
jay kernis: I think you will continue to find Morning Edition to be a place where you feel part of the family.
jeffrey dvorkin: But to go back to the question of building community...how will that happen with a new host?
jay kernis: The new hosts will be out in communities across the country reporting.
tony-athens: It seems to me that you'r removing Mr. Edwards simply for the sake of change. To my ears, he is currently at the top of his game. Is there a more discreet reason that you can provide for his removal? After all, we are public radio!
jay kernis: Again, we're changing the role of the host and this came after months of discussions
jay kernis: We're putting into place two hosts and Bob has always indicated that he wanted to host alone.
ellen-philly: I've heard that one impetus for the change is to alter the format of ME to make it more responsive to breaking news. I am concerned that it will become more like CNN or FOX which often sacrifices indepth reporting and facts for the race to be first.
jay kernis: While a number of news organizations have cut down the number of reporters in the field, NPR is moving
jay kernis: in the opposite direction so that we can provide more of the coverage that you value.
jay kernis: We never race to be first, we race to be right.
bill beckett: I work at one of the many, many stations that were not consulted and in fact were given no warning that this was coming. We were blindsided by this decision and left to face angry listeners with nothing more than some poorly drafted and ill-advised "Talking Point" or "Spin" as I call it. What is your response...?
jay kernis: It would have been unfair to Bob have this very private discussion with hundreds of stations
jay kernis: I regret that the announcement has put any station in a difficult position.
jill-washington: You say that Bob has always said he prefers to work alone, i.e. be the sole anchor. Does this mean you asked him to participate in these changes and stay on as one of the planners two anchors and he refused?
jay kernis: Though we want to be as transparent as possible, it would be inappropriate and unfair to comment on all aspects of our private discussions
jay kernis: Bob told the LA Times last week that he would not co-host.
chris-sanfrancisco: Please, Mr. Kernis--you've avoided answering Sheila's question... it wasn't about whether the new host will visit communities, or how much we'll like the other correspondents (which we do), but what such an unpopular decision says about how out of touch the NPR management appears to be from its loyal audience. Would you please address why this may be the case?
jay kernis: We talk with listeners all the time
jay kernis: we've made hundreds of changes to our programs and listeners have told us that they've appreciated them.
jay kernis: We expected that Bob's fans would be disappointed but we're making these changes in order to bring listeners what they've asked of us - more in depth reporting, more points of view, more reporting from around the world.
smila-chicago: Have other people on the staff at NPR expressed their feelings about this change?
jay kernis: People here love Bob and have promised to support him in his new role as Senior Correspondent
andy-tampa: Mr. Sterns was quoted as saying that the change was to obtain "the right sound". Can you explain just what is "the right sound"?
marah - silver spring: How do you plan to regain anyone's trust given this disconnect between the wishes of management and literally everyone else: listeners, stations, the founding, veteran anchor of this beloved show?
jay kernis: You have come to expect programs that make sense of news and events
jay kernis: news coverage that brings you to where the news is being made
jay kernis: news coverage that presents stories in context and offers many points of view
jay kernis: we know that you want to listen and make up your own mind
jeffrey dvorkin: What about restoring what some listeners say is an absence of trust?
jay kernis: Our relationship of trust with listeners is built on more than 30 years of the highest quality programming and the integrity of our journalism
jay kernis: that is a bond we will never break.
jay kernis: While not everyone agrees with this decision or with some of our past decisions, I ask you to keep listening every day
jay kernis: it remains the committment of every single person at NPR to provide programming of the highest quality and to strive to constantly improve it.
z-albany: If you are really focused on what public radio audiences want, as your corporate bio states, hasn' t the huge ratings growth in the last several years an indcation that Bob as anchor of Morning Edition is most probably the most critical element of the ratings increase?
jay kernis: Bob has been wonderful and will continue to provide compelling stories and driveway moments
jay kernis: to keep a program strong, you constantly have to go into new directions.
jay kernis: Our ratings growth is due to many factors
jay kernis: the great programming on public radio stations, increased interest in world events, the work of the entire staff of NPR News
jay kernis: and of course Bob is a big part of that and will continue to be.
randy-tampabay: Can we expect similar changes to other NPR shows, e.g. Weekend Edition Sat. or Weekend Edition Sunday ?
jay kernis: We are always working to improve the quality of our shows
jay kernis: during the past 30 years, there have been thousands of changes to NPR programs
jay kernis: but we have no plans to make similar types of changes to Weekend Edition Saturday or Sunday.
jeffrey dvorkin: Thanks to all who contributed to this chat. This is likely not the end of the discussion. Many questions went unanswered and we'll try to answer them online.
jay kernis: Jeffrey, thank you for moderating this discussion.
jay kernis: I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to write to NPR or your local stations during the past week and all who participated in this discussion today. Thanks.
