Bill Chappell Bill Chappell is a writer and editor on the News Desk in the heart of NPR's newsroom in Washington, D.C.
Stories By

Bill Chappell

Bill Chappell

Reporter, Producer

Bill Chappell is a correspondent and editor, and a leader on NPR's flagship digital news team. He has frequently contributed to NPR's audio and social media platforms, including hosting dozens of live shows online.

He has gone to two Olympics for NPR (Rio and Pyeongchang), focusing on finding the human aspect of sports — and sharing that fascination through text, video and images on NPR's Instagram and other branded accounts. He was also the lead editor for several other Olympic Games.

Because of his contributions, Chappell is also named on NPR's Peabody-award winning team for its Ebola coverage. Years ago, he established the Peabody Award-winning StoryCorps' presence on NPR.org, which separately won a Webby Award.

At NPR, Chappell has trained digital and radio staff in how to tell compelling stories online, facilitating collaboration between departments and desks. He was previously NPR.org's homepage editor, and has frequently worked with shows such as Morning Edition, Fresh Air, and All Things Considered.

Prior to NPR, Chappell was an editor on the Assignment Desk at CNN International, handling coverage in areas from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. He also edited and produced stories for CNN.com's features division, and edited video for the CNN Sports Illustrated venture.

Story Archive

Friday

A satellite image shows Augusta, Ga., one month before Helene's arrival plunged it and many other cities into darkness. NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Black Marble data courtesy of Ranjay Shrestha/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center hide caption

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NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Black Marble data courtesy of Ranjay Shrestha/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Thursday

"Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body?" Melania Trump asks in her new memoir, according to an early excerpt published by The Guardian. The former first lady is seen here at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 18. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Wednesday

Ronan Day Lewis and his father, Daniel Day-Lewis (left to right in center) are teaming up for a feature film that will bring the decorated actor out of retirement. The pair are seen here as they attended a film screening last year. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images hide caption

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Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Tuesday

Bear 402 was "the mother of at least eight litters, more than any other bear currently at Brooks River," according to the National Park Service. The bear, seen here fishing with her yearlings in 2019, was killed in a fight with another bear on Monday. N. Boak/NPS Photo hide caption

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N. Boak/NPS Photo

Saturday

David Hester inspects damages of his house on Saturday after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Horseshoe Beach, Fla. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

Friday

Thursday

Wednesday

California is banning single-use plastic bags at grocery stores and other retailers, after an earlier ban was blamed for making the waste problem worse. Here, a worker pulls a plastic bag from a conveyor belt as she sorts through materials at a recycling center in San Francisco. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Friday

Cigarette and tobacco company Philip Morris International is selling Vectura, a British pharmaceutical firm that makes asthma inhalers. An office of the company is seen here in Neuchatel, western Switzerland. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

Wednesday

A tug boat travels toward the Port of Baltimore as salvage crews continue to clean up wreckage from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Patapsco River on June 11 in Baltimore. The city's Fort McHenry Federal Channel opened for shipping traffic months after the cargo ship Dali collided with the bridge, causing it to collapse. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Monday

Photos show a rifle and backpack found by law enforcement at the fence of a golf course where former President Donald Trump was on Sunday. Secret Service agents fired at a suspect along the fence in West Palm Beach, Fla. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

Friday

Images taken from Dickson fjord show before (August 2023) and after (September 2023) photos of the mountain peak and glacier where a large landslide triggered a tsunami. Søren Rysgaard hide caption

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Søren Rysgaard

Thursday

A man looks at flood waters brought by Hurricane Francine Thursday morning, as he sits near the entrance to the Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner, La., in Jefferson Parish. Matthew Hinton/AP hide caption

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Matthew Hinton/AP

Wednesday

The entrance to Lake Ponchartrain Causeway is closed due to Hurricane Francine in Metairie, La., Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. The causeway is the longest continuous bridge over water in the world. Matthew Hinton/AP hide caption

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Matthew Hinton/AP

Tuesday

Uganda's Rebecca Cheptegei (third from left), died after being set on fire in her home. The man who allegedly attacked her has also died, in a case that has renewed calls for more awareness and protections for women against domestic violence in Kenya. FERENC ISZA/AFP via Getty Images/AFP hide caption

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FERENC ISZA/AFP via Getty Images/AFP

Monday

The FBI's Most Wanted poster for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy refers to his aliases — including "The Appointed Son of God" and "Sir" — and lists the U.S. charges against him, including conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children; and bulk cash smuggling. FBI hide caption

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FBI

Thursday

Students kneel in front of a makeshift memorial in front of Apalachee High School on in Winder, Ga., on Thursday, one day after two students and two teachers were shot and killed at the school. Jessica McGowan/Getty Images hide caption

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Jessica McGowan/Getty Images

Wednesday

Law enforcement and first responders respond to Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., on Wednesday, after a shooting was reported. Christian Monterrosa/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Christian Monterrosa/AFP via Getty Images

Four killed in a high school shooting in Georgia

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Friday

Thursday

Search and rescue teams used a litter on an all-terrain wheel to bring a stricken hiker to safety. The man had inadvertently been left behind on an office retreat hike. Teller County Search and Rescue hide caption

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Teller County Search and Rescue

Wednesday

Middle and high school football players in Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia have died this month during or after a game or practice. RichVintage/Getty Images hide caption

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RichVintage/Getty Images

Tuesday

Mariah Carey says her "heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother" — and, in a tragic turn of events, the singer's older sister also died on the same day. Carey is seen her performing last year in Los Angeles. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images hide caption

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Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Monday

A team photo shows Caden Tellier, the quarterback at Morgan Academy in Selma, Ala., who died over the weekend after a brain injury in a game. The school shared photos of Tellier as it called for donations to support his family. John T. Morgan Academy hide caption

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John T. Morgan Academy

Friday

"Sphen and Magic shared a bond unlike most other penguin couples," the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium said. Sphen has died, after the male pair spent about six years together, building nests and raising chicks. Sea Life Sydney Aquarium hide caption

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Sea Life Sydney Aquarium