After learning that NPR had announced that it would be reassigning Bob Edwards and then reading his critical speech on the media given at UK (posted
here), I wrote the NPR Ombudsman stating that I would no longer donate to them, also saying that if they replaced him with Cokie, I would urge all my friends, family, and colleagues to stop donating, too.
In response, I received an email note from Bob Edwards, though sent via NPR Communications.
Here's the note:
I am delighted that NPR and I have agreed on all of the details of my new duties as a senior correspondent. My new role will allow me to continue serving NPR listeners and will include profiling interesting and noteworthy people from all walks of life.
I plan to be here at NPR for the long haul. I am leaving a post that I have loved and have given my heart to. I now look forward to the new challenges ahead of me and continuing to be a significant part of NPR and the amazing program lineup.
Morning Edition will continue to be my first source for news. I encourage all of its listeners to stay with the program. It will continue to bring them the most in-depth and thoughtful journalism in broadcasting. I hope you continue to listen and support your public radio station.
From this note, it sounds like Bob is happy/content/resigned with the reassignment (or at least NPR Communcations is).
If you'd like to give your opinion to NPR about Cokie or Juan or Mara or anything else, the ombudsman's email is <ombudsman@npr.org>.
If anyone has heard other reports about the NRP "evolution," I'd appreciate hearing about them: NRP has a huge audience, and its steady drift rightward needs to be reversed.
Also, does anyone know how Air America is positioning itself vis a vis NPR?