Vivian Schiller, CEO of National Public Radio, announced she would be stepping down from her post today, amidst brewing controversy over network objectivity after a hidden-camera video surfaced of an executive criticizing Republicans and the Tea Party.
Since yesterday, NPR has covered the news, beginning with the release of the incriminating video of Ron Schiller, the network's then SVP of fundraising and of no relation to Vivian, and with today's resignation of Vivian Schiller.
This was not the first time the NPR CEO has come under fire. In the fall, she was criticized for the dismissal of Juan Williams, a political commentator at NPR, and the exit of Ellen Weiss, SVP of news.
NPR's board of directors rolled out its succession plan today:
"According to a CEO succession plan adopted by the Board in 2009, Joyce Slocum, SVP of Legal Affairs and General Counsel, has been appointed to the position of Interim CEO. The Board will immediately establish an Executive Transition Committee that will develop a timeframe and process for the recruitment and selection of new leadership. I recognize the magnitude of this news – and that it comes on top of what has been a traumatic period for NPR and the larger public radio community. The Board is committed to supporting NPR through this interim period and has confidence in NPR's leadership team."