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NPR Prez Abruptly Resigns

Board turned off by his new-media expansion plans

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 7, 2008 3:15 AM CST
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(Newser) – National Public Radio chief executive Ken Stern stepped down yesterday amid increasing static from the board about his ambitious plans for the network, reports the Washington Post. Stern oversaw rapid expansion that boosted revenue from $65 million to $200 million since joining NPR in 1999, and made the organization into the world's biggest producer of podcasts. But station managers often felt the push into new media came at the expense of serving local audiences.

The chairman of the board, who will be replacing Stern temporarily while NPR looks for a replacement, praised Stern's successes, but said board members looked at a "mutldimensional set of circumstances"—which he declined to name—before deciding not to renew Stern's tenure "by mutual agreement." Stern's exit is the latest in a series of high-level departures at NPR, which this week signed a deal to stay in Washington D.C.

NPR's board reportedly clashed with CEO Ken Stern over his new media expansion plans, which radio station bosses often felt came at their expense.
NPR's board reportedly clashed with CEO Ken Stern over his new media expansion plans, which radio station bosses often felt came at their expense.   ((c) dobroide)
NPR chief executive Ken Stern is stepping down from the organization. A statement from the network's board said it was by mutual agreement, although insiders said the board had clashed with Stern over several of his new media initiatives.
NPR chief executive Ken Stern is stepping down from the organization. A statement from the network's board said it was "by mutual agreement", although insiders said the board had clashed with Stern over...
Stern is the latest in a series of high-level departures at NPR. Bill Marimow, formerly NPR's vice president for news, left the organization in late 2006 to become editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Jay Kernis, who developed several NPR shows over two long tenures, left in January to become managing...
Stern is the latest in a series of high-level departures at NPR. Bill Marimow, formerly NPR's vice president for news, left the organization in late 2006 to become editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer....   ((c) tvol)
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