Juan Williams Fallout: NPR’s CEO Gets No Bonus, SVP Of News Resigns

by Mark Joyella | 2:27 pm, January 6th, 2011

» 24 comments

An NPR investigation of the firing of news analyst Juan Williams has determined that the dismissal was “in accordance with the terms” of Williams’ NPR contract, which allowed Williams or NPR to end the agreement for any reason with thirty days’ notice.

Still, the NPR Board has adopted a series of recommendations and policy changes, and accepted the resignation of SVP of News Ellen Weiss.

Weiss was the NPR executive who informed Williams of his firing, which came after an appearance on Fox News where Williams confessed he was nervous when he saw people in “Muslim garb” on airplanes. NPR claimed the comment was only the latest in a series of disturbing comments Williams had made in recent years, but the firing prompted an avalanche of criticism of NPR–including calls for cutting federal funding of public broadcasting.

The independent review–a committee reporting to the NPR board and working with outside legal counsel–did express “concern” over NPR CEO Vivian Schiller‘s role in the affair, determining that Schiller will not be awarded a 2010 bonus.

The NPR investigation, which involved thousands of documents and interviews with current and former NPR employees and contractors, but did not include the cooperation of Williams himself. NPR says it extended requests to Williams through his agent and a former NPR colleague, but Williams, NPR says, did not respond.

In a memo to NPR staff, the Board summarized its findings this way:

‘We have taken this situation very seriously and the Board believes these recommendations and remedial steps address the concerns raised in connection with the termination of Williams’ contract,’ said Dave Edwards, Chair. ‘The Board regrets this incident’s impact on NPR and will work with NPR’s CEO, Vivian Schiller, to ensure that these actions will be expeditiously completed, examined, and monitored on an ongoing basis.’

In a second memo, also to NPR staff, Schiller wrote:

This has been a difficult period for all of us. Now is the time to focus on what we can do to make NPR an even stronger organization and a more meaningful part of daily life for the millions who depend on us each week. I am committed to making NPR one of the best places to work and a rewarding experience for all employees.

Ellen Weiss, firing, investigation, Juan Williams, NPR, Vivian Schiller

tatboy

So she is found to have done something wrong and all they do is not give her a 2010 bonus??? Hell, I haven’t gotten my performance bonus the last 2 years due to the economy and I have scores at the top of my department. THIS is NPR’s idea of a punishment???
Just4thefax

Fact: Score another for the FOX news crowd!
TangledThorns

No bonus for the idiot NPR CEO but Juan Williams now makes millions at FOX News. Now thats kharma.
Dem4Ever

What goes around comes around.
lazzzlo

Stupid questions?
Did NPR recognize that they disagreed w/ Juan Williams?
Did they fire a black man?
Or did they fire someone who disagreed with their editorial substance?
Probably NOT wrong

Just listened to Juan. One of the skanks kept her
job, unfortunately, and one is gone..told not to let door hit her in the ass!
But, Juan taking no prisoners in his interviews, of
which there will be many, next couple days!
TeaPartyPatriot

congress MUST STOP ALL FEDERAL FUNDING OF lamestream socialist fake-news “Corrupt B-tards” PBS AND NPR.
lazzzlo

Probably NOT wrong said:
Just listened to Juan. One of the skanks kept her
job, unfortunately

You can’t call someone a “skank”.
lazzzlo

TeaPartyPatriot said:
congress MUST STOP ALL FEDERAL FUNDING OF lamestream socialist fake-news “Corrupt B-tards” PBS AND NPR.

Oh stop it, how are you getting yer Internet access?
Probably NOT wrong

I was complimenting them!
Moderate

Ellen Weiss was thrown under the bus rather than the NPR agenda. Typical liberal way of doing things.
The Real Royal King

Just4thefax said:
Fact: Score another for the FOX news crowd!

Actually, I consider Williams being at FOX “News” and only FOX “News” a huge win for NPR.
TfT

Schiller should have been fired for her on-air personal attacks on Williams. That NPR retains her says a lot about their lack of ethics.

Defund NPR now.
compound

Honestly, does anyone really care anymore what goes on in the intellectual playpen called NPR?
Can we please just cut off the federal funding and let the Ellen Weiss’s have to find sponsors for this antique television network?
This anachronism’s day of relevance ended when people could get cable in their homes.
This outlet still being in operation is like the affirmative action of television.
The Real Royal King

compound said:
Can we please just cut off the federal funding and let the Ellen Weiss’s have to find sponsors for this antique television network?

You seem to have an exceptional grasp of the issue. Except, of course, the “R” in “NPR” means “radio”.
Just4thefax

The Real Royal King said:
Actually, I consider Williams being at FOX “News” and only FOX “News” a huge win for NPR.

Fact: Even Juan doesn’t have that getto slang liberalism you puffer out!
lazzzlo

compound said:
Honestly, does anyone really care anymore what goes on in the intellectual playpen called NPR?

I used to ilsten to “all things consdired” way back when and while they challenged me theyt
offered me nothing

I wonder about my grasp.
lazzzlo

Just4thefax said:
Fact: Even Juan doesn’t have that getto slang liberalism you puffer out!

Just so I know…what is getto slang?
lazzzlo

i will do you Irish slang which I have to go argue with skyfet. So what is ghetto slang?
lazzzlo

Are they just words that really hurt your feelings?
lazzzlo

Sometimes you just gotta go slow.
lazzzlo

Once you can kick the sh*t out of the world; life does get boring.
libra blue

Yeah, well I am still waiting for NPR to fire hack Nina Totenberg for her Helms comment. There are still double standards at NPR.
OxyCon

Chick that got fired…er, resigned…whew…scary looking.