5QQ: Vivian Schiller

Photo: Michael Benabib, 2008

Vivian Schiller is the president and CEO of National Public Radio, which she joined at the end of 2008 after seven years at The New York Times Co. During her tenure at the Times, where she was most recently the SVP and general manager of NYTimes.com, she oversaw a complete overhaul of the paper’s website and dismantled TimesSelect, an early attempt at charging for content online. Schiller’s leadership at NPR has also meant a redesigned website. With her experience at the premiere newspaper website and now at NPR, which she touts as the oldest pay model in broadcast, Schiller knows as much as anybody about online pay models. Earlier this week she came to New York to prove it, participating in a debate with Journalism Online founder Steve Brill — “The Great Digital Debate: Free vs. Paid Content Online.” Now she answers our 5QQ — Five Quick Questions.

1. How Do You Get Your First News Of The Day?

I divide my affections equally between Morning Edition and The New York Times Online – Please don’t make me choose!

2. Either, Or (you gotta pick one!):

New York City or Washington, DC?

My two great loves — my family and my job — are in Washington, so this one’s easy. But I’m glad I get to New York as often as I do.

Follow-Up: Subway or Metro?

We are a two-hybrid family, so I drive my Prius in DC, but it’s subway all the way in NYC.

Morning Edition or Weekend Edition?

I never stop listening.

Ira Glass or Garrison Keillor?

Ira Glass, but only because his program connects with the journalist in me.

Sarah Palin or Tina Fey?

That’s too easy.

Bill O’Reilly or Glenn Beck

Sarah Palin

Spike Jonze or Maurice Sendak?

Depends on where the wild things are that day (or night).

Eco Canvas Tote (with your $60 donation to New York Public Radio, WNYC) Or Barbara Streisand’s “Love Is The Answer” CD ($100 Donation)?

Eco Tote – see ‘two-hybrid family’ above.

What’s The Biggest Story the Media Has Missed This Year? (Or Last Week):

Tough One. I’d have to say the job market. It’s not a sexy story, but I think the fact that so many college grads can’t find a job is a profound shift in THE American Dream.

4. Obligatory Twitter Question: Describe Yourself In 140 Characters Or Less (Hash Tag Optional!).

# Vivianschiller Can’t decide if she’s Mother, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Partner, Employee, Boss, Teacher, Student or Friend so tries to be all at once, to mixed results.

5. Are You Nervous or Excited About The Future Of Journalism? Why?

Excited. A golden age of journalism is going to emerge from the hellish years we are going through. I’m sure of it.

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.