The head of National Public Radio has resigned after the broadcaster's chief fund-raiser was secretly videotaped questioning whether NPR needs its government funding.
President and CEO Vivian Schiller left on Wednesday after NPR's board of directors decided that she could no longer effectively lead the organisation.
The quote from NPR is below – but it follows months of unrest at the American broadcaster, with pressure coming to a head on Tuesday when fundraiser Ron Schiller was videotaped slamming conservatives and questioning whether NPR needs government funding during a meeting with men posing as members of a Muslim organisation.
Last year NPR's political analyst was dismissed and one of their news executives resigned.
[blockquote]"It is with deep regret that I tell you that the NPR Board of Directors has accepted the resignation of Vivian Schiller as President and CEO of NPR, effective immediately.
"The Board accepted her resignation with understanding, genuine regret, and great respect for her leadership of NPR these past two years.
"Vivian brought vision and energy to this organization. She led NPR back from the enormous economic challenges of the previous two years. She was passionately committed to NPR's mission, and to stations and NPR working collaboratively as a local-national news network.
"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."[/blockquote]
See video and more details on [link=http://www.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/Index]USA Today[/link].