Ellen Weiss' first comments on her NPR resignation

Ellen Weiss called her decision to step down Thursday as the top news executive at National Public Radio "extremely hard" but declined to criticize NPR or back away from her decision to fire Juan Williams, the action that led to her downfall.

Weiss, 51, would have hit her 29th anniversary at NPR next month, but she agreed to leave her post under pressure after an internal investigation found that Williams' firing had been hasty and not well executed.

Weiss stressed that she did not make the decision to fire Williams alone. She acted after the comentator went on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" and described his occasional discomfort flying with people in "Muslim garb." NPR Chief Executive Vivian Schiller, who remains in her job, approved the firing.

"What I would say is that the decision to terminate the Juan Williams contract by NPR, of which I was a participant, was based on the highest journalistic standards," Weiss said Thursday.

The NPR ethics code requires employees to withhold their personal opinions both on the radio network and in other public apperances. But critics have noted that Williams, and other NPR personalities, were routinely asked to give opinions as guest commentators on cable television.

Speaking haltingly and with obvious emotion, Weiss said she was proud of her long tenure, which included 12 years as executive producer of the news magazine "All Things Considered." She said she thought she had prepared NPR well for the future.

Meeting with a small group of confidantes inside the network Thursday, Weiss said she previously had advised others that any organization had to prepare for the loss of the boss.

"If you get hit by a bus, you want to make sure you have the right people in place, you want to make sure it doesn't end," Weiss said. "I feel I have an incredible newsroom in place, with fantastic leadership and unbelievably courageous reporters. I am glad I followed my own advice. Because the bus came, and I am gone.”

Weiss said she had no plans yet for the future but that she would continue to "love and admire NPR." She added: "It's an incredible institution that is way bigger than one individual."

Weiss said she could not say whether her departure would help clear the air and deflate political pressure to cut NPR's government funding, but she hoped it would.

"It was extremely hard," she said of her decision, finalized with NPR chief Schiller on Thursday. "It was not the hardest decision I ever made in my life but certainly one of the hardest."

-- James Rainey

twitter.com/latimesrainey

 

Comments

[Pasquino Marforio]

NPR is highly incestuous and narrow minded. So what. If it was in the free market, it would rise or fall only by the financial support of it's audience.

But it doesnt. Taxpayers, despite what NPR would have you believe, gives more that 60% of it's funding, and this woman has a salary over $300,000.00 a year. Vivian Shiller even more, and with bonuses.

It does this slight of hand by the funding fee that local affiliates have to pay to it, for it's programming, of which, 60% of the money received by local affiliates is taxpayer money through the Corporation For Public Broad Casting. A federally funded agency.

NPR should be defunded, not because it's liberal but because it's wrong for the federal government to be in the news business or to subsidize one set of views over another.

Or to provide a mouthpiece for any one administration or any one party.

[Joe]

Another clueless libitard who lives in a fantasy world!

[Doug Terry]

Here's a question: was the quick and perhaps inappropriate firing of Williams followed by a slow and perhaps inappropriate firing of Weiss?

My own view is that Williams said something dumb and that reporters, in general, should not be appearing on talk shows, especially those on Fox, and giving their opinions on this and that. Yet, it is too seductive: the money, the minor league fame, the ability to do speaking engagements around the country. Prohibiting it would be like taking Christmas candy from reporters who, prior to television, have normally spend a decade or two without much recognition and pay that is usually not that high.

Williams was fired, in part, because he got too big for his britches with NPR. No organization likes to see people it is paying get too far while still on the payroll.

Why is Weiss leaving? Was her decision that bad, that poor? Or, is this just another sign of general cowardice when something becomes a big issue?

NPR hasn't gotten this much attention in the major media since it almost went bankrupt sometime back in the '80s.

Doug Terry at The TerryReport (former NPR reporter/producer in DC)

[Bravo]

Nice Bus! Wish it had a little wider aim however. Maybe it can back up & run back over the carcass a few more times...

[j tentorro]

Weiss made a mistake... and that was to RESIGN.

Why should Weiss even think to resign?. She fulfilled her duty as news executive at National Public Radio. “Somebody” had to make the call. It was the right decision. Period! The Board should recognize this... Edwards, the chairman of NPR's board, said of the Williams dismissal that "I think we all know that the termination was not handled in the best possible way.” Oh! You want to fire him? There’s no rhetoric around it... NPR should have fired Williams immediately right on the spot. He not only breached his contract he threw a pie in NPR’ face.

Edwards who’s side are you on? What’s all this nonsense?

NPR's Firing Of Juan Williams Was Handled Poorly . Nonsense – firing someone can be debated till the end of time.

The point is the objective – Williams needed to be fired. Period. And it was Rightly achieved. What had to be done... was accomplished. It’s that simple.

NPR should Stand by that... Stand up and fight for the principles you wish to up hold. To sacrifice yourself so as not to draw negative attention for who you work for and have believed in for so many years is inconsistent with who you are... defend your integrity... don’t sacrifice it! It would prove to the public you believe in your ethics. Doesn’t make sense! Weiss made the right decision... she followed through with her duties. They were compelled to fire someone (a professional) who should know better, having written sooo much on Civil Rights movement. He exposed himself on national TV as a clear BIGOT... a hypocrite.

All NPR needs to do is run the testimony over and over again when asked for any reason why he was fired and not say one word.

Williams who worked for NPR didn’t seem to think that - to make himself look foolish would not only ”hurt himself” but also the establishment for whom he represents and works for - of a radio station that is dedicated in maintaining ethical standards. That’s what sets NPR apart from the rest.

If NPR does not uphold to it’s principles it will not continue to exist. Apply ethics to maintain objectivity and neutrality when delivering the NEWS. That’s what they do.

This “professional” clearly violated that.

[Betty Rodriguez]

Is it in NPR's "ethics book" to allow reporters to work for other broadcast media?

If Juan Williams' contract was up in a few months, why did Ellen Weiss have to fire him? NPR could have avoided this whole problem by not renewing Mr. Williams' contract.

Ellen Weiss would portray her firing of Juan Williams as a justified defense of "high journalistic standards." Since when is it within journalistic standards to fire someone for expressing his right to free speech?

While Fox is no bargain, our society is doomed if NPR is the last bastion of "ethical" journalistic standards.

[j tentorro]

Weiss made a mistake... and that was to RESIGN.

Why should Weiss even think to resign?. She fulfilled her duty as news executive at National Public Radio. “Somebody” had to make the call. It was the right decision. Period! The Board should recognize this... Edwards, the chairman of NPR's board, said of the Williams dismissal that "I think we all know that the termination was not handled in the best possible way.” Oh! You want to fire him? There’s no rhetoric around it... NPR should have fired Williams immediately right on the spot. He not only breached his contract he threw a pie in NPR’ face.
Edwards who’s side are you on? What’s all this nonsense? NPR's Firing Of Juan Williams Was Handled Poorly . Nonsense – firing someone can be debated till the end of time. The point is the objective – Williams needed to be fired. Period. And it was Rightly achieved. What had to be done... was accomplished. It’s that simple.
NPR should Stand by that... Stand up and fight for the principles you wish to up hold. To sacrifice yourself so as not to draw negative attention for who you work for and have believed in for so many years is inconsistent with who you are... defend your integrity... don’t sacrifice it! It would prove to the public you believe in your ethics. Doesn’t make sense! Weiss made the right decision... she followed through with her duties. They were compelled to fire someone (a professional) who should know better, having written sooo much on Civil Rights movement. He exposed himself on national TV as a clear BIGOT... a hypocrite. All NPR needs to do is run the testimony over and over again when asked for any reason why he was fired and not say one word.
Williams who worked for NPR didn’t seem to think that - to make himself look foolish would not only” hurt himself” but also the establishment for whom he represents and works for - of a radio station that is dedicated in maintaining ethical standards. That’s what sets NPR apart from the rest.

If NPR does not uphold to it’s principles it will not continue to exist. Apply ethics to maintain objectivity and neutrality when delivering the NEWS. That’s what they do.

This “professional” clearly violated that.

When Williams even appeared on the O’Reilly program his integrity dropped a few notches. And then what he said put him over the top making him a clear bigot. There is something wrong with this guy

Juan Williams signed and was paid under contract with NPR. He was fired because NPR insists upon high journalistic standards “objective and neutral” which are specified in his contract. If you can’t honor the agreement or don’t like what your working for – get out! Why draw, create negative attention to yourself.

And he did just that when he displayed on nation wide TV his hypocrisy.

Weiss was right to fire him. He was repeatedly told he had stepped over the line too many times. In plan rational, what do bosses do when they are compelled to have to repeat themselves because the employee refuses to honor the code of behavior, the protocol of “their” business?

[-->Listen to this guy]

Her notoriety may have cost her this job, but it'll land her on a talk show at one of the networks. If she can get a job as a talking head then she'll end up working half as much for the same pay. Good for her. Don't let them get you down.