Broadcasting & Cable | Variety
NPR has another newsroom leadership position to fill as Executive Editor Dick Meyer leaves to lead BBC News America. Meyer, who has been at NPR since 2008, worked with Ellen Weiss, former senior vice president for news, until her resignation nearly a year ago. Since Weiss’ departure, Margaret Low Smith has been acting senior VP. NPR’s Anna Christopher tells me they will “wait until we have a permanent SVP of News before making a decision on how to fill Dick’s role of executive editor.” The search for a permanent successor to Weiss — and a fundraising director — have been on hold until after a new CEO was selected. Gary Knell was hired for that job last month. Now, he will have a third position to fill. Knell officially starts at NPR tomorrow, Dec. 1, when he’ll be on “Talk of the Nation” from 2-2:40, and then doing a Twitter chat (@nprgaryknell) from 3-3:30 p.m. Questions can be hashed #nprceo.
In a statement released by the BBC, Meyer said of his new job:
I am honored and humbled by this new responsibility. The BBC is simply the greatest newsgathering operation in the world today. As American news organizations undergo difficult change, the BBC has an important role in this country and a real opportunity for growth. I am proud to have the chance to help with that important work.
His new employer praised the award-winning CBS News veteran:
“His considerable multiplatform experience and understanding of the North American news media landscape will help us build on our success so far and further strengthen the profile and presence of BBC News for American TV, digital and radio audiences,” BBC Newsroom head Mary Hockaday said.
Meyer begins at BBC America in February 2012.
