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Topic: Miscellaneous items
Date/Time: 11/29/2004 2:09:13 PM
Title: Tavis Smiley decides against renewing NPR contract
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
 
From: Tavis Smiley
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 1:30 PM
To: [Multiple recipients at public radio stations]
Subject: The Tavis Smiley Show

29 November 2004

Hello Friend!

I trust that this letter finds you well and enjoying the spirit and splendor of the holiday season.

Let me apologize for the somewhat impersonal nature of this letter, but the sheer volume of addressees makes it a bit impossible to send each of you a personal greeting that would arrive in a timely manner.

It is with deep regret that I write to inform you of my decision to not renew my contract with NPR, which expires shortly. My last scheduled day on air is anticipated to be Thursday, December 16, 2004, when my previously scheduled holiday hiatus is set to commence.

I wanted to contact you personally and immediately to express my gratitude to you and your staff for giving me the chance to be heard by your listeners. I know the ridicule many of you had to endure when you decided to take this journey with me by adding my program to your line-up. I will always be appreciative of your confidence and trust.

With your support, I have come to care even more for public radio and its social, cultural and intellectual potential. Yet, after all that we've accomplished towards our goal of seeking a broader, more diverse and younger audience for public radio, NPR's own research has confirmed that NPR has simply failed to meaningfully reach out to a broad spectrum of Americans who would benefit from public radio, but simply don't know it exists or what it offers.

In the most multicultural, multiethnic and multiracial America ever --- I believe that NPR can and must do better in the future.

I sincerely hope you understand my position. I thank you, again, for all of your support.

With your help, this has been a remarkable journey, and I hope that in some small way I did my part to help make America better by the simple act of introducing Americans to each other.

Keep the faith,

Tavis Smiley

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