NPR‘s editor in chief plans to step down this fall, an announcement that comes just after public media lost federal funding for the next two years.Edith Chapin, who also holds the title of acting chief content officer, told NPR that her resignation was not due to Congress’ vote last week to rescind federal funding. “I have had two big executive jobs for two years, and I want to take a break,” she said. “I want to make sure my performance is always top-notch for the company.”In a statement, Chapin said, “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve NPR’s listeners and readers, and work alongside some of the most dedicated journalists in the world. I will leave deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished and confident in the strength and integrity of NPR’s newsroom going forward.”Chapin has led the NPR newsroom since 2022, first as acting SVP News and editor in chief and then, the next year, taking on that role on a permanent basis. She previously has served as VP and executive editor at large and VP and executive editor of NPR News. Before joining NPR in 2012, she worked at CNN for 25 years, including as VP and deputy bureau chief in Washington, D.C.Maher said in a statement, “Edith laid the foundation for a stronger public radio, and set us on a solid path with her expert navigation. She has led with conviction, clarity, and compassion — always putting the public’s interest first. Her impact on NPR’s journalism and on the many people she mentored and supported over the years is immeasurable.”Last week, Congress voted to strip $1.1 billion of federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or its entire appropriation for the next two years. That funding was part of a $9 billion package of rescissions requested by Donald Trump. He and other Republicans have claimed that NPR and other public media entities are biased against conservatives. But PBS, NPR and the CPB have pointed to surveys showing continued high levels of public trust in public media compared to other sources.
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