Hiring of new President and CEO

January 25, 2024 Attn: NPR Board Members. I’m writing because I have a concern that your newly hired President and CEO, Katherine Maher is too obviously liberal and had never felt obligated to tamp down this bias (I am a registered Democrat). I reference a story from the NY Post (Yes, I know it’s on the right-wing side, but I read news from many sources) which cites several instances of some rather alarming remarks. At one point, she discusses and then excused shoplifting as “counterproductive” but to be expected (and apparently accepted) from African Americans based on a “system of oppression” related to slavery. She also discusses her “white guilt”. Her comments imply that being “white” is bad to the point that white women have “that hysteric white woman voice”, which she has used and is embarrassed about. Even as a Democrat myself, I do not think this is acceptable from a person who is supposed to be neutral and represent one of the largest radio networks in the US. I do not feel that you, as board members of NPR did your due diligence in finding someone who is more neutral. One of the problems critics have of NPR is that it has never really attempted to be neutral like the AP on its news content. I understand that’s partly because it relies, in many cases, on unpaid stringers who tend to be liberal and their personal biases come through on stories. My husband and I have listened to NPR for many years, and my husband was even a stringer some years ago. But I can clearly hear a liberal bias in many stories and it is inappropriate for NPR, a national radio network which should work harder at being as neutral as possible. I do not think your newly hired President and CEO, Katherine Maher will work one iota toward fixing this bias problem. And this is a big problem for NPR and the way it is perceived. A perception problem will obviously continue to reduce trust in NPR stories by individuals who do not self-identify as liberal. So rather than going toward the side of fixing this perception issue, board members have exacerbated the problem by hiring a super liberal CEO which has already been outed by right-wing media. Please see that the individuals listed below receive a copy of this letter. Thank you. Wynn Avocette Jennifer Ferro – KCRW Stephen George – Louiseville Pulbic media Myrna Johnson – Iowa Public Radio Margaret Low – WBUR – Boston R.C. McBride – WGLT WCBU Maria O’Mara – KUER Tina Pamintuan – St. Louis Public Radio Elise Pepple – Marfa public Radio Texas Erika Pulley-Hayes – WAMU Mike Savage - WEKU