NPR Editor Who Fired Commentator Williams Resigns

NPR’s top news editor stepped down Thursday following an internal review of the public radio network’s firing of a prominent commentator, Juan Williams, says The Washington Post.

Ellen Weiss, a 28-year NPR veteran, ended Mr. Williams’s contract with the network in October after he said on a Fox News program that flying with people in Muslim dress made him “nervous.” The firing set off an intense free-speech debate and prompted calls by congressional Republicans to cut off NPR’s federal funds.

The review by NPR’s board determined that the organization mishandled Mr. Williams’ ouster, and members voted to cancel CEO Vivian Schiller’s 2010 bonus “over her role in the termination process.”

NPR has said Mr. Williams long ignored warnings to limit his comments on other media outlets to news analysis rather than offering personal opinions. The board characterized the firing as “legally sound” and Ms. Weiss told the Los Angeles Times it met “the highest journalistic standards,” but Mr. Williams, speaking on Fox News, said his ouster showed NPR “is not open to all points of view.”