March 29, 2024

Media Decoder Blog: Michele Norris Returns to NPR

Michele Norris, the NPR host who took a 15-month leave of absence while her husband worked for the Obama campaign, will return to the public radio network in February, NPR said Thursday.

But Ms. Norris will not resume hosting “All Things Considered,” the program she, Robert Siegel and Melissa Block hosted for nearly a decade. Rather, she will be a guest host for NPR and a special correspondent. Audie Cornish, who took over for Ms. Norris in January 2012, will remain a co-host of the afternoon news program.

NPR said in a news release that Ms. Norris “will produce in-depth profiles, interviews and series, and regularly guest host NPR News programs,” including “All Things Considered,” “Morning Edition” and “Talk of the Nation.” When she returns to the public radio network, she’ll bring with her “The Race Card Project,” an initiative she started that involves people sharing six-word comments about race. The initiative will be featured on NPR’s Web site and will spawn related radio segments as well. She will also continue a developing a book club for young listeners.

Ms. Norris left her position in October 2011 when her husband, Broderick Johnson, joined President Obama’s re-election campaign as a senior adviser. At the time she cited both the ethical conundrum and “the impact that it will most certainly have on our family life.”

When she left, she said it was a temporary change “until after the 2012 elections.” But Thursday’s announcement makes the hosting change permanent.

Margaret Low Smith, NPR’s senior vice president of news, said in an email to employees on Thursday, “With Michele taking on a new role, I’m delighted that Audie Cornish has agreed to step in permanently at ‘All Things Considered.’ Audie has done an exceptional job this past year, revealing new depth and dimension. Her experience on Capitol Hill made her an especially valuable presence covering the 2012 election. Audie beautifully rounds out the host lineup with Robert and Melissa.”

Ms. Cornish was previously the host of “Weekend Edition Sunday.” Rachel Martin, who filled in for her on Sundays last year, will now be the permanent host of that program, NPR said.

Here is Ms. Smith’s email to employees:

Dear All,

I have some significant host news to announce. After the inauguration, Michele Norris will be returning to NPR in a new role as a Host/Special Correspondent, producing signature profiles of leaders in politics, pop culture, business and other fields. While on sabbatical, Michele has spent a good deal of time traveling the country and developing two successful initiatives: The Race Card Project and NPR’s Backseat Book Club. Her new role will allow her to continue this work while producing in-depth segments for all NPR programs.

Michele created The Race Card Project to foster a wider conversation about race after her 2010 family memoir, The Grace of Silence, was published. Michele asked people to share their thoughts about race in just six words. More than 14,000 people from all over the globe submitted their thoughts, observations, fears, hopes and experiences about race. Those six word stories are a rich archive of views about a complex subject. They also represent a meaningful opportunity for Michele to share her distinctive style of storytelling with NPR listeners on this important topic. To that end, I’ve asked Michele to develop features around The Race Card Project on NPR.org and related segments for broadcast, in addition to producing in-depth profile segments on newsmakers. Michele will continue to develop The Back Seat Book Club feature aimed at cultivating NPR’s youngest listenership and she will do a variety of live events and roundtable discussions to help NPR increase its visibility. Michele will also lend her unique hosting style as a guest host on NPR news programs.

Michele spent nearly ten years hosting All Things Considered and was a powerful addition to the show. She brings a unique interviewing style that combines both warmth and grit when talking to world leaders, Nobel Laureates, Oscar winners and American presidents. Her keen ear and sharp instincts led to many memorable segments with everyday people including Katrina survivors, comedians, working parents, school principals and survivors of war. We’re looking forward to hearing Michele’s work in this next chapter.

With Michele taking on a new role, I’m delighted that Audie Cornish has agreed to step in permanently at All Things Considered. Audie has done an exceptional job this past year, revealing new depth and dimension. Her experience on Capitol Hill made her an especially valuable presence covering the 2012 election. Audie beautifully rounds out the host lineup with Robert and Melissa. She is an outstanding journalist, with a wonderful on air presence, and now she is a welcome and familiar voice to ATC listeners.

In turn, Rachel Martin will stay on as host of Weekend Edition Sunday. Before she began hosting, Rachel was our National Security Correspondent and draws on a decade of experience reporting all over the world. Her deep intellect, editorial range and warm presence make her the perfect choice for this position. Rachel and Audie have won the admiration and appreciation of audiences, stations and colleagues alike.

Please join me in congratulating everyone on their new assignments.

Best,

Margaret

Article source: http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/michele-norris-returns-to-npr/?partner=rss&emc=rss

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