Media

NPR Host ‘Steps Away’ After Husband Becomes Senior Adviser to Obama Camp

NPR Host Michele Norris Steps Down After Husband Becomes Obama Adviser

NPR "All Things Considered" host Michele Norris.

NPR host Michele Norris is temporarily stepping down from the afternoon news show “All Things Considered” because her husband has taken a senior role in President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. But “stepping down” doesn’t fully explain the move, as she’ll still be producing segments and working behind the scenes.

In a note sent to NPR staff Monday and posted on the network’s website, Norris says her husband’s new role could make it difficult to continue hosting the show. She says she is temporarily stepping away from hosting the actual show until after the 2012 elections:

Hello everyone,

I need to share some news and I wanted to make sure my NPR family heard this first.  Last week, I told news management that my husband, Broderick Johnson, has just accepted a senior advisor position with the Obama Campaign.  After careful consideration, we decided that Broderick’s new role could make it difficult for me to continue hosting ATC. Given the nature of Broderick’s position with the campaign and the impact that it will most certainly have on our family life, I will temporarily step away from my hosting duties until after the 2012 elections. I will be leaving the host chair at the end of this week, but I’m not going far. I will be wearing a different hat for a while, producing signature segments and features and working on new reporting projects. While I will of course recuse myself from all election coverage, there’s still an awful lot of ground that I can till in this interim role.

This has all happened very quickly, but working closely with NPR management, we’ve been able to make a plan that serves the show, honors the integrity of our news organization and is best for me professionally and personally.

I will certainly miss hosting, but I will remain part of the ATC team and I look forward to contributing to our show and NPR in new and exciting ways.

My very best,

Michele

Norris says she will recuse herself from all election coverage but will continue reporting for NPR on other subjects. She steps down as host at the end of the week.

“All Things Considered” is also hosted by Robert Siegel and Melissa Block.

The move comes as NPR “fired” host Lisa Simeone, who hosted an opera show distributed by NPR and another show produced by the network, after it was found she was the spokeswoman for the Occupy D.C. movement.

NPR spokesperson Anna Christopher confirmed to the The Atlantic Wire that Norris’s move is temporary and that she will continue to report for the outlet:

Michele Norris told our staff and stations today that she will temporarily step down from her role as co-host of All Things Considered.  She will instead report for NPR, producing signature pieces and covering topics unrelated to the election.

This change occurred due to the fact that her husband, Broderick Johnson, took on the role of senior advisor to the Obama campaign, effective today.

But all that raises the question: Even though Norris will not be hosting or reporting on politics, could her presence as a reporter and behind the scenes still affect coverage?

NPR seems to have answered, “no.” But there are probably many others who have doubts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments (57)

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  • Tired-of-fools
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:57pm

    When are Comrad Kieth Olbermann, Brian Williams, Katie Couric, and Comrad Chriss Matthews going to work for the Obama camp? Oh,,,,,,,thet’s right,,,,,,,,,,,they already are. My bad.

    Report Post »  
  • 762x51
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:52pm

    What’s this?!? A sense of honesty and fair play from Nationalist Socialist Public Radio? Say it ain’t so. The next thing you know they will stop cheer-leading for Obama and the Marxists, start reporting the truth and will need to take down the sigh over the entrance to their building “ Arbeit Macht Frei”. What is this world coming to?

    Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 3:01pm

      NPR knows it’s about to be defunded after the 2012 elections..it‘s just trying to fabricate a case in it’s defense…too little, too late.

      Report Post »  
  • flfshrmn
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:50pm

    It speaks for itself doesn’t it?

    Report Post » flfshrmn  
  • Jerbear1098
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:42pm

    Don’t listen to that crap anyway. Defund it and let them stand on their own.

    Report Post » Jerbear1098  
    • Founding Father2
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:50pm

      No Obama would rather fund NPR while telling people not to travel to Nevada. He has had a vendeta against NV even though they voted for him. Sadly for him, they will not be this year. They have already picked their top two candidates. Romney and Cain. Hopefully things stay the same.

      Now Romney has taken Obama to task in Nevada like so many other states Obama visits. Today he released a video ad showing what Obama has done to NV since he has become President: http://www.thedailycandidate.com/video/2011/oct/romney_ad_obama_nevada.html .

      So that NPR host shouldn’t have left her day job , OBAMA WON”T BE AROUND LONG…

      Report Post »  
    • trickball
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:55pm

      Ditto!

      Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:23pm

    Pretty much all media except fox has inflicted the Marxist on us,most of them actively support him and journalism died may years ago.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • motonutt
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:39pm

      Somebody must have lit off a can of rat poisen down there at NPR.

      Report Post » motonutt  
    • riverdog1
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 7:19pm

      if you could give an example of their media bias that would be great. was it durring antiques roadshow? they actually do a great job with the news, they report it, not spin it.

      Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 8:39pm

      RIVERDOG: Only a progressive would say that NPR does not “spin” the news.

      Report Post »  
  • heyjim55
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:12pm

    It’s no secret that NPR is a Marxist radio format they have never been balanced or objective about anything. So what else is new? they will how ever receive a huge funding package if Obama gets elected and never have to worry about finances again. Perhaps they will change the name of the radio show to the Peoples voice or some such Marxist tag. Although calling all of Obama’s supporters Marxists seems to fall short of what they really are. As David Horowitz recently said they have shown a more Fascist side to them which looks even more spooky because the world has not really experienced a mixture of Marxist and Fascist form of Government all rolled into one. You have the absolute worst of the two monsters all in one ideology trying to take over the most powerful nation in the world what could be scarier than that.

    Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 3:16pm

      Marxist? They’re about as right wing as you can get. On the lead up to our invasions of iraq and afghanistan -every single morning -with my radio -alarm set for 5am- at 5am on the dot I would hear the words“terrorist attacks” coming from the npr station my alarm was set to.The first words on waking up would be without fail the words“ terrrorist attacks”. This starting from 9-12-01 and going on for at least a year. Every single day without exception. They are ,were and alway have been right wing anti-arab muslim genocidists.Hawks on war but of course very liberal on every social issue of the day.They are state radio-indoctrinating the public to hate arab/muslims and at the same time to oppose the death penalty, to oppose banning abortion and of course to oppose illigal immigrationenforcement. if you’re on their wrong side of those issues you are demonized or dismissed as reactionary racist, anti-woman etc.

      Report Post »  
  • Welcome Black Carter
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:04pm

    “honors the integrity of our news organization”

    That’s a good one.

    Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
  • sizzler2220
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:00pm

    What has happened to the “DEFUND NPR” movement?

    Report Post »  
  • hi
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:55pm

    Nazi Public Radio NPR

    Report Post » hi  
  • lukerw
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:52pm

    NPR is an Arm of the Liberal Govenment Propagana Machine! Terminate it!!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • lillymckim
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:58pm

      Yet our “Republican” representatives continue to fund NPR,PBS and Acorn with our MONEY!!!!!

      The are the Obama left armed voting machines…. and we LET our representatives use

      OUR HARD EARNED MONEY TO FUND THESE ORGANIZATIONS?

      We will Vote them out of office as well!

      Report Post » lillymckim  
    • lukerw
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:09pm

      Someone needs to publish a serious Report Card… upon whom voted for what!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • riverdog1
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 7:21pm

      luk, no its not. you might be thinking of fox or rush being the arm of the right. easy to get mixed up when you are 13 years old.

      Report Post »  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:50pm

    Wow, a “journalist” in the Obumbler camp doing the right thing without any prompting? Uh-huh….. Perception must be reality, eh? When’s the other shoe going to drop?

    Report Post » biohazard23  
  • teapartyconservatism
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:49pm

    Barack Obama aka: Barry Soetoro, Harrison J. Bounel, Barack Soebarkah

    Who are you?
    Who, who, who, who?
    Who are you?
    Who, who, who, who?
    Who are you?
    Who, who, who, who?
    Who are you?
    Who, who, who, who?

    I staggered back to the underground
    And the breeze blew back my hair
    I remember throwin’ punches around
    And preachin’ from my chair

    Well, who are you? Who are you? Who, who, who, who?
    I really wanna know. Who are you? Who, who, who, who?
    Tell me, who are you? Who are you? Who, who, who, who?
    ‘Cause I really wanna know. Who are you? Who, who, who, who?

    http://www.ObamaBirthCertificate.net

    Report Post » teapartyconservatism  
    • riverdog1
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 7:25pm

      @TPC, hopefully most have the good sense not to pay any attention to you because well, that is one crazya$$ statement without one drop of truth. grow up. if you don’t like obamas policies then point out your opinion. birther crazy is stupid.

      Report Post »  
    • daveycrokett
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 9:45pm

      thats true, as the saying goes, we dont know him from adam.

      Report Post »  
  • capecodsully
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:48pm

    Everyone at NPR and PBS work for the progressive/commies. Why pretend to be stepping anywhere, aint nobody fooled.

    Report Post »  
  • SEPARATENOW
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:48pm

    Let’s give her a little credit and a little of the Bronx cheer.

    Credit for stepping forward as an Obamunist before the election. The Bronx cheer for pretending she had no bias before that, which is BS.

    Her views have been baked in the cake since Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow.

    Hurray! We now see what we’ve known since childhood.

    Report Post » SEPARATENOW  
  • Crazy Robert
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:47pm

    That behind the scenes aspect is funny. Like that has any change in her effect of any coverage of anything. But it makes them feel good so I am sure it is the right thing to do. [sic]

    Report Post »  
  • JRook
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:43pm

    Interesting…. a rare sign of journalistic integrity. Not surprising that peers have trouble recognizing it.

    Report Post »  
  • Bravestarr
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:41pm

    I just assumed every NPR employee had ties to the Obama administration.

    Report Post »  
  • noleftturn
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:41pm

    I’m shocked……. not!

    Report Post » noleftturn  
  • Founding Father2
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:39pm

    Since Obama is in Nevada it is only fair to hear what a LV heavy weight has to say about him. Steve Wynn has been one of Obama’s biggest opposition in Nevada and this time he really rips Obama apart: http://www.americanparchment.com/video/2011/oct/wynn_slams_obama.html

    Business owners everywhere are standing up against the President.

    Report Post »  
  • AlansTigg
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:35pm

    why am I not suprised that an NPR host kept her maiden name after getting married…

    Report Post » AlansTigg  
  • ares338
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:25pm

    Uh….er…well ah…….WHO CARES.

    Report Post » ares338  
  • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:23pm

    Actually, what’s the problem with this? She came out BEFORE it was an issue. Outlined the now conflict of interest. Recused herself. Isn’t this what should be done? Should she have to leave her career altogether? For Pete’s sake….

    Report Post » Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
  • hi
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:23pm

    NPR’s support from Obama may as well be in the open, not that it is very well hidden.

    Report Post » hi  
  • hi
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:21pm

    Let her stay. Her support for Obama and marxism should be in the open.

    Report Post » hi  
  • barber2
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:20pm

    Shocked. Absolutely shocked to think there is some connection between an NPR employee and the Obama Administration. Why NPR is so “fair and balanced ” in its political coverage. And I am the King of Persia….

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:25pm

      Who could have known??? LOL …

      Report Post »  
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