(Updated) NPR Exec. Who Fired Juan Williams Resigns; Board Withholds CEO's Bonus

The NPR executive who fired Juan Williams with a phone call has resigned, reports say. The departure comes after an independent investigation found that while the firing was legal, it could have been handled better.

Despite those findings, however, NPR's Board of Directors decided to withhold the bonus of NPR's CEO Vivian Schiller for her role in the incident.

Ellen Weiss, who refused to meet with Williams after he made some comments about Muslim "garb" and then fired him, informed Schiller of her departure, who in turn announced the move in a statement on NPR's website.

"NPR SVP for News Ellen Weiss has notified me that she will be leaving her position," Schiller wrote. "Over her decades at NPR, Ellen has made meaningful and lasting contributions to the evolution of NPR and our newsroom. She is a strong journalist who has brought her considerable talents to how NPR covers the world and meets the ever-increasing expectations of today’s audiences. Ellen exemplifies journalistic professionalism and integrity."

In a separate statement, NPR's Board announced the results of an independent investigation into the firing. That statement recognized Weiss's resignation, but also said that Schiller would be punished by not receiving a bonus.

"The Board has expressed confidence in Vivian Schiller's leadership going forward," the statement said. "She accepted responsibility as CEO and cooperated fully with the review process. The Board, however, expressed concern over her role in the termination process and has voted that she will not receive a 2010 bonus."

The independent review suggested a number of recommendations going forward, mostly centered on training and updating policies and procedures.

UPDATE:

Juan Williams reacted to the news on Thursday afternoon, saying NPR's culture is "incestuous" and "not open":