National Public Radio (NPR) is a non-profit media organization based in Washington, D.C., with a secondary headquarters in Culver City, California. Funded in part by Congress, NPR distributes its programming to over 1,000 public radio stations across the United States. Unlike other non-profit media organizations like the Associated Press, NPR's creation was established by an act of Congress.
1967: Public Broadcasting Act Passed
In 1967, the Public Broadcasting Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, leading to the establishment of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and paving the way for NPR's creation.
February 26, 1970: NPR Replaces NERN
On February 26, 1970, NPR was founded, succeeding the National Educational Radio Network following the passage of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.
1970: National Public Radio is Founded
In 1970, the organization was established as National Public Radio, marking the beginning of its journey in public broadcasting.
May 3, 1971: All Things Considered Premieres
On May 3, 1971, NPR launched its flagship afternoon drive-time newscast, All Things Considered, hosted by Robert Conley.
1977: NPR Merges with APRS
In 1977, NPR merged with the Association of Public Radio Stations, marking a pivotal step in its evolution.
November 5, 1979: Morning Edition Debuts
NPR's Morning Edition premiered on November 5, 1979, with Bob Edwards as the first host.
1983: NPR Faces Funding Crisis
During the 1970s and early 1980s, NPR relied heavily on federal funding. However, efforts by the Reagan administration in the 1980s to eliminate NPR's government support culminated in a funding crisis in 1983, compelling the network to implement immediate changes.
1983: NPR Faces Financial Crisis
In 1983, NPR experienced a significant financial setback due to expansion efforts, resulting in a deficit and leading to a Congressional investigation, the resignation of president Frank Mankiewicz, and a restructuring of funding arrangements with CPB and local stations.
January 1994: Delano Lewis Becomes CEO
Delano Lewis assumed the role of NPR's CEO and president in January 1994, succeeding Bill Buzenberg.
1994: Cancellation of Mumia Abu-Jamal Commentaries
In 1994, NPR faced significant backlash after arranging to air a series of three-minute commentaries by Mumia Abu-Jamal, a controversial figure convicted of murdering Philadelphia Police officer Daniel Faulkner. The decision sparked outrage from the Fraternal Order of Police and members of the U.S. Congress, leading NPR to cancel the commentaries. This event highlighted the complexities of journalistic freedom, public opinion, and the role of a public broadcasting organization.
August 1998: Delano Lewis Resigns
In August 1998, Delano Lewis stepped down from his position as NPR's CEO and president.
November 1998: Kevin Klose Appointed CEO
The NPR board of directors appointed Kevin Klose, former director of the International Broadcasting Bureau, as president and CEO in November 1998.
1998: Lisa Simeone's Criticism of NPR
Lisa Simeone, a public radio host who worked for NPR from 1998 to 2002, criticized NPR's Pentagon reporting, alleging that it often resembled "Pentagon press releases."
1999: Public Interactive Founded
Public Interactive, an independent, for-profit company specializing in digital media, was founded in 1999.
November 2002: NPR West Opens in Culver City
November 2002 marked the inauguration of NPR West, a 25,000-square-foot production facility in Culver City, California, established to bolster production capabilities, enhance coverage of the western United States, and serve as a backup facility.
2002: End of Lisa Simeone's Tenure at NPR
Lisa Simeone's tenure at NPR concluded in 2002.
November 2003: NPR Receives Largest Monetary Gift
NPR received a historic $235 million bequest from the estate of Joan B. Kroc, widow of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, in November 2003, marking the largest monetary gift ever received by a cultural institution.
June 2004: PRI Acquires Public Interactive
In June 2004, Public Radio International (PRI) acquired Public Interactive, an independent, for-profit company specializing in digital media.
2004: NPR Budget Increases Significantly
In 2004, NPR's budget experienced a substantial increase of over 50%, reaching $153 million, largely attributed to the Kroc gift. This allowed for investments in news staff and a reduction in member station fees.
August 2005: NPR Embraces Podcasting
NPR ventured into the realm of podcasting in August 2005, establishing a directory with over 170 programs from NPR and its member stations.
2005: NPR Budget Stabilizes
Following a significant increase the previous year, NPR's budget stabilized at approximately $120 million in 2005.
2005: Harris Telephone Survey
A Harris telephone survey conducted in 2005 found that NPR was the most trusted news source in the United States.
September 2006: Ken Stern Becomes CEO
Ken Stern, previously associated with Radio Free Europe alongside Kevin Klose, took on the role of NPR's chief executive officer in September 2006.
March 2008: Ken Stern Exits as CEO
Following disagreements with the board of directors regarding NPR's direction, including concerns from member station managers about the expansion into new media, Ken Stern stepped down as CEO in March 2008.
July 2008: NPR Acquires Public Interactive
By July 2008, Public Interactive had grown to serve 170 subscribers, operating 325 public radio and television stations. Recognizing its value, NPR acquired Public Interactive from PRI at the end of July 2008.
December 10, 2008: NPR Announces Staff and Program Cuts
On December 10, 2008, in response to a decline in corporate underwriting due to the economic crisis, NPR announced a 7% reduction in its workforce and the cancellation of news programs Day to Day and News & Notes.
2008: NPR's Weekly Listenership Reaches 20.9 Million
By 2008, NPR's weekly listenership had grown to 20.9 million.
2008: NPR Embraces Social Media
In 2008, NPR began to establish its presence on social media, with college student and fan Geoff Campbell creating its Facebook page. The organization quickly took over management of the page, using it as a platform to engage a younger audience and expand its reach beyond traditional radio.
2008: NPR Reaches Record Listenership
In 2008, NPR's programming achieved unprecedented reach, attracting a record 27.5 million weekly listeners, according to Arbitron ratings. Overall, NPR stations reached an impressive 32.7 million listeners.
March 2, 2009: NPR's Financial Stability During the Recession
In a speech at the National Press Club on March 2, 2009, then-president and CEO Vivian Schiller addressed concerns about the impact of the recession on NPR's corporate underwriting and foundation grants, acknowledging a decline in these areas, mirroring the broader media landscape.
2009: NPR's Revenue Sources
In 2009, approximately 50% of NPR's revenue came from programming fees and distribution charges paid by member stations, as indicated in the 2009 financial statement. Member stations primarily received funding from on-air pledge drives, corporate underwriting, state and local governments, educational institutions, and CPB grants. Federal, state, and local government funding accounted for 6% of member station revenue, CPB grants contributed 10%, and universities provided 14%.
2009: NPR Bans "Torture"
In 2009, NPR sparked controversy by banning the word "torture" in the context of the Bush administration's interrogation techniques. This decision drew criticism for its perceived avoidance of direct language and potential sanitization of a sensitive issue.
2009: Corporate Sponsorship Funds 26% of Budget
Corporate sponsorships played a significant role in funding NPR's operations in 2009, contributing to 26% of its budget.
2009: Federal Funding for Public Radio Decreases
According to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), federal funding constituted 11.3% of total revenues for public radio stations in 2009. This funding primarily originated from CPB grants.
June 2010: NPR Adopts On-Air Branding
In June 2010, NPR announced its intention to consistently use "NPR" as its on-air and online identifier, recognizing its common usage and the longstanding tagline "This ... is NPR."
October 2010: NPR Accepts Grant for Journalism Expansion
In October 2010, NPR received a $1.8 million grant from the Open Society Institute to launch the "Impact of Government" project, aiming to increase the number of journalists at NPR member stations across the United States.
2010: NPR's Revenue Breakdown
In 2010, NPR generated $180 million in revenue. Programming fees, grants from foundations and businesses, contributions, and sponsorships made up the majority of this revenue.
January 4, 2011: Ellen Weiss Given Ultimatum
On January 4, 2011, NPR's top news executive at the time, Ellen Weiss, was given an ultimatum to resign or be fired, partly due to the handling of Juan Williams's termination.
January 6, 2011: Ellen Weiss Resigns from NPR
Two days after being given an ultimatum, Ellen Weiss resigned from her position at NPR on January 6, 2011.
March 2011: NPR Restructuring Proposal
NPR unveiled a restructuring proposal in March 2011, outlining the separation of its digital operations. Public Interactive, based in Boston, would become NPR Digital Services, while NPR Digital Media, based in Washington D.C., would manage NPR-branded services. This restructuring aimed to provide dedicated support to public TV stations through NPR Digital Services.
March 2011: Ronald Schiller's Controversial Remarks and Vivian Schiller's Resignation
In March 2011, secretly recorded remarks made by NPR fundraising VP Ronald Schiller, which were seen as disparaging towards Republicans and the Tea Party, led to his disavowal by NPR. CEO Vivian Schiller subsequently resigned due to the fallout of this event and the Juan Williams firing.
2011: NPR Launches Online Advertising Network
NPR introduced its own online advertising network in 2011. This platform allows member stations to feature geographically targeted ads from national sponsors, providing additional advertising revenue opportunities for the broadcaster.
2012: Federal Funding for Public Radio Continues to Decline
By 2012, the proportion of public radio revenues from federal sources had slightly decreased to 10.9%, as reported by the CPB.
2012: Pew Research Center Survey
In 2012, a Pew Research Center survey revealed that NPR's audience leaned Democratic (43%), with a significant portion identifying as independent (37%) and a smaller portion as Republican (17%).
2012: Pew Research Center Analyzes NPR Listenership Demographics
The 2012 Pew Research Center News Consumption Survey revealed that NPR listeners tended to be highly educated, with 54% holding college degrees and 21% having some college experience. The survey also indicated that NPR's audience had higher-than-average incomes, with 43% earning over $75,000 and 27% earning between $30,000 and $75,000. In terms of gender, the listenership was almost evenly split, with 49% male and 51% female.
April 2013: NPR Relocates to New Headquarters
April 2013 witnessed NPR's relocation to a new headquarters and production facility on North Capitol Street NE in Washington, D.C., marking a significant milestone in its history. Weekend Edition Saturday became the first show broadcast from the new location.
June 2013: Talk of the Nation Canceled
NPR made the decision to cancel its weekday call-in program, Talk of the Nation, in June 2013.
September 2013: NPR Offers Employee Buyouts
In an effort to achieve a balanced budget by the 2015 fiscal year, NPR offered a voluntary buyout plan to its employees in September 2013, aiming to reduce staff by 10%.
2013: NPR Debuts "Center Stage" Native Advertising Platform
In 2013, NPR launched "Center Stage," a blend of native advertising and banner ads prominently displayed above the fold on the NPR homepage. Squarespace served as the launch partner for Center Stage.
July 2014: NPR One Launched
NPR launched NPR One in July 2014, an app for iOS and Android smartphones and other mobile devices, designed to enhance the listening experience. The app offered live streaming of local NPR stations, automated podcast playback, and seamless navigation, making it easier for users to access NPR content on their mobile devices.
2014: NPR CEO Announces Revenue Increase Strategy
In 2014, NPR CEO Jarl Mohn revealed the network's plan to boost revenue by securing underwriting from brands deemed more relevant to the audience and by requesting higher rates from these sponsors.
March 2015: NPR Podcasts Achieve Popularity
By March 2015, podcasts produced by NPR had garnered immense popularity, exceeding 94 million downloads, with shows like Fresh Air and the TED Radio Hour consistently ranking high on iTunes.
November 2, 2015: NPR Restructures Board of Directors
On November 2, 2015, NPR Members voted to expand the board of directors to 23 members. This change aimed to improve operational oversight and budget preparation. The board now comprises 12 Member Directors, 9 Public Directors, the NPR Foundation Chair, and the NPR President & CEO.
2015: NPR's Audience Demographics Show Predominantly White Listenership
According to 2015 figures, 87% of NPR's terrestrial public radio audience and 67% of its podcast audience were white.
2016: NPR One Listed as "Best App"
In 2016, The New York Times recognized NPR One's excellence by featuring it on their list of "best apps" of the year. This accolade highlighted the app's user-friendly design, comprehensive features, and ability to provide a seamless listening experience.
2016: 2016 United States presidential election
The 2016 United States presidential election marked a period of heightened political division. Uri Berliner later cited NPR's reporting after this election as evidence of a left-wing bias.
July 4, 2017: NPR's Declaration of Independence Tweets Draw Backlash
On July 4, 2017, NPR faced criticism for tweeting the Declaration of Independence, with some Trump supporters misinterpreting the text as directed towards the president.
October 2017: Michael Oreskes Resigns Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations
In October 2017, Michael Oreskes, NPR's senior vice president of news, resigned following multiple sexual harassment allegations against him, some dating back to his time at The New York Times.
2017: Nielsen Ratings Data
In 2017, Nielsen ratings data indicated that NPR's "Morning Edition" was its most popular program, attracting 14.63 million listeners weekly. "All Things Considered", NPR's afternoon news magazine, followed closely with 14.6 million listeners a week.
2017: NPR's Listenership Peaks
NPR's listenership reached its highest point in 2017, with 37.7 million listeners tuning in weekly.
March 2018: NPR Drive-Time Shows Attract Millions
In March 2018, NPR's drive-time programs, Morning Edition and All Things Considered, garnered significant audiences, reaching 14.9 million and 14.7 million listeners per week, respectively.
May 2018: NPR Acquires Pocket Casts
In May 2018, a group led by NPR acquired the podcasting app Pocket Casts.
September 30, 2018: NPR's Operating Revenues Increase
By the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2018, NPR's total operating revenues reached $235 million.
December 2018: NPR Launches Remote Audio Data (RAD)
In December 2018, NPR introduced a new podcast analytics technology called Remote Audio Data (RAD). Developed by Stacey Goers, RAD focuses on sharing listening metrics directly from podcast apps to publishers while prioritizing user privacy.
December 2018: The Washington Post Reports on NPR's Use of Temps
In December 2018, The Washington Post published a report highlighting the significant proportion of temporary staff at NPR, estimated to be between 20% and 22%, raising concerns about potential exploitation while NPR defended its practices as a means to remain "innovative and nimble."
2018: PRX Merges with Public Radio International
Public Radio Exchange (PRX) merged with Public Radio International in 2018, solidifying their presence as major players in public radio production and distribution. Along with American Public Media (APM), these organizations compete with NPR for programming slots on public radio stations, offering a diverse range of content to engage listeners.
September 2019: NPR's Operating Revenues Continue to Climb
NPR's operating revenues continued their upward trajectory, reaching nearly $259 million by September 2019.
2019: Pew Research Center Survey
A later Pew Research Center survey in 2019 showed a significant shift in NPR's audience, with an overwhelming majority (87%) identifying as Democrats or leaning Democratic, while only 12% identified as Republicans.
April 2020: Kelly McBride Becomes NPR's Public Editor
In April 2020, Kelly McBride assumed the role of Public Editor for NPR. The Public Editor's responsibility is to address significant listener inquiries, comments, and criticisms. This position reports directly to the president and CEO.
2020: NPR's Decision on Hunter Biden Laptop Controversy
During the 2020 election, NPR faced criticism for its decision not to cover the controversy surrounding a New York Post article about the Hunter Biden laptop controversy. NPR defended its stance, stating that it aimed to avoid wasting time on stories lacking substance or serving as "pure distractions." This decision sparked debate about media coverage and editorial discretion.
2020: NPR Releases FY21 Budget with Anticipated Deficit
In 2020, NPR released its budget for Fiscal Year 2021, projecting $250 million in revenue—a slight dip from the previous year due to the impact of COVID-19. With $240 million allocated for operating expenses, plus added debt service and capital costs, the budget anticipated a cash deficit of roughly $4 million, leading to $25 million in budget cuts.
July 16, 2021: Automattic Acquires Pocket Casts
On July 16, 2021, Automattic acquired the podcasting app Pocket Casts from NPR.
July 4, 2022: NPR's Discussion on Equality Replaces Declaration Reading
Instead of its traditional Declaration of Independence reading on July 4, 2022, NPR hosted a discussion on the meaning of equality in light of the Dobbs decision and voting rights, referencing Thomas Jefferson's contradictions.
November 2022: NPR Announces Need for Budget Cuts
Due to a decline in sponsor revenue, CEO John Lansing informed NPR staff in November 2022 about the need to cut spending by $10 million during that fiscal year. The reduction represented approximately three percent of NPR's annual budget.
2022: NPR's Listenership Remains Strong Despite Decline
Despite a decline from its 2017 peak, NPR maintained a substantial listenership of 30.7 million per week, according to data from 2022.
February 2023: NPR Announces Layoffs Amidst Reduced Advertising Revenue
In February 2023, NPR CEO John Lansing announced layoffs affecting about 10 percent of the workforce. This decision came as a result of decreased advertising revenue, with a projected budget gap between $30 and $32 million out of an approximate $300 million annual operating budget.
April 8, 2023: Twitter Changes NPR's Label to "Government-Funded"
Following criticism, Twitter changed NPR's account label from "state-affiliated" to "government-funded" on April 8, 2023.
April 2023: NPR Labeled "US State-Affiliated Media" on Twitter
In April 2023, Elon Musk's Twitter designated NPR's main account as "US state-affiliated media," a label usually reserved for foreign government-controlled outlets. This sparked controversy as NPR is editorially independent. NPR responded by halting activity on its main account.
2023: NPR Partners with Spotify for Targeted Advertising
In 2023, NPR teamed up with Spotify to incorporate targeted advertisements sold via the Spotify Audience Network platform into NPR's programming. This partnership enables NPR to monetize empty ad slots that they couldn't sell directly to advertisers.
January 2024: NPR Appoints Katherine Maher as New CEO
NPR's board appointed former Wikimedia Foundation CEO Katherine Maher as the organization's new CEO in January 2024, with her tenure set to begin in late March.
2024: Uri Berliner's Allegations and Resignation
Veteran NPR journalist Uri Berliner publicly criticized NPR in 2024, alleging a left-wing bias in its reporting, particularly after the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Berliner cited NPR's handling of the Hunter Biden laptop controversy, the Mueller investigation, the origins of COVID-19, and the 2023 Israel-Hamas war as examples. He argued that NPR's management prioritized race and identity politics at the expense of viewpoint diversity. NPR refuted Berliner's claims, defending its commitment to inclusion and the quality of its work. Subsequently, NPR suspended Berliner for five days without pay for allegedly working for another outlet without securing NPR's approval. Berliner resigned following his suspension, attributing his decision to CEO Katherine Maher's treatment and divisive views, further fueling the debate about bias and journalistic integrity within NPR.