New NPR Chief, Jarl Mohn, Vows to Foster Diversity; New York Times, 6/29/14

Elizabeth Jensen, New York Times; New NPR Chief, Jarl Mohn, Vows to Foster Diversity:

"When Jarl Mohn takes the helm as NPR’s chief executive on Tuesday, he will call on lessons learned from public radio in Los Angeles to address what he says is one of NPR’s most pressing priorities: increasing its reach into communities of color.

Mr. Mohn, who was named to the NPR post on May 9, was chosen in part because of the strong record of diversity at Southern California Public Radio, parent of the Los Angeles station KPCC, where until recently he was the board chairman.

At the time of his appointment, NPR’s board adopted a strategic plan intended to “increase the diversity of the audience by age, ethnicity and geography,” as well as the sources it quotes and the “diversity of NPR talent;” NPR’s newsroom staff is 77 percent white, and its audience even more so, according to a report from NPR’s ombudsman.

Eleven days later, however, NPR announced that it would end “Tell Me More,” its daily show meant to attract African-Americans and other listeners of color...

If NPR is to change, however, accountability is needed, many in the public radio sphere say. “Without some kind of financial ramification, nothing happens,” said Farai Chideya, who hosted a daily show focused on issues affecting African-Americans, which was canceled in 2009."