Why did NPR fire Juan Williams?

Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 9:41 PM Bookmark and Share
Fox News and other right-leaning media seem to be jumping out of their chairs over NPR's firing of Juan Williams, claiming it was unjustifiable and politically motivated.  But was he really fired over his recent comments on Fox (see the video below), or did he violate his contract with NPR?

Here's what Williams said on the O'Reilly Factor this past Monday.


This isn't the first time Williams has had problems with comments made while appearing on Fox, as NPR President and CEO Vivian Schiller mentioned when confronted over the firing.  It's this pattern of behavior that NPR claims resulted in his termination - not the single instance captured in the video above.  As evidence of this history, NPR claims these problems were behind an earlier decision to change his title from `staff correspondent to `news analyst' specifically because of his record taking public positions on controversial issues.

You can read the latest details straight from NPR from their blog The Two-Way in posts here and here, and from links off of the NPR main page.

6 comments:

Posted by: LeberMac | 10/21/2010 9:57 PM

When a taxpayer-funded news organization can fire you for speaking your mind, I think that's a problem. Juan Williams was fired because he wasn't toeing the NPR progressive and hyper-PC agenda. It reminds me of when Obama asked everyone to report the "fishy" citizens who disagreed with his stance on the healthcare initiative.

Posted by: Paul | 10/21/2010 10:06 PM

"Juan Williams was fired because he wasn't toeing the NPR progressive and hyper-PC agenda."

I'm not quite sure that's the case.

After reading the available details, it seems like the reason he was fired is because he repeatedly took positions on controversial issues, which by contract he wasn't supposed to do. Some of what's in the news at the moment seems to be unaware of (or ignoring) Williams' history of problematic position-taking during his time with NPR.

Posted by: Paul | 10/27/2010 11:57 AM

More from the NPR Ombudsman Alicia Shepard: NPR's Firing of Juan Williams Was Poorly Handled.

Posted by: russ | 10/29/2010 1:13 PM

Very few news reporters actually report the news these days - they tend to editorialize and give you their opinion.

I find that very annoying - I will listen, watch, think and then form my own opinions. I could care less what the reporter's personal feelings are.

As the NPR Ombudsman pointed out, if someone made that comment about blacks there would have been a real storm.

If the comment had been about blacks I expect the president would have already commented about how terrible racism is - like he has done previously.

Posted by: Anonymous | 4/30/2021 4:15 PM

Five weeks ago my boyfriend broke up with me. It all started when i went to summer camp i was trying to contact him but it was not going through. So when I came back from camp I saw him with a young lady kissing in his bed room, I was frustrated and it gave me a sleepless night. I thought he will come back to apologies but he didn't come for almost three week i was really hurt but i thank Dr.Azuka for all he did i met Dr.Azuka during my search at the internet i decided to contact him on his email dr.azukasolutionhome@gmail.com he brought my boyfriend back to me just within 48 hours i am really happy. What’s app contact : +44 7520 636249‬

Posted by: alexander peres | 10/10/2022 8:23 PM

My husband was cheating on me and no longer committed to me and our kids, when i asked him what the problem was he told me he has fell out of love for me and wanted a divorce.i was so heart broken i cried all day and night but he left home, i was looking for something online when i saw an article how the great and powerful dr ovie have helped so many people in similar situation like mine, his email address was written so i sent him an email telling him about my problem,he told me he shall return back to me within 24hrs, i did everything he asked me to do the next day to my greatest surprise, my husband came back home and was crying and begging for me to forgive and accept him back,now we are happy together if you need his help contact him email:droviespelltemple@gmail.com or WhatsApp him +2349056460552

Post a Comment