Completely predictable. Ex-NPR CEO Vivian Schiller, the woman who suggested Juan Williams visit a therapist after he was fired for making comments about Muslims in Muslim garb making him nervous on airplanes during an appearance on Fox News, has been hired as the Chief Digital Officer for NBC News. Schiller resigned from her role at NPR after undercover video showed NPR executives calling tea party members "racist, racist people" and after the same executives planned to accept money from men posing as members of the Muslim Brotherhood while suggesting ways to hide the $5 million donation from the government.
Vivian Schiller will be joining NBC News as Chief Digital Officer. The announcement was made today by NBC News President Steve Capus. Schiller’s role is a new position at NBC News, as the network expands its leadership team to add management of its digital platforms. She will join the news division in mid-July.
Reporting to Capus, Schiller will lead the digital strategy for both NBC News and MSNBC to ensure future growth and innovation. Her responsibilities include strategic oversight of the network’s digital extensions on the web and in mobile, interaction with the Joint Venture that oversees the msnbc.com digital network, as well as providing direction to the network’s new emerging properties such as EducationNation.com and theGrio.com.
“Bringing Vivian on board enhances this network’s mission of growth and the evolution of its digital businesses and strategy. With Vivian's help, NBC News will be recognized as the premier broadcast news organization in America, as well as the most innovative, comprehensive and trusted news operation,” said Steve Capus. “Her background in journalism, combined with expertise in the digital space will add a strong new pillar to the NBC News leadership team.”
A media executive and journalist with 25 years experience in the industry, Schiller was most recently President and CEO of NPR, leading all of NPR's worldwide media operations, including the organization's partnerships with a network of more than 900 public radio stations. During her tenure, NPR received the highest honors in excellence in journalism, grew its audience by double digits, and earned recognition in the mobile and digital space.
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