NPR appoints Vivian Schiller as next chief exec

Vivian Schiller, senior v.p. of NYTimes.com, has been appointed as NPR's next president and c.e.o. Schiller, who will be the first woman to helm NPR, previously was a senior executive with the Discovery Times Channel, a joint venture of The New York Times and Discovery Communications, and led CNN Productions, specializing in long-form documentary work. "Her roots in the news business, as well as her inclusive management style and operational expertise, make her an ideal fit for NPR.," said Howard Stevenson, NPR Chairman in this news release. His memo to NPR staff is posted here. Schiller's first day on the job is Jan. 5, 2009.